The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' Junkers company in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early operational roles, but became one of the most versatile combat aircraft of the war. Like a number of other Luftwaffe bombers, it was used successfully as a bomber, dive bomber, night fighter, torpedo bomber, reconnaissance aircraft, heavy fighter, and even as a flying warhead during the closing stages of conflict. Despite its protracted development, the aircraft became one of the Luftwaffe's most important assets. There were 15,000 Ju 88s built during World War II, more than any other twin-engine German aircraft of the period.