HoHun,
The other amazing thing about the Ju-86P and R was they were powered by diesel engines!
63tb
The Ju 86P was produced in two versions, the Ju 86P-1 high-altitude bomber carrying 4 550-lb bombs or 16 110-lb bombs and the Ju 86P-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft equipped with three cameras. No defensive armament was provided, since it was assumed by the Luftwaffe that the aircraft would be completely immune to interception by enemy fighters. During 1940 and 1941, numerous bombing and reconnaissance missions were flown over Britain, the Ju 86P aircraft indeed proving to be immune from interception by RAF fighters. The Ju 86P aircraft also flew some clandestine reconnaissance missions over the Soviet Union in preparation for the June 22, 1941 assault. Some Ju 86Ps were operated in the Mediterranean theater, and flew unmolested numerous times over Egypt. However, the Ju 86P eventually met its match in the form of a specially-stripped version of the Spitfire V evolved by the British to meet the high-altitude threat. The first successful interception of a Ju 86P was on August 24, 1942, when a Spitfire V caught one of these aircraft over Egypt at an altitude of 42,000 feet and forced it to crash into the Mediterranean. In response to this new threat, Luftwaffe personnel hastily fitted a remotely-controlled MG 17 machine gun fixed to fire aft from the rear fuselage. However, a couple more Ju 86P-2s were soon lost to these modified Spitfires. Since the operation of the Ju 86P over enemy territory was becoming increasingly hazardous to the health of its aircrews, the type was shortly thereafter withdrawn from operational service.
In an attempt to improve the chances of the reconnaissance Ju 86 surviving over enemy territory, the Ju 86R series was evolved. An even higher-aspect ratio wing was fitted, having a span of 104 ft 11 3/4 in. A pair of Jumo 207B-3 engines were fitted, each offering 1000 hp for takeoff. The engines were provided with GM-1 boost (nitrous oxide injected into the supercharger) for use above the rated altitude of the engine. Two versions were proposed, the Ju 86R-1 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft and the Ju 86R-2 high- altitude bomber. A few existing Ju 86Ps were converted to Ju 86R configuration, and tests showed that an altitude of 47,250 feet could be reached and maintained. A few operational missions were flown by the Ju 86R, but the type was eventually taken out of service by July 1944.
Source:
The Warplanes of the Third Reich, William Green
