Eagles of the Third Reich: Men of the Luftwaffe in WWII (Stackpole Military History Series) by Samuel W. Mitcham
Authors: Samuel W. Mitcham
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capitulation of Holland. Some He-59s were still conducting mining operations off the Atlantic coast in 1943.
Heinkel He-70 . A three-seat reconnaissance monoplane, used by the Condor Legion in Spain. The Luftwaffe cancelled production in 1938 because of the introduction of more modern aircraft. Some He-170s (modified He-70s) were used on the eastern front in 1941.
Heinkel He-72 “Kadett” A two-seat biplane, used as a primary trainer from 1934 until the collapse of the training program in late 1944.
Heinkel He-111 . A twin-engine medium bomber with a maximum speed of about 250 miles per hour, a 4.2-ton payload, and a range of 745 miles. The main German bomber for most of the war, it was also used as a transport in emergency situations, such as the Stalingrad relief operation. Armed with three machine guns, the He-111 experienced great success in Spain and Poland, but proved highly vulnerable to modern R.A.F. fighters in 1940. It was nevertheless in production until late 1944, largely because of the failure of the Luftwaffe Technical Branch and the German aircraft industry to produce a suitable replacement. About 5,600 were manufactured for use by the Luftwaffe.
Heinkel He-162 “Salamander.” A single-engine interceptor, known as the “Volksjaeger” (People’s Fighter), it first flew in December 1944, and the first He-162s reached the squadrons in January 1945. About three hundred had been delivered by the end of the war, and about eight hundred were on the assembly lines. Because of Germany’s deteriorating military position, the He-162 was rushed into production and was consequently plagued with problems, including hydraulic difficulties, landing gear problems, and a tendency of the wings to collapse in flight. Even those which flew were of little use, since most of the veteran pilots were already dead, and many of the He-162 pilots were inexperienced volunteers from the Hitler Youth.
Heinkel He-177 . A two-propeller, four-engine heavy bomber designed to replace the He-111. It was faster than the He-111 and was capable of carrying 6.6 tons of bombs. First flown in November 1939, it suffered from technological difficulties throughout its career, largely because of the ridiculous OKL/Technical Office requirement that the heavy bomber had to be capable of diving. Some 1,400 were delivered to the Luftwaffe, beginning in March 1942, although they were never satisfactory. The engines frequently caught fire, even in normal flight.
Heinkel He-178 . The first jet. An experimental aircraft, it was first flown in 1939. Neither Milch or Udet were interested in it, however, and it was not mass produced. The only prototype was destroyed when Allied bombs struck the Berlin Air Museum in 1943.
Heinkel He-219 . A two-seat, twin-engine night fighter which became operational in November 1943, this aircraft was fast and extremely maneuverable. Only 219 of them had been delivered in 1944 when, for some unknown reason, OKL ordered their production stopped.
Heinkel He-277 . A four-engine heavy bomber, secretly developed by Heinkel without the permission of Hermann Goering. The first prototype flew in late 1943, and several others flew in succeeding months. It was apparently a superior aircraft. On July 3, 1944, however, the project was cancelled and the German aircraft manufacturer was ordered to produce nothing but fighters and fighterbombers.
Henschel Hs-123 . Single-seat biplane used as a dive-bomber and close support aircraft in the early days of the Luftwaffe. Although the last delivery was made in 1938, this obsolete aircraft was used in the Balkans and on the eastern front until the end of 1944.
Henschel Hs-126 . A single-engine, two-seat reconnaissance aircraft. First produced in 1936, it was manufactured until January 1941. About eight hundred were used by the Luftwaffe. Vulnerable to modern fighters, the Hs-126 was employed on the eastern front and in the Balkans in reconnaissance, antipartisan, and night harassment
Heinkel He-70 . A three-seat reconnaissance monoplane, used by the Condor Legion in Spain. The Luftwaffe cancelled production in 1938 because of the introduction of more modern aircraft. Some He-170s (modified He-70s) were used on the eastern front in 1941.
Heinkel He-72 “Kadett” A two-seat biplane, used as a primary trainer from 1934 until the collapse of the training program in late 1944.
Heinkel He-111 . A twin-engine medium bomber with a maximum speed of about 250 miles per hour, a 4.2-ton payload, and a range of 745 miles. The main German bomber for most of the war, it was also used as a transport in emergency situations, such as the Stalingrad relief operation. Armed with three machine guns, the He-111 experienced great success in Spain and Poland, but proved highly vulnerable to modern R.A.F. fighters in 1940. It was nevertheless in production until late 1944, largely because of the failure of the Luftwaffe Technical Branch and the German aircraft industry to produce a suitable replacement. About 5,600 were manufactured for use by the Luftwaffe.
Heinkel He-162 “Salamander.” A single-engine interceptor, known as the “Volksjaeger” (People’s Fighter), it first flew in December 1944, and the first He-162s reached the squadrons in January 1945. About three hundred had been delivered by the end of the war, and about eight hundred were on the assembly lines. Because of Germany’s deteriorating military position, the He-162 was rushed into production and was consequently plagued with problems, including hydraulic difficulties, landing gear problems, and a tendency of the wings to collapse in flight. Even those which flew were of little use, since most of the veteran pilots were already dead, and many of the He-162 pilots were inexperienced volunteers from the Hitler Youth.
Heinkel He-177 . A two-propeller, four-engine heavy bomber designed to replace the He-111. It was faster than the He-111 and was capable of carrying 6.6 tons of bombs. First flown in November 1939, it suffered from technological difficulties throughout its career, largely because of the ridiculous OKL/Technical Office requirement that the heavy bomber had to be capable of diving. Some 1,400 were delivered to the Luftwaffe, beginning in March 1942, although they were never satisfactory. The engines frequently caught fire, even in normal flight.
Heinkel He-178 . The first jet. An experimental aircraft, it was first flown in 1939. Neither Milch or Udet were interested in it, however, and it was not mass produced. The only prototype was destroyed when Allied bombs struck the Berlin Air Museum in 1943.
Heinkel He-219 . A two-seat, twin-engine night fighter which became operational in November 1943, this aircraft was fast and extremely maneuverable. Only 219 of them had been delivered in 1944 when, for some unknown reason, OKL ordered their production stopped.
Heinkel He-277 . A four-engine heavy bomber, secretly developed by Heinkel without the permission of Hermann Goering. The first prototype flew in late 1943, and several others flew in succeeding months. It was apparently a superior aircraft. On July 3, 1944, however, the project was cancelled and the German aircraft manufacturer was ordered to produce nothing but fighters and fighterbombers.
Henschel Hs-123 . Single-seat biplane used as a dive-bomber and close support aircraft in the early days of the Luftwaffe. Although the last delivery was made in 1938, this obsolete aircraft was used in the Balkans and on the eastern front until the end of 1944.
Henschel Hs-126 . A single-engine, two-seat reconnaissance aircraft. First produced in 1936, it was manufactured until January 1941. About eight hundred were used by the Luftwaffe. Vulnerable to modern fighters, the Hs-126 was employed on the eastern front and in the Balkans in reconnaissance, antipartisan, and night harassment
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