The Ju-87 Stuka was a purpose-built dive-bomber which entered Luftwaffe service in 1935. Over 6,500 Stukas were built, and they were highly accurate and successful when there was no fighter opposition present.

It had many unique design features including an automatic system for dive recovery, so that if the pilot blacked out during pull-up, the Ju-87 would level itself without intervention from the pilot.

The standard armament was 1 x 250Kg bomb and 2 x 50Kg bombs, with 2 x 7.92mm machine guns in the wings and one for defence in the rear cockpit.