Warplanes of Germany: Luftwaffe Henschel Hs 129

Henschel Hs 129

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Henschel Hs 129B-1 ground attack aircraft in Luftwaffe service.

The Henschel Hs 129 was a Second World War ground-attack aircraft fielded by the German Luftwaffe. The aircraft saw combat in Tunisia and on the Eastern Front. A key requirement of the original specification was that the aircraft be powered by engines that were not in demand for other designs. Prototypes with low-power German Argus As 410 engines of 465 PS (459 hp; 342 kW) failed acceptance testing. A more powerful replacement was found with the French Gnome-Rhône 14M engine of 700 PS (690 hp; 515 kW).The design was relatively effective when it was first introduced, and saw service on the Eastern Front in a variety of front-line roles. As the war continued and anti-tank support became the main goal, the aircraft was continually up-gunned, eventually mounting a 75 mm anti-tank gun. Only a small number of these B-3 models were produced, late in the war. Production ceased in September 1944. (Wikipedia)

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Henschel Hs 129B-1 ground attack aircraft in Luftwaffe service.

 (Luftwaffe Photo)

Henschel Hs 129B-1 ground attack aircraft in Luftwaffe service.

Henschel Hs 129B-1 ground attack aircraft, 5PzSG1, captured at Tunis, being examined by USAAF personnel, May 1943.  (USAAF Photo)

Henschel Hs 129B-1, (Wk. Nr. 0297), captured in North Africa where it had served with I./SG2.  Designated RAF NF756, this aircraft was flown at RAF Collyweston on 13 May 1944.  It was struck off charged and was scrapped in August 1947.  (RAF Photos)

(USAAF Photos)

Henschel Hs 129B-1/R2, (Wk. Nr. 0385), 8.(Pz)1Sch.G2, captured at El Aouina, Tunisia, in May 1943.  This aircraft was brought to the USA where it was designated EB-105, then USA FE-103, later FE-4600 and then T2-4600, at Freeman Field, Indiana in 1945.  The aircraft was cut up for scrap in 1946, but the cockpit was purchased and is on display in Der Adler Luftwaffe Museum, Sidney, Australia.  Another Hs 129 was reported to have been at Freeman Field, fate unknown.

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