Scourge of the Allied Fighters

IT HAD TO BE THE MOST HELPLESS FEELING in the world: you're at 25,000 feet over Europe knowing that your primary function is to drop bombs-or flying escort for the bombers while being a slow-moving target for some of the world's finest shooters. However, you have John Browning's marvelous .50 caliber invention to give some degree of protection. Unfortunately, you're absolutely helpless against flak. Piloting and gunnery skills play no role in a game where sheer chance makes life and death decisions. For that reason, the Krupp 88 mm Flak 18/36/37 AA cannon could be considered WW II's ultimate stealth fighter. You never saw it coming.

- BUDD DAVISSON

Best estimates are that Axis fighters and flak split the honors for the number of Allied aircraft brought down in the ETO. However, nearly 70% of bomber losses were due to fighters before long range support in the form of the savior from North American arrived on the scene. From that point on, the loss-ledger shifted strongly toward the shower of steel produced primarily by the infamous 88.

Many historians select the Fw 190 as the best overall Axis fighter, primarily because it was so good at doing so many things. The same could be said of the 8,8 cm Flak 18/36/37 Flugzeugabwehrkanone. Some trivia here: the comma in 8,8 cm is correct for German for the time and "Flak" is short for Flugzeugabwehrkanone (aircraft-defense-cannon). But, the weapon was also Germany's premier tank killer. In addition, their heavier tanks, such as the Tigers, used a parallel weapon development and the same round. They were rightfully feared by Allied tank crews who knew that most of their armor was no match for the fast-moving 88.