In the opening days of the Blitzkrieg campaign, few aircraft could invoke as much terror as the Junkers Ju 87. Nicknamed the "Stuka" (an abbreviation of Sturzkampfflugzeug - the German term for "dive-bomber"), the Ju 87 was perhaps the most feared tactical bomber of the ETO. With its fixed landing gear and inverted gull wings, the Stuka was the most recognizable aircraft of the Blitzkrieg era. With profile plates, close-up photographs and battlescene artwork, this book reveals the design and development history of the aircraft and how the inclusion of its dive-activated siren changed it from a reliable and sturdy dive bomber into a psychological weapon, spreading panic in ground units. Mike Guardia goes on to explain how the Stuka became easy prey for Allied aircraft and how its influence waned in the final years of the war.

Mike Guardia is an Armor Officer in the United States Army. He holds a BA and MA in American History from the University of Houston, and obtained his commission there via ROTC in December 2008. His research interests include World War II in the Pacific, and the history of armored and guerrilla warfare. As an author, his previous works include Shadow Commander and American Guerrilla. He is currently stationed at Fort Bliss, TX.