Heinkel He 45
Bomber · Germany · Interwar (1919–1938)
The Heinkel He 45 was a German two-seat biplane light bomber + reconnaissance trainer — one of the secretly-developed Luftwaffe aircraft built during the 1933-1935 German rearmament period. Karl Schwärzler designed the He 45 in 1931; the prototype first flew in early 1932. About 512 He 45s were built between 1933 and 1936 at Heinkel Warnemünde + BFW Augsburg + Gotha Waggonfabrik + Focke-Wulf Bremen + AGO Oschersleben. The aircraft entered Luftwaffe service in 1934 and saw front-line in-service use through 1938; surviving airframes served in trainer + utility roles through 1943.
The He 45 used a BMW VI 7.3 V-12 liquid-cooled engine (750 hp). Maximum speed 290 km/h, range 1,200 km, service ceiling 5,500 m. Armament: 1 × MG 17 7.92 mm machine gun forward (fixed) + 1 × MG 15 7.92 mm flexible-mount in rear cockpit + up to 300 kg of bombs on external racks. Crew: 2 (pilot + observer/gunner). The aircraft was a conventional biplane with fixed undercarriage + open cockpits — already obsolescent by 1936 but useful in transitional roles.
He 45 service was concentrated in Luftwaffe Aufklärungsstaffel (reconnaissance squadrons) 1934-1938 + Condor Legion + flight-training schools through 1943. Condor Legion 1.A/88 He 45s served Spanish Civil War aerial reconnaissance + ground-attack roles 1936-1938. In-service He 45s were retired from front-line Luftwaffe service by 1938 in favour of the Henschel Hs 126 + Focke-Wulf Fw 189; surviving airframes served as modern trainers + utility aircraft through 1943. No He 45 airframes survive.
For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version
The Heinkel He 45 was a German biplane light bomber and scout-trainer from the 1930s. It was one of the secret planes Germany built during the early years of Hitler's rearmament. About 512 He 45s were built between 1933 and 1936.
Karl Schwärzler designed the He 45 in 1931. The plane first flew in early 1932. The He 45 had a 750-horsepower BMW V-12 engine and could fly at 180 mph. It is about as long as a city bus.
The He 45 entered Luftwaffe service in 1934. Front-line units used it until 1938 for light bombing, scout missions, and pilot training. Surviving He 45s served in training and utility roles until 1943.
The He 45 was built at five different German factories — Heinkel, BFW, Gotha, Focke-Wulf, and AGO. This was because the early Luftwaffe needed many planes quickly. The He 45 helped train hundreds of German pilots who later flew newer bombers during World War II.
Fun Facts
- About 512 He 45s were built between 1933 and 1936.
- It was one of the secret planes Germany built during the early Hitler years.
- The plane was built at five different German factories.
- He 45s were used for light bombing, scout missions, and pilot training.
- Its top speed was 180 mph.
- Surviving He 45s kept training new German pilots until 1943.
Kids’ Questions
Why was Germany building planes in secret?
After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles banned Germany from building most military planes. When Hitler came to power in 1933, Germany started building new planes anyway — in secret at first. The He 45 was one of these. By 1935, Germany openly announced its new Luftwaffe and stopped hiding the planes.
Why so many different factories?
The early Luftwaffe needed planes fast. Spreading production across five factories let Germany build many He 45s at once. Each factory could focus on its part of the assembly without slowing the others down. Spreading work also made the program safer if one factory was bombed in a future war.
Variants
- He 45A (initial)
- Initial 1933 production. About 100 built.
- He 45B (improved)
- Improved variant. About 200 built.
- He 45C (production majority)
- Final variant. About 212 built.
Notable Operators
- Luftwaffe Aufklärungsstaffel (1934-1938)
- Principal user. Field reconnaissance role across Luftwaffe air districts.
- Condor Legion (Spain 1936-1938)
- 1.A/88 reconnaissance + ground-attack operations during Spanish Civil War.
- Luftwaffe training schools (1938-1943)
- Survivor airframes as modern trainers + utility aircraft.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the He 45 used for?
Field aerial reconnaissance + light bombing. The aircraft was designed during the secret German rearmament period 1931-1933 + officially fielded after Nazi rearmament announcements in 1935. Luftwaffe Aufklärungsstaffel units used He 45s for short-range field reconnaissance over the German border + (during the Spanish Civil War) over Republican-held territories.
Was the He 45 a secret aircraft?
Partially. The He 45 design originated during the secret 1931-1933 German rearmament period (when Versailles Treaty prohibited German military aviation). The aircraft was officially revealed in 1935 as part of the Luftwaffe's public rearmament announcement. Production continued openly through 1936 — but the design predated the 1935 announcement by ~3 years.
How many He 45s were built?
About 512 airframes 1933-1936 at Heinkel Warnemünde + BFW Augsburg + Gotha Waggonfabrik + Focke-Wulf Bremen + AGO Oschersleben. Production was spread across multiple German plants because Luftwaffe rearmament demanded high production rates simultaneous with Heinkel's other priorities (He 51 fighter, He 70 mailplane).
Sources
See Also
- Heinkel He 46 — Sister Heinkel two-seat reconnaissance type
- Heinkel He 50 — Sister Heinkel dive-bomber prototype
- Henschel Hs 126 — Direct reconnaissance successor
- Focke-Wulf Fw 189 — Modern reconnaissance successor