Junkers

Junkers Ju 87B Stuka (Luftwaffe)
The Ju 87 Stuka (from Sturzkampfflugzeug, or dive bomber) caught the world's attention over Poland in the fall of 1939. Its sinister appearance and the screaming siren on its fixed landing gear made the swooping Stuka a psychological weapon, and gave it a reputation that far exceeded its actual performance. While it could dive steeply and put its bombs on target quite accurately, it was slow and ungainly, and lacked armour. It did well in campaigns where air opposition was already neutralized, but in the Battle of Britain it quickly became apparent that the Stuka was no match for any fighter, and couldn't withstand much damage from ground fire. The RAF shot down so many Stukas so rapidly that the Luftwaffe was forced first to provide each one with as many as three escort fighters, and then to withdraw them from the fight altogether. Stukas were used on the eastern front, but by 1943 they again proved so vulnerable that they were relegated to night missions.

Junkers Ju 88A (Luftwaffe)
The Ju 88 was the most successful and versatile bomber in the Luftwaffe arsenal, capable of carrying almost two tons of bombs at almost 300 mph. It could deliver these bombs conventionally, or as a dive bomber. It first flew in 1936, and by 1940 had served in actions against the British Royal Navy and targets in Norway, Denmark, the Low Countries, and France. In the Battle of Britain the Ju 88's speed made it somewhat less vulnerable than its Dornier and Heinkel counterparts, but light defensive armament made it hard to ward off attacking fighters. The 88 had a long evolution, and numerous variants served in many roles throughout WWII, most notably as a fast "destroyer" and night fighter.