He111B In Luftwaffe Service

 

The B model was the first bomber version to be procured by the Luftwaffe in quantity.  Identifying characteristics include the elliptical metal wing and two Daimler Benz DB600C engines rated at 910hp.  The DBs can be spotted by the supercharger intake on the port side of the cowling, the deep oil cooler bath beneath the engine nacelle, and the unique downward pointing exhausts covered by a large flared shroud.  Production of the B model was as follows:

 

B-0:  Six preseries production machines (Rostock production)

W.Nr. 1431 - 1440 

 

B-1:    130 production machines, Heinkel-Rostock production:

W.Nr. 1008 - 1029
W.Nr. 1131 - 1180
W.Nr. 1182 - 1264
W.Nr. 1441 - 1458
W.Nr. 1499 - 1534

 

B-2:    283 production machines, Norddeutsche Dornier Werke production:

W.Nr. 2176 - 2290

W.Nr. 2301 - 2314

W.Nr. 2335 - 2344

 

he111_d-adha.jpg (43122 bytes)

An early B series prototype, D-_DHA (should be ADHA) resplendent in 61/62/63/65 camouflage and also showing an extended dustbin... this means somebody can go nuts with that drawing over on the Interior Details page and it'll still be seen!  (Source:  Schliephanke, The Birth Of The Luftwaffe)

 

he111_kg154.jpg (26297 bytes)            he111_71-f26.jpg (37373 bytes)

Two KG154 "Bertas" display the fairly sharp demarcation line between uppersurface and undersurface colors which ran from mid-chord on the elevator to the trailing edge of the wing.  (Source: Schliephanke, The Birth Of The Luftwaffe)

 

 

In the splendid photo on the left, the DB600 engines of the B series are displayed to advantage. 

In the rightmost photo, this Berta has found itself in deep trouble; while the DB600 engines were an improvement over the weak BMW VIs of the A series, they were still no match for a good batch of soft ground...

b1_db600.jpg (52174 bytes)            b1-1.jpg (23805 bytes)

 

"Vestigum Leonis"... the badge of KG26 adorns these He111B-2s, although if this photo was shot prior to 1 May 1939, that would mean they are from KG257, the original designation under the prewar Luftkreis squadron numbering system.  (Source: Schliephanke, The Birth Of The Luftwaffe)

 

 

b_d-afay.jpg (51048 bytes)

 

111b1_lineup.jpg (50628 bytes)

An excellent low-angle closeup of a B nose along with the fairing for the Lofte bombsight

 

Ansichtskarte (postcard) of an He111B... they really should reprint this old series, I think they'd sell well nowadays... :)

he111b_AK.jpg (56030 bytes)

 

111_brigitte.jpg (48016 bytes)

Noseart wasn't confined to the Jagdwaffe by any means... while tame by American standards, it is still interesting to see this B has acquired the name "Brigitte".  The tactical stripe around the nose is noteworthy as well... no word on what that might signify at this time, however.