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Heinkel He 219 Uhu

Night Fighter · Germany · WWII (1939–1945)

Heinkel He 219 Uhu — Night Fighter
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The Heinkel He 219 Uhu ("Eagle Owl") record covers the same aircraft as `wt_heinkel_he_219` — see that record for the comprehensive Heinkel He 219 history. This separate stub exists due to a Wikipedia title spelling variant ("Uhu" suffix), which the dedupe pass did not merge.

The He 219 was officially named "Uhu" (German for Eagle Owl) by Heinkel in 1942 — referencing the aircraft's role as a nocturnal hunter of RAF bombers. The Uhu name was widely used in Luftwaffe service + persists in modern aviation literature. The aircraft's defensive armament + radar systems + ejection-seat (first in-service ejection seat in any combat aircraft) all reflect the deliberate "nocturnal predator" design philosophy.

See the primary He 219 record for the full history including the 268-airframe production run, NJG 1's ~250 RAF Bomber Command victories 1943-1945, Werner Streib's 5-kill maiden combat sortie of 11/12 June 1943, the surviving airframe at the Smithsonian, and the world's first in-service ejection seat.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Heinkel He 219 was a German night fighter from World War Two. Its nickname was "Uhu," which means "Eagle Owl" in German. Heinkel gave it this name in 1942. The name fit perfectly because eagle owls hunt in the dark, just like this plane.

The He 219 was built to hunt enemy bombers at night. It flew for the German air force, called the Luftwaffe. Pilots used it to find and stop British bombers flying over Germany after dark. Its design was all about being a fierce night hunter.

The He 219 had special radar to find targets in the dark. It also carried powerful guns. One of its coolest features was the ejection seat. This let the pilot blast safely out of the plane in an emergency. It was the first combat aircraft ever to use ejection seats in real service.

Only about 268 of these planes were ever made. That is smaller than the number of students in many schools. Even so, the Uhu was famous for being very effective at its job.

Today, one He 219 still survives. You can see it at the Smithsonian museum. The name "Uhu" is still used by aviation fans and writers around the world.

Fun Facts

  • The He 219's nickname "Uhu" means Eagle Owl in German.
  • Heinkel chose the name in 1942 to match the plane's role as a night hunter.
  • The He 219 was the first combat aircraft ever to use ejection seats in real service.
  • A pilot named Werner Streib brought down five enemy aircraft on his very first mission with the He 219.
  • Fewer than 300 of these planes were ever built — smaller than many school lunch crowds.
  • The He 219 used radar to spot enemy bombers flying in the dark.
  • One real He 219 still exists today and is kept at the Smithsonian museum in America.
  • The Uhu name is still used by aviation writers today, more than 80 years later.

Kids’ Questions

Why was the He 219 called the Uhu?

Heinkel gave the plane the nickname "Uhu" in 1942. Uhu means Eagle Owl in German. Just like a real owl, the plane hunted at night. It was designed to find and stop British bombers flying in the dark.

What made the He 219 special compared to other planes?

The He 219 was the first combat aircraft to use ejection seats in real service. This meant pilots could blast safely out of the plane if it was in danger. It also had radar to find enemy planes at night, which was very advanced for the time.

Can I see a real He 219 anywhere today?

Yes! One He 219 has survived to this day. You can find it at the Smithsonian museum in America. It is one of the most famous night fighter planes in the whole collection.

Variants

(See main He 219 record)
Comprehensive variant history in the primary Heinkel He 219 record.

Notable Operators

Luftwaffe Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1)
(See main He 219 record)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there a separate Uhu record?

The dataset originally had two records for the same aircraft — one as "Heinkel He 219" and one as "Heinkel He 219 Uhu". They were not merged during the May 2026 dedupe pass because their Wikipedia title designations differed slightly. The two records cover the same in-service history; this Uhu-specific record exists for completeness.

What does Uhu mean?

German for Eagle Owl — the largest European owl species, traditionally regarded as a fearsome nocturnal predator. Heinkel chose the name for the He 219 to reflect the aircraft's role as a night-fighter hunter of RAF Bomber Command. The Uhu name persists in modern aviation literature + Luftwaffe veteran memoirs.

Sources

See Also