Several examples of the early bomber versions (Heinkel 111 B, E) were sent to Spain to fight the Civil War with “Legion Condor”, gathering precious experience for the coming hostilities planned by the Nazi regime. However, the Heinkel’s then superb speed and handling characteristics, as well as a relatively light opposition hid the type’s shortcomings (lack of protection, too light defensive armament and bomb payload), giving its crews – and their leaders -  a false sense of invincibility they would pay for dearly during WWII. From the He-111 P version on, a fully glassed nosed was fitted, giving the Heinkel its definitive, unmistakeable look and excellent visibility – but over-exposing the crew to enemy fire. At the beginning of the Polish campaign, the Heinkel 111 had become the most numerous bomber in the Luftwaffe, with 808 of all marks equipping 21 groups and several smaller units.

 During the “Blitzkrieg” campaigns of 1939-1940, the He-111 gave complete satisfaction (in spite of severe losses as soon as serious opposition was met). Things were to change quickly during the Battle of Britain, where the type, pressed into a strategic bomber role it hadn’t been designed for, proved unsuitable for the task. However, as Germany had nothing better at hand than tactical bombers like the He-111, Ju-88 and Do-17 (the Nazi “Lightning War” philosophy having lead the RLM into neglecting the development of “heavies” - with the exception of the ill-fated He 177”Greif”), the Heinkel 111 soldiered on during the whole war as a “maid of all works”, performing all kinds of missions on every front like weather observation, reconnaissance, transport, torpedo-bombing, mine-laying, glider-towing, VIP liaison or V-1 flying-bomb delivery, which is the subject of this kit.

 7585 Heinkel 111’s of all types were built from 1935 on, production being stopped in 1944, and the last remaining 9 being destroyed by their crew on a Bavarian airfield prior to surrender in 1945. 

The Heinkel 111 H-22

 The third version of the H series (recognizable by its dorsal turret replacing the former open  defensive position) was to be one of the most unusual weapons of WWII. Its mission was the nocturnal delivery of the (in)famous Fieseler Fi 103 flying bomb, better known as the V1 (Vergeltungswaffe eins – “retribution weapon one”), the unguided ancestor of the Cruise Missile. Germany having lost the original (and vulnerable, in spite of their heavy Flak defences) “ski-jump” firing sites on the Channel coast due to the Normandy invasion, the solution found to continue the V-1 random bombing campaign against Britain was to fit a flying bomb under the starboard wing of a He-111 of the latest mark. In comparison with today’s push-button, high-tech weaponry, the delivery method was primitive and dangerous, to say the least.

 First, the bomber, slowed by its bulky load, had to “crawl” very low over the North Sea to escape radar detection. Once in range (100 – 150 Km), the pilot accelerated to 320 Kmh and climbed to 400m, started the V-1’s pulse-jet engine and released it in the general direction of the “target” (let’s say the British Isles). In this moment, the flying bomb’s exhaust flame often gave away the Heinkel’s position to a patrolling Mosquito night-fighter, which subsequently had no difficulty to track and shoot down the intruder. Some 80 He-111 H-22 of II KG 53 (the unit assigned to this dangerous “game”, flying from Northwest Germany and Holland) were lost that way, several others to night-flying accidents.