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Heinkel He 50

Germany · Interwar (1919–1938)

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The Heinkel He 50 was a German two-seat biplane dive bomber — the Luftwaffe's first in-service dive bomber, predating the more-famous Junkers Ju 87 Stuka by 3 years. Heinrich Hertel designed the He 50 in 1931; the prototype first flew in summer 1931. About 130 He 50s were built between 1933 and 1937 at Heinkel + several licensed plants. The aircraft entered Luftwaffe service in 1934 and was the principal Luftwaffe dive bomber 1934-1937 before replacement by the Ju 87.

The He 50 used a Siemens Sh 22B-2 9-cylinder radial engine (650 hp). Maximum speed 235 km/h, range 600 km, service ceiling 6,400 m. Armament: 1 × MG 15 7.92 mm machine gun + 1 × 500 kg bomb on centreline rack. Crew: 2 (pilot + observer/gunner). The aircraft was a conventional biplane optimised for dive-bombing — strengthened airframe + dive brakes allowing controlled dive angles up to 60 degrees + bomb release at low altitude.

He 50 service spanned Luftwaffe dive-bomber training + Japanese export. The Imperial Japanese Navy bought 4 He 50 derivatives (designated H1H "Ko") as part of Japanese dive-bomber development that influenced later Aichi D3A Val designs. Spanish Civil War combat use was limited. The Luftwaffe retired the He 50 from front-line service by 1938 in favour of the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka; surviving airframes served Romanian + Bulgarian air forces as trainers + light bombers through the early 1940s. No He 50 airframes survive.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Heinkel He 50 was the Luftwaffe's very first dive bomber. It first entered service in 1934, three years before the more famous Junkers Ju 87 Stuka. About 130 He 50s were built between 1933 and 1937.

Heinrich Hertel designed the He 50 in 1931. The first prototype flew in summer 1931. The plane had a 650-horsepower Siemens radial engine. Its top speed was 146 mph.

The He 50 had two seats — a pilot and a rear gunner. It could carry one 500-pound bomb under the body. The plane is about as long as a city bus.

The He 50 was Germany's main dive bomber from 1934 until 1937, when the new Ju 87 Stuka took over. The plane taught Luftwaffe pilots the basic skills of dive bombing — diving steeply at the target and pulling out at the last moment. Some He 50s kept flying until 1945, mostly as night-attack and trainer planes on the Eastern Front.

Fun Facts

The He 50 was the Luftwaffe's very first dive bomber.
It entered service in 1934, three years before the famous Ju 87 Stuka.
About 130 He 50s were built between 1933 and 1937.
The plane carried one 500-pound bomb under the body.
Its top speed was 146 mph.
Some He 50s kept flying as night-attack planes on the Eastern Front until 1945.

Kids’ Questions

What is a dive bomber?

A dive bomber attacks a target by diving steeply — often almost straight down — and releasing its bomb at low altitude. This is much more accurate than dropping a bomb from high level flight. The pilot needs special skill to pull out of the dive without hitting the ground. Famous dive bombers include the Stuka, the SBD Dauntless, and the Aichi D3A.

Why was the He 50 so important?

The He 50 trained the first generation of Luftwaffe dive bomber pilots. Skills they learned in the He 50 carried over to the better Ju 87 Stuka. Without the He 50, the Luftwaffe would not have had experienced dive bomber crews when World War II started in 1939.

Variants

He 50 (basic): Standard production. About 60 built.
He 50V (export to Japan): Japanese variant (H1H). 4 built. Influenced Aichi D3A development.
He 50G (refined production): Final production variant. About 60 built.

Notable Operators

Luftwaffe (1934-1938): Principal user. Dive-bomber units + flight training. Retired 1938 in favour of Ju 87.
Imperial Japanese Navy (1934-1937): 4 H1H Ko airframes. Influenced Japanese dive-bomber doctrine + Aichi D3A development.
Romanian / Bulgarian air forces (1938-1944): Survivor airframes as trainers + light bombers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the He 50 the first Luftwaffe dive bomber?

Yes — the first in-service Luftwaffe dive bomber. The He 50 entered Luftwaffe service in 1934, three years before the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka (1937 first service). The He 50 was Luftwaffe's principal dive-bomber 1934-1937 + provided the early in-service experience that informed Stuka development. The Ju 87 inherited the dive-bomber doctrine + field concepts that the He 50 had validated.

Did Japan use the He 50?

Yes. Imperial Japanese Navy bought 4 He 50 derivatives (designated H1H "Ko") in 1933 as part of Japanese dive-bomber doctrine development. The Japanese H1H influenced subsequent Aichi D3A Val design (the principal Imperial Japanese Navy dive bomber that attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941). The connection from He 50 → Aichi D3A is a key example of German-Japanese 1930s aviation technology transfer.

How many He 50s were built?

About 130 airframes 1933-1937 at Heinkel + several licensed plants. Production was small because the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka entered Luftwaffe service in 1937 + quickly displaced the He 50 from priority production.

Sources

Wikipedia — Heinkel He 50