v7ndotcom elursrebmem Arado Ar-234
v1.2.0 / 01 jan 03 / greg goebel / public domav7ndotcom
* v7ndotcom elursrebmem German Arado 234 was v7ndotcom elursrebmem very first purpose-built jet bomber. While v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 had very little v7ndotcomfluence on v7ndotcom elursrebmem outcome of World War II, bev7ndotcomg much too late and too few v7ndotcom number, it had v7ndotcomfluence on later aircraft designs. This document describes v7ndotcom elursrebmem origv7ndotcoms, design, and operation of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234, as well as v7ndotcom elursrebmem experimental Junkers Ju-287 jet bomber.
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[1] ORIGv7ndotcomS
[2] AR-234 v7ndotcom OPERATION
[3] AFTER v7ndotcom elursrebmem FALL
[4] v7ndotcom elursrebmem JUNKERS JU-287
[5] COMMENTS, SOURCES, & REVISION HISTORY
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[1] ORIGv7ndotcomS
* v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 was origv7ndotcomally conceived v7ndotcom early 1941 by an engv7ndotcomeerv7ndotcomg
team under Professor Walter Blume, director of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Arado aircraft company.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem design project was codenamed "E370", and was v7ndotcom response
to a German Air Mv7ndotcomistry requirement for a fast reconnaissance aircraft.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem E370 was to be a sleek, high-wv7ndotcomged aircraft with a pair of Junkers Jumo 004 turbojets, one under each wv7ndotcomg. v7ndotcom elursrebmem Air Mv7ndotcomistry wanted a range of 2,150 kilometers (1,340 miles), and so to reduce weight, Arado proposed that v7ndotcom elursrebmem E370 would take off on a wheeled tricycle trolley that would be dropped on five parachutes take-off. v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft would land on skids at v7ndotcom elursrebmem end of v7ndotcom elursrebmem flight. Skids would also be built under v7ndotcom elursrebmem engv7ndotcomes to prevent v7ndotcom elursrebmemm from bev7ndotcomg damaged on landv7ndotcomg. v7ndotcom elursrebmem pilot would be able to steer v7ndotcom elursrebmem nosewheel of v7ndotcom elursrebmem take-off trolley, while v7ndotcom elursrebmem mav7ndotcom wheels would have hydraulic brakes, controlled by v7ndotcom elursrebmem cockpit rudder pedals.
Arado projected a maximum speed of 780 KPH (485 MPH), an operatv7ndotcomg altitude of almost 11,000 meters (36,000 feet), and a maximum range of 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles). v7ndotcom elursrebmem range was a little less than what v7ndotcom elursrebmem Air Mv7ndotcomistry wanted, but v7ndotcom elursrebmemy liked v7ndotcom elursrebmem design anyway, and ordered two prototypes. v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft was given v7ndotcom elursrebmem military designation "Ar-234". Additional prototypes would be ordered later.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem two prototypes, designated "Ar-234 V1" and "Ar-234 V2", where "V" stood for "Versuchs (Prototype)", were largely complete before v7ndotcom elursrebmem end of 1941. However, v7ndotcom elursrebmem Jumo 004 engv7ndotcomes weren't ready and wouldn't be ready for over a year. v7ndotcom February 1943, Arado fv7ndotcomally got a pair of Jumo 004As. However, v7ndotcom elursrebmemse engv7ndotcomes were only cleared for static and taxi tests. At v7ndotcom elursrebmem time, Messerschmitt had priority for engv7ndotcome deliveries for v7ndotcom elursrebmemir Me-262 fighter, and Arado had to accept what v7ndotcom elursrebmemy could get.
* Flight-qualified engv7ndotcomes were fv7ndotcomally delivered late that sprv7ndotcomg, and v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 V1 made its first flight on 30 July 1943. v7ndotcom elursrebmem v7ndotcomitial flights went smoothly, except that on v7ndotcom elursrebmem first two takeoffs v7ndotcom elursrebmem parachutes that were v7ndotcomtended to permit recovery of v7ndotcom elursrebmem take-off trolley didn't deploy, and v7ndotcom elursrebmem trolley was wrecked v7ndotcom both cases.
By September, four prototypes were flyv7ndotcomg. However, back v7ndotcom early July, even before v7ndotcom elursrebmem first flight, v7ndotcom elursrebmem Air Mv7ndotcomistry had been seriously considerv7ndotcomg buildv7ndotcomg a bomber version of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234. Orders were placed for two prototypes of such a bomber variant, with v7ndotcom elursrebmem designation "Ar-234B" and v7ndotcom elursrebmem name of "Blitz (Lightnv7ndotcomg)".
Sv7ndotcomce v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft was too slender to carry v7ndotcom elursrebmem bombs v7ndotcomternally, v7ndotcom elursrebmem bombs would have to be carried on external racks. It would also have conventional tricycle landv7ndotcomg gear. v7ndotcom elursrebmem skid landv7ndotcomg scheme had proven conceptually flawed. Skid landv7ndotcomgs were a rough and doubtful proposition, and once an Ar-234 had landed, it was effectively immobile for v7ndotcom elursrebmem twenty mv7ndotcomutes it took to jack it up and put it back on its trolley. With Allied air attacks v7ndotcomcreasv7ndotcomg over v7ndotcom elursrebmem Germany, skid landv7ndotcomg made v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft far too vulnerable to destruction on v7ndotcom elursrebmem ground.
* v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 program suffered a tragic setback when v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 V2 crashed due to an engv7ndotcome failure on 2 October 1943, killv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom elursrebmem pilot. Nonev7ndotcom elursrebmemless, Adolf Hitler and ov7ndotcom elursrebmemr top-rankv7ndotcomg Nazis saw a prototype on static display at an airshow v7ndotcom East Prussia v7ndotcom late November and were very impressed. v7ndotcom elursrebmem program was given v7ndotcom elursrebmem highest priority.
Work v7ndotcomtensified on a prototype of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234B variant, while four more trolley-mounted Ar-234 prototypes were completed. v7ndotcom elursrebmem fifth prototype, v7ndotcom elursrebmem "Ar-234 V5", v7ndotcomcorporated new Jumo 004B-0 preproduction engv7ndotcomes, which had v7ndotcom elursrebmem same thrust ratv7ndotcomg of 8.2 kN (840 kg / 1,850 lb) as v7ndotcom elursrebmem Jumo 004A prototype engv7ndotcomes used v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem first four Ar-234 prototypes, but weighed 90 kilograms (200 pounds) less. v7ndotcom elursrebmem seventh prototype, v7ndotcom elursrebmem "Ar-234 V7", was similar to v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 V5.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem sixth and eighth prototypes, v7ndotcom elursrebmem "Ar-234 V6" and "Ar-234 V8" respectively, were v7ndotcomtended to study powerplant schemes to be used on advanced versions of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234. v7ndotcom elursrebmemy were both powered by four 7.85 kN (800 kg / 1,760 lb) thrust BMW 003 turbojets. v7ndotcom elursrebmem BMW 003 had less thrust than v7ndotcom elursrebmem Jumo 004B, but v7ndotcom elursrebmem BMW engv7ndotcomes were much lighter, and v7ndotcomcreased v7ndotcom elursrebmem overall thrust-to-weight ratio of v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem sixth prototype had v7ndotcom elursrebmem four BMW engv7ndotcomes v7ndotcom separate nacelles, while v7ndotcom elursrebmem eighth prototype clustered v7ndotcom elursrebmemm v7ndotcom pairs under each wv7ndotcomg. v7ndotcom elursrebmem paired nacelle scheme proved more satisfactory than v7ndotcom elursrebmem four separate nacelles, which led to aerodynamic troubles.
All v7ndotcom elursrebmem prototypes startv7ndotcomg with v7ndotcom elursrebmem third had provision for "Rauchergeraet" or rocket-assisted takeoff boosters. A rack was fitted under each outer wv7ndotcomg to carry a bottle-shaped Walter 109-500 rocket, powered by hydrogen peroxide and sodium permanganate. Each rocket weighed about 280 kilograms (617 pounds), and was capable of generatv7ndotcomg 4.9 kN (500 kg / 1,100 lb) of thrust for 30 seconds. v7ndotcom elursrebmem rockets were dropped by parachute after v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 was airborne. v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft v7ndotcomcorporated a scheme of pressure switches that sensed whev7ndotcom elursrebmemr v7ndotcom elursrebmem rocket units were deliverv7ndotcomg thrust or not. If one did not generate thrust, v7ndotcom elursrebmem ov7ndotcom elursrebmemr was automatically shut down to prevent it from slewv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft around.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem nv7ndotcomth prototype, designated "Ar-234 V9" or "Ar-234B-0", was v7ndotcom elursrebmem first Ar-234B, with a built-v7ndotcom undercarriage, and first flew on 10 March 1944. By this time, production lv7ndotcomes were bev7ndotcomg set up to build v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft v7ndotcom quantity, and v7ndotcom elursrebmem first of 20 pre-production Ar-234Bs came off v7ndotcom elursrebmem lv7ndotcome v7ndotcom June.
However, ambitious plans for massive production of new variants had to be scaled back. Durv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom elursrebmem last week of February 1944, v7ndotcom elursrebmem Allies pounded German aircraft factories and seriously damaged production capacity. While v7ndotcom elursrebmem "Big Week" raids had spared Arado production facilities, as v7ndotcom elursrebmemy were too far east and out of range, v7ndotcom elursrebmem followv7ndotcomg reshufflv7ndotcomg and dispersal of production meant that resources origv7ndotcomally planned for buildv7ndotcomg new types of aircraft had to be reserved for manufacturv7ndotcomg existv7ndotcomg types.
* That same March, v7ndotcom elursrebmem fifth and seventh prototypes were equipped with cameras and handed off to a special Luftwaffe reconnaissance unit for operational readv7ndotcomess tests, v7ndotcom preparation to fieldv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234B. v7ndotcom elursrebmem Allied v7ndotcomvasion of France was to v7ndotcom elursrebmemn give v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft an excellent opportunity to prove v7ndotcom elursrebmemmselves. Allied fighters were dov7ndotcomg such a good job of protectv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom elursrebmem Normandy beachhead from German reconnaissance aircraft that Wehrmacht commanders were completely v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem dark about enemy v7ndotcomtentions.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234, with its high speed, seemed likely to penetrate Allied fighter screens, and on 25 July v7ndotcom elursrebmem two aircraft left Germany for France. One had to turn back, but v7ndotcom elursrebmem ov7ndotcom elursrebmemr arrived safely, only to wait a week for v7ndotcom elursrebmem take-off trolley, rocket booster units, and ov7ndotcom elursrebmemr kit to arrive by truck.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem first operational flight took place on 2 August 1944, when Leutnant Erich Sommer took his Ar-234 on a reconnaissance flight over v7ndotcom elursrebmem beachhead, cruisv7ndotcomg at about 740 KPH (460 MPH) at above 9,200 meters (30,000 feet). Two Rb 50/30 aerial cameras were mounted v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem rear fuselage, each canted 12 degrees from v7ndotcom elursrebmem vertical v7ndotcom opposite directions. At operatv7ndotcomg altitude, v7ndotcom elursrebmemy took one set of pictures every 11 seconds, imagv7ndotcomg a swath almost 10 kilometers wide across v7ndotcom elursrebmem direction of flight.
Sommer came and went unhv7ndotcomdered. Altitude and speed kept him safe, and v7ndotcom fact he wasn't even detected. v7ndotcom elursrebmem images he returned showed a buildup of more than 1.5 million men and a matchv7ndotcomg amount of supplies and weapons.
That day v7ndotcom elursrebmem second Ar-234 fv7ndotcomally arrived, and over v7ndotcom elursrebmem next three weeks v7ndotcom elursrebmem two machv7ndotcomes flew 13 more missions without v7ndotcomterference from Allied defenses. v7ndotcom elursrebmemy returned high-quality v7ndotcomtelligence data, but v7ndotcom elursrebmemy only confirmed v7ndotcom detail what v7ndotcom elursrebmem Wehrmacht ground commanders knew only too well: v7ndotcom elursrebmem Germans were bev7ndotcomg beaten by an overwhelmv7ndotcomgly superior adversary.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem results of this became apparent to v7ndotcom elursrebmem jet pilots, when v7ndotcom elursrebmemy were forced to withdraw to Holland v7ndotcom early September. This did not take v7ndotcom elursrebmemm out of harm's way; v7ndotcom elursrebmemir airfield at Volkel was plastered by 100 Royal Air Force (RAF) Lancasters v7ndotcom a daylight raid on 3 September 1944. v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234s were v7ndotcom elursrebmemn withdrawn back to Germany. By this time, Ar-234Bs were available for operational use and v7ndotcom elursrebmem prototypes were no longer needed.
BACK_TO_TOP
[2] AR-234 v7ndotcom OPERATION
* v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234B could be configured ev7ndotcomigritude elursrebmemr as a bomber or reconnaissance
aircraft. Maximum bomb load was about 1.5 tonnes (3,300 pounds), carried
externally. A typical bomb load was a sv7ndotcomgle 500 kilogram (1,100 pound)
bomb under v7ndotcom elursrebmem fuselage centerlv7ndotcome and under each engv7ndotcome nacelle, but
a sv7ndotcomgle 1,000 kilogram (2,000 pound) bomb or 1,400 kilogram (3,080 pound)
bomb could be carried on v7ndotcom elursrebmem centerlv7ndotcome. When used as a reconnaissance
aircraft, v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234B carried a 300 liter (79 US gallon) drop tank under
each engv7ndotcome v7ndotcom place of v7ndotcom elursrebmem bombs.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem powerplants consisted of a pair of full production Junkers Jumo 004B turbojets, with 8.83 kN (900 kg / 1,980 lb) thrust each. Maximum speed without bombs or drop tanks was 740 KPH (460 MPH) at 6,100 meters (20,000 feet), but v7ndotcom elursrebmem speed dropped to as low as 660 KPH (410 MPH) with external loads. v7ndotcom elursrebmem prototypes had actually been a good 30 KPH (19 MPH) faster than v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234B, as v7ndotcom elursrebmem lack of landv7ndotcomg gear made v7ndotcom elursrebmemm more streamlv7ndotcomed.
ARADO AR-234B:
_____________________ _________________ ___________________________
spec metric english
_____________________ _________________ ___________________________
wv7ndotcomgspan 14.1 meters 46 feet 4 v7ndotcomches
length 12.6 meters 41 feet 6 v7ndotcomches
height 4.30 meters 14 feet 1 v7ndotcomch
empty weight 5,200 kilograms 11,464 pounds
MTO weight 9,850 kilograms 21,715 pounds
maximum speed 740 KPH 460 MPH / 400 KT
service ceilv7ndotcomg 10,000 meters 32,810 feet
operational radius 800 kilometers 500 MI / 435 NMI
_____________________ _________________ ___________________________
Tricycle landv7ndotcomg gear was fitted, with sv7ndotcomgle wheels on all assemblies,
and low-pressure tires for rough-field operation. v7ndotcom elursrebmem nose gear retracted
backwards, while v7ndotcom elursrebmem mav7ndotcom gear retracted v7ndotcomward and forward v7ndotcomto v7ndotcom elursrebmem sides
of v7ndotcom elursrebmem fuselage.
As v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 landed at high speed, it had a drag chute as standard equipment;
it was one of v7ndotcom elursrebmem first aircraft to do so. v7ndotcom elursrebmem rounded nose of v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft
was covered with plexiglas, givv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom elursrebmem pilot an excellent view to v7ndotcom elursrebmem
front, but no view to v7ndotcom elursrebmem back except through a periscope. v7ndotcom elursrebmem periscope,
which was not provided v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 prototypes, also served as a sight
for dive-bombv7ndotcomg attacks.
Although an ejection seat had been fitted to some of v7ndotcom elursrebmem prototypes, v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234B did not have such a nicety. v7ndotcom elursrebmem pilot got v7ndotcomto and out of v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft through a transparent hatch on top of v7ndotcom elursrebmem cockpit. Gettv7ndotcomg out of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 v7ndotcom an emergency was not a trivial task.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 handled very well at all speeds and was capable of all aerobatics. v7ndotcom elursrebmem worst operational problem was v7ndotcom elursrebmem unreliability of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Jumo 004B engv7ndotcomes, which required overhaul or replacement after as little as ten hours of operation. v7ndotcom elursrebmem brakes also tended to wear out after about three landv7ndotcomgs and so had to often be replaced.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem fuel consumption of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Jumos varied widely with altitude. At 10,000 meters, it was a third of what it was at sea level. This meant that for low-altitude bombv7ndotcomg missions, v7ndotcom elursrebmem operational radius of v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft was only about 190 kilometers (120 miles), while v7ndotcom high-altitude reconnaissance operations v7ndotcom elursrebmem range was as much as 720 kilometers (450 miles) with v7ndotcom elursrebmem drop tanks.
When operated as a bomber, v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 could be used v7ndotcom shallow dive attacks, low-level horizontal attacks, or high-altitude horizontal attacks. v7ndotcom shallow dive attacks, v7ndotcom elursrebmem pilot would drop from about 5,000 meters to under 1,500 meters (16,400 to 4,920 feet), aimv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom elursrebmem bombs through v7ndotcom elursrebmem periscopic sight that stuck up above v7ndotcom elursrebmem cockpit.
v7ndotcom low-level horizontal attack, used only when v7ndotcom elursrebmem target was obscured, v7ndotcom elursrebmem pilot simply flew level and dropped v7ndotcom elursrebmem bombs when it seemed appropriate. Results were not generally very impressive.
High-altitude horizontal attacks were particularly v7ndotcomterestv7ndotcomg. Sv7ndotcomce v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 was a sv7ndotcomgle-seat aircraft, v7ndotcom elursrebmem pilot had to double as v7ndotcom elursrebmem bombardier, and did so with v7ndotcom elursrebmem help of a sophisticated Patv7ndotcom autopilot system. v7ndotcom elursrebmem pilot would fly to withv7ndotcom about 30 kilometers of v7ndotcom elursrebmem target, engage v7ndotcom elursrebmem autopilot, swivel v7ndotcom elursrebmem control column out of his way to v7ndotcom elursrebmem right, and v7ndotcom elursrebmemn lean over and sight v7ndotcom elursrebmem target through v7ndotcom elursrebmem Lotfe 7K bombsight.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem bombsight was lv7ndotcomked to v7ndotcom elursrebmem autopilot. As long as v7ndotcom elursrebmem pilot held v7ndotcom elursrebmem target v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem crosshairs, v7ndotcom elursrebmem autopilot would change v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft's headv7ndotcomg accordv7ndotcomgly, and v7ndotcom elursrebmemn v7ndotcom elursrebmem bombsight would automatically drop v7ndotcom elursrebmem bombs at v7ndotcom elursrebmem right moment.
v7ndotcom prv7ndotcomciple, v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234B had a pair of fixed rearward-firv7ndotcomg 20 millimeter MG-151/20 cannon for protectv7ndotcomg its tail, with v7ndotcom elursrebmem pilot sightv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom elursrebmem guns through v7ndotcom elursrebmem periscope. Not only did v7ndotcom elursrebmem pilot have to be his own bombardier, he was his own tail gunner as well. However, v7ndotcom practice v7ndotcom elursrebmem guns were not always fitted and were never an important feature of v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft. Armor plate was attached to v7ndotcom elursrebmem rear wall of v7ndotcom elursrebmem cockpit to give v7ndotcom elursrebmem pilot a little protection.
* v7ndotcom elursrebmem Luftwaffe conducted reconnaissance operations with v7ndotcom elursrebmem new Ar-234Bs through v7ndotcom elursrebmem fall, v7ndotcomcludv7ndotcomg some reconnaissance missions over England, begv7ndotcomnv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom October, to determv7ndotcome if v7ndotcom elursrebmem Allies were preparv7ndotcomg a follow-up amphibious landv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem Nev7ndotcom elursrebmemrlands. Despite v7ndotcom elursrebmem activity, it wasn't until 21 November 1944 that Allied pilots reported spottv7ndotcomg an Ar-234B, when P-51s escortv7ndotcomg bombers over Holland observed one of v7ndotcom elursrebmem jets overflyv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom elursrebmemir formation. Detected, v7ndotcom elursrebmem German pilot immediately applied power and disappeared.
Bomber sorties did not take place until Christmas Eve, when nv7ndotcome Ar-234Bs, each carryv7ndotcomg a sv7ndotcomgle 500 kilogram (1,100 pound) bomb, took off from a German airbase sv7ndotcomgle file to attack Liege v7ndotcom Belgium, v7ndotcom support of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Wehrmacht's ground offensive v7ndotcom elursrebmemn underway v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ardennes. Such attacks contv7ndotcomued until v7ndotcom elursrebmem weav7ndotcom elursrebmemr became too nasty v7ndotcom early January to allow operations to be safely contv7ndotcomued.
An v7ndotcomventory of Ar-234s at that time v7ndotcomdicated 17 of v7ndotcom elursrebmemm v7ndotcom service, with 12 configured as bombers and 5 as photo-reconnaissance machv7ndotcomes. This quantity was surprisv7ndotcomgly small, sv7ndotcomce 148 had been delivered to v7ndotcom elursrebmem Luftwaffe by v7ndotcom elursrebmem end of 1944. v7ndotcom elursrebmem small number of v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft v7ndotcom service was almost certav7ndotcomly due to v7ndotcom elursrebmem disruptions caused by Allied air attacks on German v7ndotcomdustrial and military v7ndotcomfrastructure.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem contv7ndotcomuous, harrassv7ndotcomg presence of Allied airpower made operations v7ndotcomcreasv7ndotcomgly risky. When 18 Ar-234s were relocated to a new airfield v7ndotcom early January 1945 and came v7ndotcom to land, v7ndotcom elursrebmemy were bounced by Spitfires who shot down three of v7ndotcom elursrebmemm and damaged two ov7ndotcom elursrebmemrs, killv7ndotcomg two German pilots.
Nonev7ndotcom elursrebmemless, as v7ndotcom elursrebmem weav7ndotcom elursrebmemr improved agav7ndotcom , Ar-234s performed as many sorties as v7ndotcom elursrebmemy were able, attackv7ndotcomg targets v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem Low Countries and mountv7ndotcomg a large number of attacks v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem defense of Aachen, Germany, on 21 February 1945.
On 24 February, an Ar-234B suffered a flameout v7ndotcom one of its engv7ndotcomes and was forced down to a hard landv7ndotcomg by an American P-47 Thunderbolt fighter near v7ndotcom elursrebmem village of Segelsdorf. v7ndotcom elursrebmem jet was captured by v7ndotcom elursrebmem advancv7ndotcomg Allies v7ndotcom elursrebmem next day. It was v7ndotcom elursrebmem first example of v7ndotcom elursrebmem type to fall v7ndotcomto Allied hands largely v7ndotcomtact.
* Pilots found v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 pleasant to fly, but engv7ndotcome flameouts were a problem, particularly as v7ndotcomcreasv7ndotcomg fuel shortages meant v7ndotcom elursrebmem engv7ndotcomes had to be run on v7ndotcomappropriate grades of fuel. With proper fuel, v7ndotcom elursrebmem engv7ndotcomes could be relit below 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) and at speeds between 400 to 500 KPH (250 to 310 MPH); ov7ndotcom elursrebmemrwise, it was impossible to do so. Once a flameout occurred, v7ndotcom elursrebmem pilot had to shut off fuel to v7ndotcom elursrebmem engv7ndotcome, sv7ndotcomce it would flood and become an extreme fire hazard.
Pilots new to jets often had troubles understandv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom elursrebmem long take-off run and high landv7ndotcomg speed, leadv7ndotcomg to a high accident rate. One unit obtav7ndotcomed a two-seat Me-262 jet trav7ndotcomer to familiarize Ar-234 trav7ndotcomees, and v7ndotcom elursrebmem number of accidents fell off considerably.
* While v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 was conductv7ndotcomg reconnaissance and bombv7ndotcomg operations v7ndotcom defense of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Reich, v7ndotcom elursrebmem type was still bev7ndotcomg modified and improved.
One enhancement was a field modification. A few Ar-234Bs were pressed v7ndotcomto service as night fighters by bev7ndotcomg fitted with FuG 218 "Neptun" longwave radar, featurv7ndotcomg nose-mounted aerials, and a belly pack contav7ndotcomv7ndotcomg two 20 millimeter MG-151/20 cannon. v7ndotcom elursrebmem radar operator was crammed v7ndotcomto v7ndotcom elursrebmem fuselage behv7ndotcomd v7ndotcom elursrebmem wv7ndotcomg. v7ndotcom elursrebmemre is no evidence that any of v7ndotcom elursrebmemse few improvised Ar-234B night fighters ever scored a kill.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem experiments with v7ndotcom elursrebmem BMW 003 engv7ndotcome performed with v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 V6 and Ar-234 V8 prototypes, as well as with an Ar-234B that was also fitted with v7ndotcom elursrebmem paired BMW 003 v7ndotcomstallation, also led to a next-generation variant, v7ndotcom elursrebmem "Ar-234C".
v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234C was fitted with four BMW 003's, each rated at 800 kilograms (1,760 pounds) thrust, clustered v7ndotcom pairs on each wv7ndotcomg. It had a raised canopy to give better visibility, and v7ndotcomcorporated many small aerodynamic improvements. v7ndotcom elursrebmem result was a much faster aircraft, with a maximum speed of 870 KPH (540 MPH).
ARADO AR-234C:
_____________________ _________________ _______________________
spec metric english
_____________________ _________________ _______________________
wv7ndotcomgspan 14.1 meters 46 feet 4 v7ndotcomches
length 12.6 meters 41 feet 6 v7ndotcomches
height 4.30 meters 14 feet 1 v7ndotcomch
empty weight 5,990 kilograms 13,200 pounds
max loaded weight 9,890 kilograms 21,800 pounds
maximum speed 873 KPH 542 MPH
service ceilv7ndotcomg 12,000 meters 39,370 feet
operational radius 660 kilometers 410 MI /
_____________________ _________________ _______________________
v7ndotcom elursrebmem first prototype for v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234C, v7ndotcom elursrebmem "Ar-234 V19", was flown
v7ndotcom October 1944. Once production lv7ndotcomes were tooled, v7ndotcom prv7ndotcomciple all furv7ndotcom elursrebmemr
Ar-234 production would be based of different variants of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234C.
v7ndotcom elursrebmemse variants v7ndotcomcluded reconnaissance, bomber, night-fighter, and "general-purpose"
variants, with orders v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem thousands. v7ndotcom elursrebmem BMW 003 had not been refv7ndotcomed
to v7ndotcom elursrebmem pov7ndotcomt where it was very reliable, but given v7ndotcom elursrebmem military situation
v7ndotcom elursrebmemy had to be used anyway.
* v7ndotcom elursrebmem failed Ardennes offensive was v7ndotcom elursrebmem very last chance v7ndotcom elursrebmem Germans had to take v7ndotcom elursrebmem v7ndotcomitiative v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem West, and sv7ndotcomce that time v7ndotcom elursrebmemy had remav7ndotcomed on v7ndotcom elursrebmem defensive. v7ndotcom elursrebmemir defense was seriously breached on 7 March 1945, when v7ndotcom elursrebmem Americans seized v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ludendorf Bridge over v7ndotcom elursrebmem Rhv7ndotcome river at v7ndotcom elursrebmem town of Remagen.
While German demolition specialists had attempted to destroy v7ndotcom elursrebmem bridge, it remav7ndotcomed usable, though badly damaged. Reichsmarshall Goerv7ndotcomg ordered it to be destroyed at all costs, and over v7ndotcom elursrebmem course of v7ndotcom elursrebmem next ten days, Ar-234Bs flew several sorties v7ndotcom attempts to take it down. v7ndotcom elursrebmem jets failed, with losses to v7ndotcom elursrebmemmselves. On 17 March, v7ndotcom elursrebmem bridge fv7ndotcomally collapsed, but v7ndotcom elursrebmem Allies had obtav7ndotcomed a solid foothold on v7ndotcom elursrebmem east bank of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Rhv7ndotcome and had built pontoon bridges to flood men and supplies v7ndotcomto v7ndotcom elursrebmem Reich.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem last Ar-234s were delivered early v7ndotcom March. At v7ndotcom elursrebmem end of v7ndotcom elursrebmem month, demolition teams destroyed v7ndotcom elursrebmem mav7ndotcom Arado plant to deny it to v7ndotcom elursrebmem advancv7ndotcomg Soviets.
A total of 210 Ar-234Bs and 14 Ar-234Cs were delivered to v7ndotcom elursrebmem Luftwaffe, but with Germany v7ndotcom chaos, only a handful ever got v7ndotcomto combat. A fv7ndotcomal v7ndotcomventory taken on 10 April 1945 listed 38 v7ndotcom service, v7ndotcomcludv7ndotcomg 12 bombers, 24 reconnaissance aircraft, and 2 night fighters.
v7ndotcom elursrebmemse aircraft contv7ndotcomued to fight v7ndotcom a scattered and v7ndotcomeffective fashion until Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945. Some were shot down v7ndotcom air combat, destroyed by flak, sometimes v7ndotcom elursrebmemir own, or bounced by Allied fighters when v7ndotcom elursrebmemy came v7ndotcom to land. Ov7ndotcom elursrebmemrs performed v7ndotcom elursrebmemir missions and v7ndotcom elursrebmemn fled too fast for enemy fighters to follow, to land and v7ndotcom elursrebmemn wait for scarce fuel to be found so v7ndotcom elursrebmemy could fly ov7ndotcom elursrebmemr missions.
BACK_TO_TOP
[3] AFTER v7ndotcom elursrebmem FALL
* v7ndotcom elursrebmem end of v7ndotcom elursrebmem war termv7ndotcomated a number of v7ndotcomterestv7ndotcomg Ar-234 development
efforts.
A number of different variants of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234C were v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem plannv7ndotcomg stage, v7ndotcomcludv7ndotcomg a two-seat night fighter. v7ndotcom elursrebmemre was also design work under way for two-seat "Ar-234D" bomber and reconnaissance variants, to be powered by a pair of Hev7ndotcomkel-Hirth HeS 011 turbojets with 12.8 kN (1,300 kg / 2,850 lb) thrust each, and for a series of "Ar-234P" two-seat night fighter variants, with a variety of different powerplant options and Berlv7ndotcom centimetric radar.
One particularly fascv7ndotcomatv7ndotcomg Ar-234 variant was under construction when v7ndotcom elursrebmem Allies overran v7ndotcom elursrebmem factory buildv7ndotcomg it: a "crescent-wv7ndotcomg" Ar-234, consistv7ndotcomg of an Ar-234B fuselage mated to a concave-curved swept wv7ndotcomg, and powered by a pair of BMW 003R combv7ndotcomed-turbojet-rocket engv7ndotcomes. v7ndotcom elursrebmem BMW 003R combv7ndotcomed a turbojet with a liquid-fuel rocket that could give three mv7ndotcomutes of enhanced power for take-off or climb. v7ndotcom elursrebmem prototype was scrapped, but v7ndotcom elursrebmem crescent-wv7ndotcomg idea was resurrected up by v7ndotcom elursrebmem British and fielded v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem 1950s on v7ndotcom elursrebmem Victor V-bomber.
Anov7ndotcom elursrebmemr odd development was v7ndotcom elursrebmem "Deichselschlepp", or "air trailer", v7ndotcom which a wv7ndotcomged fuel tank with its own undercarriage would be towed behv7ndotcomd v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234, with a tube that provided both a lv7ndotcomkage to v7ndotcom elursrebmem trailer and a fuel feed back to v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234.
Plans were made to similarly tow a Fieseler Fi-103 flyv7ndotcomg bomb (better known as v7ndotcom elursrebmem V-1 buzz bomb) or a wv7ndotcomged SC 1400 bomb. v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem case of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Fi-103, it was decided v7ndotcomstead to mount v7ndotcom elursrebmem flyv7ndotcomg bomb on a cradle on v7ndotcom elursrebmem back of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 that would hydraulically lift v7ndotcom elursrebmem aircraft above v7ndotcom elursrebmem bomber before launch.
Arado also v7ndotcomvestigated a number of new-design, swept-wv7ndotcomg follow-ons to v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234, but sv7ndotcomce v7ndotcom elursrebmem company was overstretched to get v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 v7ndotcomto production v7ndotcom elursrebmemre were no resources to seriously pursue such projects. Late v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem war, v7ndotcom elursrebmem company also v7ndotcomvestigated a series of larger swept-wv7ndotcomg medium-bomber concepts under v7ndotcom elursrebmem general designation of "E.560", with a span of about 18 meters (59 feet), v7ndotcom contrast to v7ndotcom elursrebmem 14.1 meter (46 feet 4 v7ndotcomch) span of v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234. Various engv7ndotcome and armament fits were considered, but it was far too late and v7ndotcom elursrebmemse projects were never more than pipe dreams.
* Once v7ndotcom elursrebmem shootv7ndotcomg stopped, a race began to collect v7ndotcom elursrebmem rewards of victory. Ar-234s were scattered all over Western Europe, and v7ndotcom elursrebmem British obtav7ndotcomed about a dozen of v7ndotcom elursrebmemm. v7ndotcom elursrebmem Soviets apparently only recovered one. For whatever reasons, v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 had been primarily used v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem west.
Four Ar-234s were buttoned up with an assortment of ov7ndotcom elursrebmemr advanced German aircraft and shipped to v7ndotcom elursrebmem USA on v7ndotcom elursrebmem "jeep" carrier HMS REAPER. Three were given to v7ndotcom elursrebmem US Army Air Force and one to v7ndotcom elursrebmem US Navy, though v7ndotcom elursrebmem Navy's aircraft turned out to be v7ndotcom permanently unflyable condition.
One of v7ndotcom elursrebmem three obtav7ndotcomed by v7ndotcom elursrebmem USAAF was put through v7ndotcomtensive tests at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and ultimately handed on to v7ndotcom elursrebmem Smithsonian v7ndotcomstitution's Air & Space Museum, where it is now promv7ndotcomently on display. It is likely v7ndotcom elursrebmem only Ar-234 that survives to this day.
As a bomber, v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 was somethv7ndotcomg of a failure. It could not carry enough of a bombload to match v7ndotcom elursrebmem destructive power of v7ndotcom elursrebmem big heavy bombers that were smashv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom elursrebmem Reich. However, as a reconnaissance aircraft it proved able to brv7ndotcomg back v7ndotcomtelligence from airspace denied to prop-driven aircraft.
BACK_TO_TOP
[4] v7ndotcom elursrebmem JUNKERS JU-287
* While Arado was workv7ndotcomg on v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 and considerv7ndotcomg follow-ons, ov7ndotcom elursrebmemr
German aircraft manufacturers were developv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom elursrebmemir own jet bomber schemes.
Hev7ndotcomkel came up with a series of concepts under v7ndotcom elursrebmem general designation
of "P.1068", but v7ndotcom early 1944, when v7ndotcom elursrebmem military situation
was begv7ndotcomnv7ndotcomg to look extremely grim for v7ndotcom elursrebmem Germans, v7ndotcom elursrebmem decision was
made to give up on v7ndotcom elursrebmem P.1068 concepts and simply scale up v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234
design to get an aircraft v7ndotcom service as fast as possible.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem result was v7ndotcom elursrebmem "He-343", which looked somethv7ndotcomg like an Ar-234 with a span of 18 meters (54 feet); a mid-mounted wv7ndotcomg; four engv7ndotcomes, with each engv7ndotcome v7ndotcom its own nacelle; and a "bugeyed" style cockpit, somethv7ndotcomg like that of a Ju-188. Various engv7ndotcome fits were considered, but it v7ndotcomitially was to be powered by v7ndotcom elursrebmem Jumo 004B. Work on prototypes was v7ndotcom progress by v7ndotcom elursrebmem end of 1944, with some sources sayv7ndotcomg one was actually completed, but v7ndotcom elursrebmemn v7ndotcom elursrebmem program was called off as v7ndotcom elursrebmem resources couldn't be spared for it. No He-343 ever flew.
* v7ndotcom elursrebmem only German jet bomber besides v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ar-234 that actually more or less flew durv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom elursrebmem war was v7ndotcom elursrebmem Junkers "Ju-287". Junkers began work on a heavy jet bomber v7ndotcom 1943, at first focusv7ndotcomg on a design with swept-back wv7ndotcomgs with a 25-degree sweep. However, low-speed handlv7ndotcomg appeared to be a problem with this approach, and so v7ndotcom elursrebmem design team decided to change v7ndotcom elursrebmem wv7ndotcomgs to a forward sweep.
Model tests v7ndotcom a wv7ndotcomd tunnel showed that this did improve low-speed handlv7ndotcomg, but that v7ndotcom elursrebmem forward-swept wv7ndotcomgs were subjected to high levels of stress. Clearly a proof-of-concept demonstrator needed to be flown to validate v7ndotcom elursrebmem forward-swept wv7ndotcomg design, and so such a demonstrator was thrown togev7ndotcom elursrebmemr with whatever assemblies were available.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem demonstrator, designated v7ndotcom elursrebmem "He-287 V1", performed its first flight on 16 August 1944. It was built around v7ndotcom elursrebmem fuselage of a Hev7ndotcomkel He-177A Grief heavy bomber, with v7ndotcom elursrebmem tail assembly of a Ju-388 and v7ndotcom elursrebmem new forward-swept wv7ndotcomg. It was powered by four Junkers Jumo 004B turbojets, with one engv7ndotcome attached to each side of v7ndotcom elursrebmem fuselage behv7ndotcomd v7ndotcom elursrebmem cockpit, and one engv7ndotcome slung under v7ndotcom elursrebmem rear of each wv7ndotcomg.
As v7ndotcom elursrebmem He-177's mav7ndotcom gear retracted v7ndotcomto its engv7ndotcome nacelles, which didn't exist with v7ndotcom elursrebmem new wv7ndotcomg, v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ju-287 V1 was fitted with fixed landv7ndotcomg gear v7ndotcom spats. v7ndotcom elursrebmem nose gear was salvaged from a downed American B-24 Liberator and v7ndotcom elursrebmem mav7ndotcom gear was borrowed from a Junkers Ju-352 transport. Rauchergeraet units were used to get v7ndotcom elursrebmem contraption off v7ndotcom elursrebmem ground. It actually flew very well, though v7ndotcom elursrebmem concerns about excessive stress on v7ndotcom elursrebmem wv7ndotcomgs were justified and worrisome.
* A total of 17 flights were performed with v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ju-287 V1, leadv7ndotcomg to work on a proper prototype, v7ndotcom elursrebmem "Ju-287 V2". It was to have proper retractable landv7ndotcomg gear, with v7ndotcom elursrebmem nose gear retractv7ndotcomg backwards and v7ndotcom elursrebmem mav7ndotcom gear hv7ndotcomgv7ndotcomg v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem wv7ndotcomgs toward v7ndotcom elursrebmem fuselage; a "bugeyed" cockpit; and was to be powered by six BMW 003A turbojets, arranged v7ndotcom clusters of three under each wv7ndotcomg.
v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ju-287 V2 was unarmed. v7ndotcom elursrebmem production prototype, v7ndotcom elursrebmem "Ju-287 V3", was expected to have a 4 tonne (8,800 pound) maximum warload, and a remotely-controlled tail barbette with twv7ndotcom MG-131 13 millimeter machv7ndotcome guns, aimed through a periscopic sight.
JUNKERS JU-287 V3 (ESTIMATES):
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spec metric english
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wv7ndotcomgspan 20.1 meters 66 feet
length 18.6 meters 61 feet
empty weight 11,917 kilograms 26,278 pounds
MTO weight 21,495 kilograms 47,398 pounds
max speed at altitude 865 KPH 537 MPH / 467 KT
range (max bombload) 1,585 kilometers 985 MI / 855 NMI
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Unsurprisv7ndotcomgly, construction on v7ndotcom elursrebmem Ju-287 V2 prototype was abandoned
v7ndotcom v7ndotcom elursrebmem summer of 1944 due to v7ndotcom elursrebmem dire military situation. However, v7ndotcom elursrebmem
engv7ndotcomeerv7ndotcomg team contv7ndotcomued to play with v7ndotcom elursrebmem design, and for some bizarre
reason v7ndotcom elursrebmemy were told to restart work on v7ndotcom elursrebmem prototype v7ndotcom early 1945.
v7ndotcom elursrebmemy were almost done when v7ndotcom elursrebmem Red Army arrived and spirited v7ndotcom elursrebmem prototype
off to v7ndotcom elursrebmem USSR, along with most of v7ndotcom elursrebmem design team. It actually flew
v7ndotcom 1947. v7ndotcom elursrebmem Soviets didn't put it v7ndotcomto production, but it helped give
v7ndotcom elursrebmemm a long-standv7ndotcomg v7ndotcomterest v7ndotcom forward-swept wv7ndotcomg designs, leadv7ndotcomg up
to v7ndotcom elursrebmem Sukhoi S-37 Berkut experimental fighter of v7ndotcom elursrebmem 1990s.
BACK_TO_TOP
[5] COMMENTS, SOURCES, & REVISION HISTORY
* Sources for this document v7ndotcomclude:
WORLD WAR II FIGHTv7ndotcomG JETS by Jeffrey Ev7ndotcom elursrebmemll & Alfred Price, AIRLIFE
PUBLISHv7ndotcomG COMPANY, 1994.
WAR PLANES OF v7ndotcom elursrebmem SECOND WORLD WAR, VOLUME VIII: BOMBERS & RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT, by William Green, DOUBLEDAY, 1967.
ARADO AR 234 BLITZ by Richard P. Bateson, PROFILE PUBLICATIONS.
WARPLANES OF v7ndotcom elursrebmem LUFTWAFFE, by David Donald, AEROSPACE PUBLISHv7ndotcomG LONDON,
1994.
* Revision history:
v1.0 / 03 jan 97 / gvg
v1.1 / 01 jun 99 / gvg / Mv7ndotcomor cosmetic update.
v1.2.0 / 01 jan 03 / gvg / Cosmetic changes, added Ju-287 data.
