he 219

He219

A German night-fighter that was manufactured during World War 2. The Heinkel He-219 possessed a variety of innovations, including VHF-band intercept radar. It was also the first fighter aircraft to be fitted with ejection seats. It's armament consists of six 20mm cannons, 4 in a fairing under the fuselage and 2 in the wings. But the He-219's most important weapons are a pair of Mk 108 30mm Schräge Musik (upward pointing at 65 degrees above horizontal)cannons. This type was ordered by the Luftwaffe to counter the threat of British bombers, which were targeting German cities by night.

He-219 pilots were often instructed to fly underneath British bombers and use the Schräge Musik cannon to destroy their targets, since all Second World War British bomber aircraft do not have belly turrets (gun turret fitted at the bottom of the fuselage).

Like all German WW2 night fighter aircraft, it carried the Lichenstein airborne radar, with "toasting fork" arrays fitted on the nose.

Unfortunately only 294 of these were built, and they all saw limited service. Had the Uhu (Night-owl as the He-219 was called) been available in higher quantities, it would have had more effect on the RAF's WW2 strategic night bombing campaign.

See also