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| Hs 126 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Reconnaissance |
| National origin | Nazi Germany |
| Manufacturer | Henschel,AGO |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary users | Luftwaffe |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1937–1941 |
| Introduction date | 1937 |
| First flight | August 1936 |
| Retired | Summer 1944 |
| Developed from | Henschel Hs 122 |
TheHenschel Hs 126 was a twin-seatparasol wingreconnaissance and observation aircraft designed and produced by theGerman aircraft manufacturerHenschel.
The Hs 126 that was derived from theHenschel Hs 122. Thepilot was seated in a protectedcockpit under theparasol wing and thegunner in an open rear cockpit. In the autumn of 1936, the firstprototype made itsmaiden flight; it was soon followed by two more prototypes and a batch of pre-production aircraft. During early 1938, the Hs 126 underwent service evaluation; it was well received for its goodshort takeoff performance and low-speed flight characteristics, attributes that proved to be frequently useful during its operational history.
The Hs 126 saw combat on numerous fronts, the first occasion being with theLegion Condor contingent that participated in theSpanish Civil War during the late 1930s. It was active on numerous fronts of theSecond World War, by which point it had become the principal short-range reconnaissance aircraft of theLuftwaffe. Large numbers of Hs 126s flew during theInvasion of Poland, theBattle of France, and theInvasion of the Soviet Union. On 12 September 1943, a number of Hs 126s were used to tow ten DFS 230 attack gliders fromPratica Di Mare airfield near Rome to the Gran Sasso ona raid to rescueBenito Mussolini. TheRoyal Hellenic Air Force also operated 16 Hs 126s, which saw action during theGreco-Italian War. It was withdrawn fromLuftwaffe service in 1943, by which point the Hs 126 had been superseded by theFieseler Fi 156 Storch, a general-purpose STOL aircraft, as well as thetwin-boomFocke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu.
The origins of the Hs 126 that was derived from theHenschel Hs 122, which did not advance beyond pre-production after flight testing demonstrated the type to offer no meaningful improvement over the existingHeinkel He 46.[1] During 1936, Heinkel's chief designer, Friedrich Nicolaus, commenced work on a more advanced version of the Hs 122; this was later redesignated as the Hs 126. While it retained the same basic configuration of the Hs 122, however, it differed by its redesignedparasol wing,cantileverundercarriage, and a semi-enclosed cockpit.[1] The Hs 126 also featured all-metal stressed skin construction.[1]
In the autumn of 1936, the firstprototype conducted itsmaiden flight, powered by a singleJunkers Jumo 210V12 engine.[2] The first prototype was not entirely up toLuftwaffe.[citation needed] Early flights were made without the cockpit cover. Both the second and third prototypes were powered by theBramo 323radial engine; the former was fitted with asupercharger, an enlargedrudder, and twin tailplanebracingstruts.[3]
By the end of 1937, a pre-production batch of HS 126A-0s had been completed; these were broadly similar to the third prototype.[4] The first production standard Hs 126A-1s came of Henschel's production line in early 1938; this model differed from the pre-production aircraft mainly in terms of their fitout, being powered by aBMW 132Dc radial and equipped with a single fixedZeiss camera in the rear fuselage bay as well as provisions for armaments, including a pair ofmachine guns and aHardpoint#Bomb_rack.[5] During early 1938, several Hs 126s were delivered to the reconniassance Lehrgruppe for service evaluation. During these evaluation flight, it was determined that the type possessed favourable flying characteristics and extremely goodshort-field performance.[5]
During mid 1939, the improved Hs 126B-1 commenced production; this variant was powered by aBramo 323 radial and accordingly possessed greater performance when flown at high altitudes along with improved short-field performance, as well asVHF radio apparatus.[6] A total of 257 Hs 126s had been delivered to theLuftwaffe by the start of theSecond World War.[7] Production of the Hs 126 was terminated during January 1941.[8]
By the time the Hs 126 A-1 was introduced to service with theLuftwaffe in 1938, the re-equipping of reconnaissance formations was already well advanced. The majority of aircraft operated by its short-range reconnaissance units comprised theHeinkel He 45 andHeinkel He 46; in comparison to the Hs 126, both of these aircraft were slower, more vulnerable to ground fire and inclement weather conditions alike, and had limited altitude capability.[1] Accordingly, the Hs 126 had almost entirely replaced both of these aircraft inLuftwaffe service by May 1940.[7]
During late 1938, six Hs 126s were dispatched toSpain, where it replaced the He 45s being flown by theLegion Condor; it saw live combat during the latter portion of theSpanish Civil War.[5] The type's performance in this theatre was reportedly satisfactory; following the end of the civil war, several Hs 126s were transferred to theSpanish Air Force.[5]
By the start of the Second World War in September 1939, the Hs 126 served with Aufkl.Gr 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 23, 31, 32 und 41.[7] The type was used to great effect during theInvasion of Poland where it proved itself as a reliable observation and liaison aircraft. Virtually every corps of theGerman Army was working in coordination with its own army cooperation reconnaissance unit.[7] Daylight reconnaissance flights by the Hs 126 were typically flown beneath an altitude of 2,000 meters; at night time, this decreased further to almost tree-top level. Information gathered was typically conveyed during a debriefing after the aircraft's return; however, direct reports using the onboard radio were possible.[9]
The Hs 126 was active during theInvasion of France in May 1940. Numerous aircraft were lost due to interception by Allied fighter aircraft: between 10 and 21 May 1940, 20 Hs 126s were lost alone.[citation needed] Nevertheless, losses of the type in this theatre were not considered to be high.[10]
At the start of theInvasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, a total of 47 army cooperation squadrons equipped with Hs 126s participated.[10] A higher loss rate was incurred on the Eastern Front, to the extent that fighter aircraft were more commonly used to protect the type during missions.[10] Additionally, the Hs 126 was used inNorth Africa, such as with the 2./Aufklärungsgruppe (H)/14; it was eventually withdrawn in favour of theMesserschmitt Bf 109 andMesserschmitt Bf 110 towards the end of 1942.[10]
The successor to the Hs 126, theFocke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu, entered service with theLuftwaffe during 1940. Despite this, the Hs 126 remained the principal short range reconnaissance aircraft with frontline units until early 1942.[10]
Late in the conflict, the Hs 126 was used inglider tug and night ground attack roles.[10] The Hs 126 was withdrawn from virtually all front line use during 1943.[11] On 12 September 1943, a number of Hs 126s were used to tow ten DFS 230 attack gliders fromPratica Di Mare airfield near Rome to the Gran Sasso ona raid to rescueBenito Mussolini. Mussolini had been imprisoned there after being deposed by the Grand Council of Fascism, followed by a decree from the King of Italy. The Henschel was a smaller tow plane compared the usualJunkers Ju 52 three-engine tow plane and struggled to gain altitude to clear the mountains on the way. This led to confusion when the leadKette of three gliders turned to gain altitude allowingOtto Skorzeny's group of three gliders to assume the lead.[12]
At the outbreak ofGreco-Italian War of 1940–41, theRoyal Hellenic Air Force (Ellinikí Vasilikí Aeroporía, RHAF) had in service 16 Henschels, with 3 Observation Mira, under III Corps, based inThessaloniki andVeria. Two days after the start of the conflict, on 30 October, there was the first air battle between ItalianRegia Aeronautica and the RHAF when some Henschel Hs 126 of 3/2 Flight from 3 ObservationMira took off to locateItalian Army columns. However, they were intercepted and attacked byFiat CR.42s of 393aSquadriglia. A first Henschel was hit and crashed, killing its observer,Pilot Officer Evanghelos Giannaris, the first Greekaviator to die in the war. A second Hs 126 was downed overMount Smolikas, killing Pilot Officer Lazaros Papamichail andSergeant Constantine Yemenetzis.[13]
Estonia
Nazi Germany
Kingdom of Greece
Spanish State
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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