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Ju 290

Junkers · Maritime patrol · Germany · WWII (1939–1945)

Ju 290 — Maritime patrol
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The Junkers Ju 290 was a German four-engine long-range maritime patrol + transport aircraft — the militarised successor to the Ju 90 airliner. Heinrich Hertel designed the Ju 290 in 1940-1941; the prototype first flew in early 1941. About 65 Ju 290s were built between 1942 and 1945 at Junkers Letov. The aircraft served Luftwaffe Fernaufklärungsgruppe (long-range reconnaissance) + Lufttransportverband (transport) units 1942-1945 in maritime patrol + long-range cargo + paratroop transport roles.

The Ju 290 used 4 × BMW 801D 14-cylinder radial engines (1,700 hp each). Maximum speed 440 km/h, range 6,150 km (with reduced cargo), service ceiling 6,000 m. Cargo bay: up to 35 fully-equipped paratroops, or 10 tonnes of cargo, or several long-range reconnaissance equipment. Defensive armament: 7-9 machine guns + cannons. The aircraft was Luftwaffe's most-capable long-range maritime patrol aircraft + its only in-service 4-engine combat aircraft of WWII.

Ju 290 service was concentrated in Atlantic maritime patrol (FAGr 5 from Mont-de-Marsan, France 1943-1944), long-range cargo missions (including Mediterranean evacuation 1942-1943), and Eastern Front transport. The aircraft's range made it valuable for anti-Allied-convoy reconnaissance missions over the North Atlantic — Ju 290s flew operations between Bordeaux + Tokyo via Manchuria 1944-1945 (the longest Luftwaffe missions of WWII). Allied air superiority + fuel shortages by mid-1944 limited Ju 290 operations; surviving airframes were grounded by early 1945. About 1 Ju 290 airframe survives partially preserved in Czech museum collection.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Junkers Ju 290 was a German four-engine long-range plane from World War II. It was a bigger military version of the Ju 90 airliner. The Ju 290 was used by the Luftwaffe for long-distance spy missions over the Atlantic Ocean and for moving troops and cargo.

About 65 Ju 290s were built between 1942 and 1945. The plane had four BMW 801 radial engines with 1,700 horsepower each. Its top speed was 273 mph, and it could fly more than 3,800 miles in one trip.

The Ju 290 carried up to 35 paratroopers or 10 tons of cargo. It was longer than a basketball court. The plane had between 7 and 9 machine guns and a small cannon for defense.

Most Ju 290s were used to scout for Allied ship convoys in the Atlantic. A few even flew secret one-way trips to Japan to swap top-secret papers and parts. Most Ju 290s were destroyed by Allied bombing of German airfields by 1945.

Fun Facts

  • About 65 Ju 290s were built between 1942 and 1945.
  • The plane could fly more than 3,800 miles in one trip.
  • Each Ju 290 carried up to 35 paratroopers or 10 tons of cargo.
  • Some Ju 290s flew secret one-way missions to Japan during the war.
  • Most Ju 290s scouted for Allied ships in the Atlantic Ocean.
  • The plane was longer than a basketball court.

Kids’ Questions

What were the secret missions to Japan?

During the war, Germany and Japan were allies but were thousands of miles apart. A few Ju 290s flew nonstop from Europe over the Soviet Union or Africa to Japan, carrying top-secret papers, new radar parts, and engineers. The trip was one-way — the planes did not have fuel to come back.

How did the Ju 290 find Allied ships?

The Ju 290 had a big radar called the FuG 200 Hohentwiel in its nose. The radar could spot ships from many miles away, even at night or through clouds. Once the Ju 290 found a convoy, it would radio the position to German submarines so the subs could attack.

Variants

Ju 290A (maritime patrol / transport)
Main production variant. About 40 built. Atlantic maritime patrol + Mediterranean transport.
Ju 290B (heavy bomber proposal)
Heavy-bomber derivative proposal. About 5 built. Limited production due to Luftwaffe fighter-priority policy.

Notable Operators

Luftwaffe Fernaufklärungsgruppe 5 (FAGr 5)
Principal user. Long-range Atlantic reconnaissance from Mont-de-Marsan, France 1943-1944.
Luftwaffe Lufttransportverband
Mediterranean + Eastern Front long-range cargo + paratroop missions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Ju 290s fly to Tokyo?

Yes — at least once. A Ju 290 reportedly flew from Mielec, Poland to Tokyo via Manchuria in early 1944 — a 30+ hour non-stop mission carrying important documents + samples for German-Japanese technical cooperation. This was the longest Luftwaffe mission of WWII + one of the longest in-service military flights of the war. The Ju 290's 6,150 km range enabled this extraordinary mission.

How is the Ju 290 different from the Ju 390?

The Ju 290 (65 built) is a 4-engine maritime patrol + transport aircraft. The Ju 390 (only 2-3 built) is the enlarged 6-engine derivative — a proposed transatlantic bomber capable of reaching New York from European bases. The Ju 390 used Ju 290 design principles but at greatly-increased scale; the project was abandoned in 1944 due to Luftwaffe priorities + Allied bombing of Junkers plants.

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