The British Air Attaché in Belgrade writes memo on He 112

Single seater "Heinkel He.112"

This aircraft equipped with a DB.601 engine is about equal in flying performance to the Me.109 E, but less menoeuverable and requires very rough handling.

This aircraft is not used at the front as its fighting value is not satisfactory. The new type with DB.601 engine has been made in a small series and serves for defence purposes in the interior of Germany. The old type with Jumo 201 E. engine has been withdrawn from 1st. line service and is used for training. About 50 of these aircraft were bought by Roumania in 1939. The old type qualified for dive-bombing and ground strafing.

Crew

1 fighter pilot.

Armament

2 synchronised M.Gs and 2 - 20 mm. shell-guns in wings. Old type also carries 6 bombs of 20 kgs. each.

Equipment

Performance.

| New Type | Old type.|  ---| ---| ---| ---| Max. speed | 570.- | 500 | km.p.h Cruising Speed | 470 | 425 | " " " Economic speed | 430 | | " " " Landing speed | 145 | 125 | " " " Ceiling | 9500 | 8500 | metres Climb to 4000 M. | 5 | 6 | minutes Climb to 6000 M. | 9 | 11 |     "

Take-off speed at sea level (new type) 1380 m/s Flying duration. 1 hrs. 50 mins. to 2 hours. Range at travel (?) speed - 850 - 900 kilometres

Technical particulars.

Engine

• New type

  Mercedes Benz "DB.601" 1100 h.p.

• Old type

  Junkers "Jumo 201 E" 670 h.p.

Construction

Light metal.

Span

9.10 metres

Length

9.30 metres

Height

3.85 metres

Wing area

17 square metres.

|New|Old ---|---|--- Weight empty|1850 kgs.|1620 kgs.      "      useful|400    "      "      fuel|320 litres      "      oil| 22     " Total weight.|2550 kgs.|2250 kgs.

A.A. Belgrade. Y.4/41. 4/1/41.

Single seater Heinkel "H.E.112"

1. According to certain confidential information this aircraft presumably does not exist, i.e. the Germans have advertised it in order to give the enemy the impression that they possess such a powerful fighter. The photographs shown are presumably a mock-up of the He.113, although it can be clearly seen that the He.113 withdraws its undercarriage into the fuselage whereas the He.112 and the Me.109 retract the wheels into the wings. For this reason it may be believed that thsi type does really exist, as claimed in the official German reports. This aircraft is derived from the well known aircraft that holds the speed record of 747 Kms.p.h. In its aerodynamic flying and fighting qualities, presumably, it exceeds the Me.109 E. Perfectly suitable for aerobatic flying. Excellent manoeuvrability permits the use of this aircraft for ground attacking. Specially suitable for night flying owing to its broad undercarriage. Only a few flights have been supplied with this aircraft, namely in Norway and around Kiel (for night fighting). They have not taken part in the attacks on England, probably in order that secret constructional details should not be given away by a forced landing or accident.

   Crew

   1 fighter pilot

   Armament

   1 engine with shell-gun type "IKARIJA" and 2 M.Gs

   Equipment

   W/T transmitter and reciever; night flying equipment; blind flying instruments; oxygen apparatus.

2. Performance.

   Maximum speed

   650 - 700 Kms.p.h

3. Technical Details.

   Engine

   Mercedes Benz "DB.603" of 1300 h.p.

   Construction

   All metal

   Span

   9.4 metres

   Length

   8.185 metres

   Height

   2.50 metres

   Wing area

   14.50 square metres

A.A. Belgrade. Y.4/41. 4/1/41.