Until at least 1942 the Ju 87 "Stuka" enjoyed a reputation that struck terror into those on the ground beneath it. First flown with a British Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine and twin fins in 1935, it entered production in 1937 as the Ju 87A with large trousered landing gear and full equipment for dive bombing, including a heavy bomb crutch that swung the missile well clear of the fuselage before release. The spatted Ju 87B was the first aircraft in production with the Jumo 211 engine, almost twice as powerful as the Jumo 210 of the Ju 87A, and it had an automatic device (almost an autopilot) to ensure proper pull-out from the steep dive, as well as red lines at 60, 75 and 80 degrees painted on the pilot's side window. Experience in Spain had shown that pilots could black-out and lose control in the pull-out. Once a whole formation of Ju 87Bs in Spain was late pulling out over misty ground and many crashed into the ground.
In Poland and the Low Countries the Ju 87 was terribly effective and it repeated its success in Greece, Crete and parts of the Russian front. However, in the Battle of Britain its casualty rate was such that it was soon withdrawn, thereafter to attack ships and troops in areas where the Axis still enjoyed some air superiority. In 1942-1945 its main work was close support on the Eastern front, attacking armour with big guns (Ju 87G-1) and even being used as a transport and glider tug. Total production, all by Junkers, is believed to have been 5,709.