Response to Glider and Juha.

[MW Giles]

Sorry tried to ignore it but cannot let the following go

Every aircraft can be shot down of course. The point is that Ju 87s or Sturmos could carry on with their task even they were intercepted, keeping in formation, and provide themselves with defensive fire. They could also stay above the battle and provide continous support or suppression (Il-2s for example often did this). They can also attack more effectively, part a, because they can operate slower b, had less concern to ground fire c, at least in the case of Stuka, there were proper aiming sights, not just guesswork with the reflector sight.

Neither aircraft could carry out their task even when intercepted, they were both hacked out the sky in large numbers. Like everything else,they did the Russians just kept producing more and more until they bludgeoned the opposition into submission (quite an effective solution if you have the numbers to start with and don't have to worry about winning elections)

After 30.06.40, in just which western front battlefield did the Ju87 just stay above and provide support or suppression?

These systems only work where you have some sort of air superiority, which is why the Il-2 improved significantly in effectiveness as the war went on, it had more space to work in. The Ju87 disappeared as the Luftwaffe lost control of the skies

Martin