William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
Axis is Hemmed In – 2-4
War News Summarized – 3
Nazis’ Rear Guard Battered by British Beyond Bengazi – 4-5
Russians Hold Off Nazis in Caucasus – 5
Italy’s Worst Raid (MacDonald) – 6
U.S. Troops Gain on Guadalcanal – 7
The Texts of the Day’s War Communiques – 9-10
Spitfire Battles Foe 9 Miles in Air – 10
News of the Week in Review
Twenty News Questions – 11
Red Army Makes Ready for Hard Winter War (Parker) – 12
As Winter Comes to the Russian Front (map) – 13
Solomons Sea Victory Staggers the Japanese (Hurd) – 14
Answers to Twenty News Questions – 15
Axis is Hemmed In – 2-4
War News Summarized – 3
Nazis’ Rear Guard Battered by British Beyond Bengazi – 4-5
Russians Hold Off Nazis in Caucasus – 5
Italy’s Worst Raid (MacDonald) – 6
U.S. Troops Gain on Guadalcanal – 7
The Texts of the Day’s War Communiques – 9-10
Spitfire Battles Foe 9 Miles in Air – 10
News of the Week in Review
Twenty News Questions – 11
Red Army Makes Ready for Hard Winter War (Parker) – 12
As Winter Comes to the Russian Front (map) – 13
Solomons Sea Victory Staggers the Japanese (Hurd) – 14
Answers to Twenty News Questions – 15
Interesting article on the Junkers reconnaissance plane in North Africa. Some more info here:
http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/photo_albums/timeline/ww2/Junkers%20Ju%2086.htmJunkers had been experimenting for some time with a high-altitude version of the Jumo diesel engine, together with pressure cabin design, and in September 1939 submitted proposals for a high-altitude version of the Ju 86. The go-ahead was given, and two Ju 86D airframes were converted, gun positions faired over (since no fighter would be able to reach the aircraft at its operation al altitude) and a two-seat pressure cabin was fitted. The prototypes flew in February and March 1940 as Ju 86P aircraft, and reached altitudes of more than 32,810 ft (10000 m). A third prototype with wing span increased by 10 ft 2 in (3.10 m) reached 39,700 ft (12100 m), and the success of the trials earned an order for the conversion of 40 Ju 86Ds to Ju 86Ps. Two models were built the Ju 86P-1 bomber with a load of 2,205 lbs (1000 kg) and the Ju 86P-2 reconnaissance aircraft with three cameras. One of the prototypes flew a reconnaissance mission over the UK at 41,010 ft (12,500 m) in the summer of 1940 and was undetected, and other production models both followed this over the UK and USSR.
While standard Allied fighters were unable to reach them the Ju 86Ps remained unscathed, but in August 1942 a stripped-down Spitfire Mk V caught a Ju 86P at 37,000 ft (11275 m) over Egypt and after a chase to 42,000 ft (12800 m) shot it down. In an effort to gain more altitudes, a higher aspect ratio wing was designed, increasing the span to 104 ft 113/4 in (32.00 m), and uprated Jumo engines with four- blade propellers were installed. Two versions were again built, the Ju 86R-1 reconnaissance aircraft and the Ju 86R-2 bomber, each comprising conversions of the respective Ju 86P types. Only a few aircraft reached service, but during tests an altitude of 47,250 ft (14400 m) was reached. Further development of the Ju 86R-3 with 1,500 hp (1119 kW) supercharged Jumo 208s and designed to reach 52,500 ft (16000 m), and of a proposed Ju 186, with four Jumo 208s or two Jumo 2 18s (which were coupled Jumo 208s) was abandoned.