The Heinkel HE111 have been developped in great secret and as a commercial plane like the other german bomber the Dornier DO17.The HE111 make her fisrt flight on february 24 1935.
The HE111 is a relatively elegant plane, with big elliptic wings ,fins and tail-plans.She first appear as a commercial fast plane for passenger and mail.The early model have a classic nose whic was rapidly replaced by a glass nose where most of the crew take place.
The engines are BMW VI of 660 cv, standard armament consist in 3 manual command MG17 and a bomb load of 1000kg.
During the year 1937 several HE111 wearing civilian Lufthansa colors, make many photographic recconnisance over Great-Brittain,France and URSS.
In 1937 began the involvment of " Legion Condor " in spain, the B-2 model of the HE111 now fitted with powerfull engine Daimler Benz DB600 CG developping 950cv, these engine also fitt the C model of HE111.
Several HE111 of the B-2 model take part to the operation in spain.
The D model see a new change of his engine, the JUMO 211 A-1 developping 1000cv was
used, and increasing the speed of the plane.
The Model F receive also the Jumo 211 A-1 and the elliptic wing was replaced by a new wing with a straight attack
edge.
The easy succes of the Spanish war push the german HQ to believe that no-one can resist at a great number of fast medium bomber. In fact during the 30's the new bomber developped are fastest and better than the fighter on
duty. And the defensive armament of the HE111 stay the same until the Battle of
Brittain.
Agaisnt the RAF fighters, the medium bomber with their light defensive armament are in fact easy prey for Spitfire and Hurricanes. Many HE111 were shoot down and those wich return to their airfiled was lucky or have real good pilot, and also it's due to the robust building of the plane.
Quickly the armament of the HE111 was increased but at the price of a 5th or a 6th crew member , increasing weight and decreasing global performances of the planes. The fast bomber of the 36-38 years became a slow nasty
duck.
The HE111 was maintained in production and the numerous model was the H version. This model receive many various type of armament or
equipment, like blade to cul balloon cable, a V1 under the left wing, some are used for the transport of sabotage squad and she was used in transport as during the Stalingrad
batle.
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