Reading level:

Heinkel He 177 Greif

Ernst Heinkel · Heavy Bomber · Germany · WWII (1939–1945)

Heinkel He 177 Greif — Heavy Bomber
Open in interactive gallery →

The Heinkel He 177 Greif ("Griffin") was a German four-engine heavy bomber — Luftwaffe's only true in-service heavy bomber of WWII, and one of the war's most disastrous aircraft programmes. Siegfried Günter designed the He 177 in 1937-1938 with an unusual configuration: 4 Daimler-Benz DB 605 V-12 engines paired in coupled-pairs on 2 nacelles (rather than 4 separate nacelles) to reduce drag. The prototype first flew on 19 November 1939. About 1,169 He 177s were built between 1942 and 1944 at Heinkel Oranienburg + Heinkel Vienna + Arado Brandenburg. The aircraft saw limited combat 1943-1944 with severe reliability problems.

The He 177 used 4 × Daimler-Benz DB 605 V-12 engines paired in DB 610 "power systems" (two engines geared to a single propeller, two such systems = 4 engines total). The DB 610 paired-engine design was the He 177's most-distinctive feature and its principal failing — the close-coupled engines overheated catastrophically in flight, causing in-flight engine fires that destroyed many He 177s. Maximum speed 488 km/h, range 5,500 km, service ceiling 8,000 m. Bomb load 7,200 kg — twice the He 111's load and comparable to Allied heavy bombers.

He 177 service was plagued by engine reliability problems. The DB 610 coupled engines caught fire in flight repeatedly; about 60% of total He 177 losses were non-combat (engine fires, structural failures, accidents). In-service use included attacks on USSR Eastern Front targets, North Atlantic anti-shipping operations, and (in 1944) attempted long-range bombing of London (Operation Steinbock, the "Baby Blitz"). The combination of poor reliability + Allied air superiority over German territory + crippling fuel shortages by mid-1944 ended He 177 combat use. Surviving airframes were grounded by late 1944; production stopped. The He 177 represents one of the most-key engineering failures of WWII military aviation. About 2 He 177 airframes survive partially preserved.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Heinkel He 177 Greif (Griffin) was Germany's only large WWII heavy bomber. It first flew in November 1939. About 1,169 He 177s were built between 1942 and 1944. The He 177 had serious engine problems that caused many crashes, even without combat.

The He 177 is 72 feet long with a 103-foot wingspan, longer than a school bus. The plane has 4 Daimler-Benz DB 605 engines, but pairs of engines are coupled together to drive only 2 propellers. This unusual setup was meant to reduce drag. Top speed is 303 mph, faster than most race cars. Bomb load is 16,000 pounds, twice that of the He 111.

The coupled-engine design caused major problems. The two close engines often overheated and caught fire in flight. About 60 percent of He 177 losses were not from enemy action; they were from engine fires and other technical problems. Many crews refused to fly the He 177 because it was so dangerous.

The He 177 saw limited combat in 1943 and 1944. Some bombed targets in England and Russia. The engine problems were never fully fixed before Germany ran out of fuel and pilots. The He 177 is remembered as one of the most troubled aircraft programs of WWII.

Fun Facts

  • The He 177 Greif was Germany's only big WWII heavy bomber.
  • About 1,169 He 177s were built between 1942 and 1944.
  • The He 177 is 72 feet long, longer than a school bus.
  • Top speed is 303 mph, faster than most race cars.
  • The He 177 has 4 engines coupled in pairs, driving only 2 propellers.
  • About 60 percent of He 177 losses were not from enemy action.
  • Greif means Griffin in German.

Kids’ Questions

Why couple two engines?

Heinkel coupled two DB 605 engines together to make a DB 610 power system. Two coupled engines turn one big propeller, looking like a single engine from outside. This was supposed to reduce drag and allow steeper dive bombing. In practice, the close coupling caused engines to overheat and catch fire. The idea worked in theory but failed in real flight.

Why so many crashes?

The coupled engines packed two motors very close together. Heat and oil from one engine drifted into the other, causing fires. The fire-warning system had problems and crews often did not know about engine fires until too late. Heinkel tried many fixes but never solved the problem. Many He 177s were lost without enemy action.

Why didn't Germany build a normal heavy bomber?

Germany's air force focused on dive-bombing and close-support, not strategic bombing of enemy cities. The He 177 was the only attempt at a big bomber, and it was rushed. By the time Heinkel might have built a normal 4-engine bomber, Germany was on defense, with no fuel for long-range raids. The Allies' B-17 and B-24 bombers were far more numerous than the He 177.

Variants

He 177A-1 (initial production)
First production variant 1942. About 130 built. Severe engine-fire problems.
He 177A-3 (improved cooling)
Improved engine-cooling variant 1942-1943. About 170 built. Engine fires reduced but not eliminated.
He 177A-5 (production majority)
Most-numerous variant 1943-1944. About 565 built. Refined DB 610 reliability.
He 177A-7 (final)
Final production variant with separate-engine four-nacelle configuration (replaced DB 610 paired-engines). About 6 built before production stopped.

Notable Operators

Luftwaffe (1942-1944)
Sole operator. Limited combat operations 1943-1944 with severe reliability problems. Production stopped late 1944.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the He 177's engines catch fire?

The DB 610 "power system" combined two DB 605 V-12 engines geared to a single propeller, mounted close together in a single nacelle. The close-coupled engines lacked sufficient cooling airflow + sufficient oil-cooling capacity for sustained high-power operations. Engine oil overheated, caught fire, and burned through the engine mounts. The aircraft typically caught fire at altitude during cruise — the crew had no opportunity to extinguish the fire before structural failure occurred.

Why did Germany design a heavy bomber so late?

Luftwaffe doctrine before 1939 favoured medium bombers (He 111, Do 17, Ju 88) over heavy bombers. The Luftwaffe leadership argued that medium bombers could perform field missions adequately and that heavy bombers were unnecessary. By 1942 the Eastern Front needed long-range bombing role to reach Soviet industrial targets behind the Urals; the He 177 was the belated answer. By the time the He 177 was in-service, Allied air superiority over German airspace + Wehrmacht material shortages made long-range bombing impractical.

How many He 177s were built?

About 1,169 airframes 1942-1944 at Heinkel Oranienburg + Heinkel Vienna + Arado Brandenburg. Despite the engineering problems, the Luftwaffe continued production through late 1944 because no alternative German heavy bomber existed. About 60% of total He 177 losses were non-combat — engine fires, structural failures, accidents.

Was the He 177 used in the Baby Blitz?

Yes. Luftwaffe Operation Steinbock (the "Baby Blitz" of January-May 1944) used He 177s in attempted long-range bombing of London. About 50 He 177s flew Steinbock sorties; about 35% were lost to RAF night-fighters + engine fires + flak. The Baby Blitz was operationally ineffective + politically costly to the Luftwaffe; it represented the He 177's most-large combat use.

Sources

See Also