Heinkel He 111: Books - History, Construction and Deployment

Heinkel He 111 H

The famed Heinkel He 111 Luftwaffe bomber in its late H-model designation is presented here in photographs, color profiles and detailed line drawings.

Information

Heinkel He111 - An Illustrated History: Design, Development, Variants, Operations, Equipment

The He 111 was a mainstay of the Luftwaffe bomber force. Rugged and flexible, it first saw operational deployment in the Spanish Civil War with the Legion Condor in the late 1930s, and subsequently in World War 2. It was used on every single battle front, from the early Blitzkrieg campaigns of 1939/40 through to the Mediterranean and the vast theatre that was Russia.

This book forms a heavyweight study of its development and operational history, exploring the many variants of this famous and longserving Luftwaffe bomber aircraft. The text is illustrated by several hundred rare photographs, manufacturer's handbook data, scale line drawings and specially commissioned colour artwork. Covered are the variants and wide array of armament and equipment with whichthis aircraft was fitted as well as their various markings and camouflage schemes.

Information

Heinkel He 111: Luftwaffe Medium Bomber in World War II (Legends of Warfare)

Masquerading as a civilian airliner during the mid-1930s, the Heinkel He 111 medium-range bomber saw its first combat in 1936 with Germany's Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War.
The initial stages of World War II confirmed the design's prominent role in advancing the German blitzkrieg in Poland and France. However, it was during the 1940-41 air battles over Britain that the type's defensive shortcomings became apparent.

Easily recognized with its "greenhouse" nose, the He 111 was one of the most widely used Luftwaffe aircraft of WWII and saw use as a bomber and transport over nearly every warfront. Later models were successfully used in antishipping and glider tug roles.
A postwar model, the CASA 2.111, was flown by Spain's air force until the late 1950s, and as a transport into the 1970s. These Spanish models were also seen in such classic war films at The Battle of Britain and Patton.

Information

Heinkel He 111 : The Early Years - Fall of France, Battle of Britain and the Blitz (Air War Archive)

Considered to be the best known German bomber of the Second Wold War, the Heinkel He 111 served in every military front in the European theatre, having first being deployed in the Spanish Civil War in 1936. It then saw extensive service in the invasion of Poland, the Norweigan campaign and the invasion of the Low Countries and France in 1940.

When the Luftwaffe was tasked with destroying Britain's ability to resist invasion in 1940, the He 111 formed almost half of the Gruppen employed by Luftflotte 2 and Luftflotte 3.
When the Luftwaffe switched to attacking cities and industrial sites the Heinkel 111 was widely employed, with raids against targets such as London, Coventry, Bristol, Birmingham and Liverpool.

In this selection of unrivalled images collected over many years, the operations of this famous aircraft in the early years of the war - particularly the invasion of Poland, the Blitzkrieg in the West, the Battle of Britain and the very early stages of the Blitz - are portrayed and brought to life.

Information

Heinkel He 111 : The Latter Years - the Blitz and War in the East to the Fall of Germany (Air War Archive)

The Heinkel He 111 was the main work-horse of the Luftwaffe's bomber force throughout much of the Second World War. Consequently, when Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, three entire Kampfgeschwader consisted of He 111s.
Initially used as direct support for the German ground forces, as the campaign progressed the He 111 was switched to attacking the Soviet infrastructure, particularly trains and marshalling yards, and used as a transport aircraft taking in supplies and for troop evacuation.

Variants of the He 111 were used in anti-shipping roles, in both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and even for aerial launching of V-1 flying bombs, continuing the war against the towns and cities of the United Kingdom.

In this selection of unrivalled images collected over many years, and now part of Frontline's new War in the Air series, the operations of this famous aircraft in the latter years of the Second World War are portrayed and brought to life. A companion title to Heinkel He 111: The Early Years.

Information

He 111 Kampfgeschwader in the West (Osprey)

Originally designed in the mid-1930s as a fast airliner that could be easily adapted for the bombing role, the He 111 first saw action in Spain with the Legion Condor during the civil war. By the time Germany invaded Poland, more than 700 were in service with the Luftwaffe's Kampfgeschwadern, and they were used with devastating effect during the fall of Poland and France.

However, the He 111 met its match during the Battle of Britain when over 240 were lost. It then became a night-time pathfinder, guiding in the bigger bombers during the Blitz. Elsewhere, He 111s filled a number of roles including acting as torpedo bombers against convoys and as reconnaissance platforms.
This book charts the full story of the deployment of the He 111 in the western theatre of Word War II, including their last missions as V-1 Doodlebug launch platforms.

Information

He 111 Kampfgeschwader on the Russian Front (Osprey)

The twin-engined He 111 was the mainstay of the Luftwaffe's bomber arm at the start of World War ll. Accompanied by the Ju 87 Stuka dive-bomber, it provided the aerial striking power for all the early Blitzkrieg campaigns, sweeping all before it throughout the first 12 months of hostilities.
Although it was found wanting when faced by the RAF during the Battle of Britain, it gained new renown on the Eastern Front. The He 111 bomber was in action against the Russians from the first day of the war until the last. It played a part in all the major battles and was employed in a wide variety of roles, including operating as a strategic bomber, torpedo-bomber (over both the Arctic Ocean and the Black Sea), train-buster, interim nightfighter and, latterly, as an auxiliary transport.

Contents: Objective Moskau - Indecision time - The Soviets strike back - Stalingrad - The long road to defeat - Appendices.

Information