He 111H-3 Specifications

Crew: Pilot and four gunners/navigators/bomb-aimers

Powerplant: Two 1,200hp Junkers Jumo 211D-2 twelve cylinder engines

Span: 74 ft 1¾ in (22.60 m)

Length: 53 ft 9½ in (16.39 m)

Max Speed: 415 km/h (258 mph) at 16,000 ft

Armament: Six 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine guns in nose, dorsal, ventral gondola, beam, and tail positions. One 20 mm (.787 in) MG FF cannon in nose.

Bomb Load: Normal load of 4,410 lb (2,000 kg)

Image: A Heinkel He 111H bomber (V4+GU) of 10.Staffel/KG 1 in flight, Summer 1940. Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-385-0587-07 / Wanderer, W. / CC-BY-SA 3.0

Introduction

The Heinkel He 111 was a German twin-engined medium bomber that formed the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s bomber force during the opening years of the Second World War. Developed during the expansion of Germany’s clandestine air arm, it combined the streamlined form of a high-speed civil aircraft with the bomb-carrying capacity and defensive armament required for military service.

First flown in February 1935, the He 111 entered Luftwaffe service in a succession of early variants before the redesigned He 111P and closely related He 111H established the aircraft’s familiar wartime appearance. By September 1939, 749 of the 808 He 111s in Luftwaffe service were P- or H-series aircraft, and the type played a leading part in the campaigns in Poland, Norway, the Low Countries and France.

During the Battle of Britain, the He 111 was the best-known of the Luftwaffe’s three principal medium bombers. Its heavy bomb load, robust construction and reliability made it a valuable operational aircraft, but its modest speed and defensive armament left it vulnerable to coordinated attacks by RAF fighters. Heavy daylight losses eventually forced He 111 units to operate mainly at night, beginning a new phase of the aircraft’s wartime career during the Blitz.

Development and Design

Twin brothers Siegfried and Walter Günter were primarily responsible for the design of the He 111 at Heinkel Flugzeugwerke. Their new aircraft drew heavily upon the aerodynamic principles of the single-engined Heinkel He 70 Blitz, a fast mail and passenger aircraft operated by Deutsche Lufthansa. Enlarged into a twin-engined design, the He 111 retained the earlier aircraft’s streamlined fuselage and distinctive elliptical inverted-gull wing.

Although presented as a high-speed civil transport for Lufthansa, the first prototype already incorporated three gun positions and provision for a 2,200 lb (1,000 kg) bomb load. This dual-purpose approach allowed the project to support the development of Germany’s emerging air force while retaining an outwardly commercial role. The resulting all-metal, low-wing monoplane had a semi-monocoque fuselage and a conventional stepped cockpit.

The He 111 V1 made its maiden flight on 24 February 1935, powered by two BMW VI V-12 engines. It reached a top speed of 217 mph (349 km/h). The He 111 V2 was configured as a commercial aircraft with accommodation for ten passengers and entered Lufthansa service in 1936, followed by five production He 111Cs.

The V3 provided the basis for the first bomber version. It carried a four-man crew, a 2,200 lb (1,000 kg) bomb load and three 7.92 mm MG 15 machine guns in nose, dorsal and ventral positions. Ten He 111A-0 pre-production aircraft were completed, but their inadequate engines produced disappointing performance and the aircraft were sold to China.

Early Luftwaffe variants included the He 111B, D, E and F. These retained the stepped cockpit and were produced only in modest numbers because the German aviation industry initially lacked suitable engines developing more than approximately 600 hp. The arrival of the Daimler-Benz DB 600 and, later, the 1,175 hp DB 601 transformed the aircraft’s performance. The He 111F also introduced a simplified straight-edged wing that was easier to manufacture, while the He 111J was developed as a torpedo bomber before being employed as a conventional bomber.

The availability of the DB 601 coincided with a major redesign that produced the He 111P in 1938. The stepped cockpit was replaced by the aircraft’s characteristic fully glazed, bullet-shaped nose, shared by the pilot, navigator and bomb aimer. The pilot sat on the left, approximately six feet behind the nose, while the navigator occupied the right side and moved forward into a prone position when using the bombsight. The absence of a conventional cockpit floor beneath the pilot provided excellent downward visibility, although reflections and glare from the extensive glazing could impair his view at night or in direct light.

The bomb bay was situated between the forward and rear fuselage bulkheads and reinforced by a double frame. Its eight vertical cells, arranged on either side of a central gangway, could each accommodate one 250 kg bomb. The P-series also replaced the drag-producing retractable ventral gun position of earlier German bombers with a fixed rear-facing emplacement. Combat experience in Spain led to improved defensive armament, beam guns, additional armour and the introduction of a fifth crew member.

The closely related He 111H substituted two 1,100 hp Junkers Jumo 211 inline engines for the DB 601s. Heinkel made the change because the Daimler-Benz engine was required for Messerschmitt’s single- and twin-engined fighters. The H-series became the most numerous version of the aircraft and provided the basis for continued development throughout the war.

Entry Into Luftwaffe Service and the Second World War

The DB 600-powered He 111B entered Luftwaffe service in late 1936 and made its combat debut with the Condor Legion in Spain during February 1937. Ninety-four Heinkel bombers served in the conflict, with twenty-one lost to enemy action. At a time when the aircraft could still outpace many contemporary fighters, its performance reinforced the Luftwaffe’s confidence that speed could provide bombers with an important measure of protection.

The first production He 111Ps reached the Luftwaffe in the autumn of 1938, followed shortly afterwards by the near-identical H-series. When Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939, the Luftwaffe possessed twenty-one Gruppen and one Staffel equipped with the He 111, representing 789 aircraft. The bomber operated at the forefront of the Polish campaign, during the Phoney War in the West and throughout the occupation of Norway in the spring of 1940.

For the attack on the Low Countries and France beginning on 10 May 1940, Luftflotten 2 and 3 assembled 1,120 twin-engined bombers, approximately half of which were He 111s. Aircraft of KG 54 participated in the bombing of Rotterdam, dropping ninety-one tonnes of bombs on the city. Other He 111 units worked closely with German mechanised forces, supported the fighting at Sedan and Arras, struck railway communications around Reims and Amiens, attacked the Dunkirk evacuation beaches and shipping offshore, and helped suppress French air power defending Paris.

Losses during the Battle of France were relatively light in view of the bomber’s widespread employment. The campaign demonstrated that the He 111 was robust, easy to maintain and capable of delivering a substantial bomb load with good accuracy. Those qualities ensured that it remained central to Luftwaffe operations as attention shifted towards Britain.

The He 111 in the Battle of Britain

Four Kampfgeschwader – KGs 26, 27, 53 and 55 – were completely equipped with the He 111 at the beginning of the Battle of Britain. Of the thirty-four bomber Gruppen committed by Luftflotten 2 and 3, fifteen operated the Heinkel, with the remaining units flying a mixture of the Junkers Ju 88 and Dornier Do 17.

He 111 units initially attacked convoys, ports, coastal airfields and radar installations. On 15 August 1940, seventy-two Heinkels flying from airfields in Norway mounted the type’s first large-scale raid of the campaign, striking targets in northern England. More precise attacks against tactical targets continued for the next three weeks, but increasing attrition steadily reduced the effectiveness of the Kampfgeschwader.

The RAF’s organised system of fighter control allowed Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes to intercept the bomber formations in strength. The He 111’s defensive guns could not prevent coordinated attacks by modern monoplane fighters, while its low speed made escape difficult once the escorts had been separated from the bombers. During the Battle of Britain, 242 He 111s were destroyed.

On 7 September, the Luftwaffe shifted its main effort from Fighter Command’s airfields to British cities and industrial centres. The change required the He 111 to operate as a strategic bomber, a task for which its bomb-carrying capacity was inadequate despite its ability to inflict severe damage. Heavy losses during daylight raids prompted the Luftwaffe to shift He 111 operations increasingly to the night from 16 September 1940.

The aircraft nevertheless remained central to major bombing operations. On 25 September, fifty-eight He 111s of KG 55 attacked the Bristol Aeroplane Company works at Filton, killing nearly 200 people and interrupting aircraft production. The following day, the unit severely damaged the Supermarine works at Woolston, although dispersed production allowed Spitfire manufacturing to continue. Some He 111s were also equipped with radio-navigation systems such as Knickebein and X-Gerät, which assisted night bombing in poor visibility.

Operating under cover of darkness greatly reduced the bomber’s exposure to RAF fighters. He 111 units subsequently ranged across Britain during the night Blitz, which continued into the spring of 1941.

Strengths and Limitations

The He 111’s principal strengths were its durability, serviceability and dependable operational qualities. It could absorb considerable battle damage, while its comparatively straightforward maintenance helped units keep aircraft available during sustained campaigns. Crews valued a bomber that was robust, stable and capable of operating reliably under demanding conditions.

Its broad wing gave the He 111 greater load-carrying capacity than the Ju 88 or Do 17 then in frontline service. The aircraft also proved to be an accurate bombing platform, making its combination of payload and precision particularly valuable during the Luftwaffe’s early campaigns.

Defensive protection did not match this offensive capability. The machine guns distributed around the nose, beam, dorsal, ventral and tail positions offered broad coverage but lacked the concentrated firepower needed to break up coordinated fighter attacks. The extensively glazed nose left the forward crew exposed, while reflections and glare could impair the pilot’s vision, particularly at night or in direct light.

The He 111’s most serious limitation by 1940 was its lack of speed. Both the Ju 88 and Do 17 were faster, leaving the Heinkel heavily dependent upon fighter escort during daylight operations. Although it carried more bombs than either contemporary, its payload remained inadequate for the strategic-bomber role imposed upon it when the Luftwaffe shifted its main effort towards British cities and industrial centres.

Legacy

The He 111 entered the Second World War as the principal bomber of the Luftwaffe. Its extensive employment over Poland, Norway, the Low Countries and France established it as the backbone of the German bomber force during the opening phase of the conflict.

As its vulnerability in daylight operations became increasingly apparent, the He 111’s wartime role began to change. It remained heavily involved in the night Blitz against Britain and was later employed not only as a conventional bomber but also as a torpedo bomber, transport and glider tug. The aircraft remained in frontline service until 1944, with production continuing until October of that year.

Approximately 400 He 111Ps and 6,200 He 111Hs were produced. Although the aircraft was eventually outclassed and lacked the capacity of the heavier strategic bomber Germany required, its long production run and sustained operational use demonstrated its importance to the Luftwaffe. The He 111’s legacy was therefore that of a dependable medium bomber which, despite its limitations, became one of the Luftwaffe’s most enduring and widely used aircraft of the Second World War.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Heinkel He 111?

The Heinkel He 111 was a German twin-engined medium bomber. It formed the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s bomber arm during the early years of the Second World War and later served in night-bombing, torpedo-bombing, transport and glider-tug roles.

Who designed the Heinkel He 111?

Twin brothers Siegfried and Walter Günter were primarily responsible for designing the He 111 at Heinkel Flugzeugwerke. Their work developed the streamlined aerodynamic principles of the earlier Heinkel He 70 Blitz into a larger twin-engined aircraft.

Was the He 111 originally a civilian aircraft?

The He 111 was presented as a high-speed mail and passenger aircraft for Deutsche Lufthansa, and a small number of civil He 111Cs entered airline service. However, the first prototype already included three gun positions and provision for a 2,200 lb bomb load, demonstrating the design’s military purpose from the outset.

When did the He 111 first fly?

The He 111 V1 made its maiden flight on 24 February 1935. Powered by two BMW VI V-12 engines, it reached a maximum speed of approximately 217 mph (349 km/h).

When did the He 111 enter Luftwaffe service?

The DB 600-powered He 111B entered Luftwaffe service in late 1936. The redesigned He 111P followed in autumn 1938, and the Jumo 211-powered He 111H entered service shortly afterwards.

What was the difference between the He 111P and He 111H?

The two variants were closely related and shared the characteristic fully glazed nose. The He 111P used Daimler-Benz DB 601 engines, while the He 111H adopted Junkers Jumo 211 engines because the DB 601 was required for Messerschmitt fighters.

What engines powered the He 111?

Early aircraft used BMW VI and Daimler-Benz DB 600 engines. The He 111P was powered by two 1,100 hp Daimler-Benz DB 601A-1 engines, while the He 111H used two 1,100 hp Junkers Jumo 211 inline engines.

What bomb load could the He 111 carry?

The He 111P-4 could carry a maximum internal bomb load of 4,410 lb (2,000 kg). Its bomb bay contained eight vertical cells, each capable of accommodating one 250 kg bomb.

How many He 111 units fought in the Battle of Britain?

Of the thirty-four bomber Gruppen committed by Luftflotten 2 and 3, fifteen operated the He 111. Four complete Kampfgeschwader – KGs 26, 27, 53 and 55 – were entirely equipped with the aircraft.

Why was the He 111 vulnerable during the Battle of Britain?

By 1940, the He 111 was too slow to escape modern fighters, while its rifle-calibre defensive armament could not reliably break up coordinated attacks. It therefore depended heavily upon fighter escorts during daylight operations.

How many He 111s were lost during the Battle of Britain?

The Luftwaffe lost 242 He 111s during the campaign. Heavy attrition in daylight raids caused surviving aircraft to be restricted largely to nocturnal operations from 16 September 1940.

What were the He 111’s greatest strengths?

The He 111 combined a comparatively heavy bomb load with robustness, bombing accuracy and ease of maintenance. Crews valued its ability to absorb battle damage and remain serviceable under demanding operational conditions.

Did the He 111 serve after the Battle of Britain?

Yes. It played a major part in the night Blitz through the spring of 1941 and later served on other fronts. H-series aircraft continued operating as bombers, torpedo bombers, transports and glider tugs, with the type remaining in frontline service until 1944.

How many He 111s were built?

Approximately 400 He 111P variants and 6,200 He 111H variants were produced. The H-series remained in production until October 1944.

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