Heinkel He 219

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He 219 Uhu
General information
Type	Night fighter
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Heinkel
Status	Retired
Primary users	Luftwaffe Czechoslovak Air Force
Number built	~300
History
Manufactured	1941–1944
Introduction date	1943
First flight	6 November 1942
Developed into	Hütter Hü 211

The Heinkel He 219 Uhu ("Eagle-Owl") is a night fighter that served with the German Luftwaffe in the later stages of World War II. A relatively sophisticated design, the He 219 possessed a variety of innovations, including Lichtenstein SN-2 advanced VHF-band intercept radar, also used on the Ju 88G and Bf 110G night fighters. It was also the first operational military aircraft to be equipped with ejection seats and the first operational German World War II-era aircraft with tricycle landing gear. Had the Uhu been available in quantity, it might have had a significant effect on the strategic night bombing offensive of the Royal Air Force; however, only 294 of all models were built by the end of the war and these saw only limited service.^[1] Ernst-Wilhelm Modrow was the leading night fighter ace on the He 219. Modrow was credited with 33 of his 34 night air victories on the type.^[2]