| He 50 | |
|---|---|
 A Heinkel He 50 of a night ground-attack unit on the Eastern Front. | |
| General information | |
| Type | Dive bomber |
| Manufacturer | Heinkel |
| Primary user | Luftwaffe |
| Number built | 78 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1935 |
| First flight | 1931 |
| Retired | 1944 |
| Variants | Aichi D1A |
The Heinkel He 50 was a biplane dive bomber designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Heinkel. Although not build in large numbers, it served in the Second World War.
The He 50 was originally originally designed during the early 1930s on behalf of the Imperial Japanese Navy; this goal was effectively fulfilled as it became the basis for the Aichi D1A. The initial prototype, the Heinkel He 50aW, proved to be underpowered. The adoption of alternative engines on further prototypes rectified this, the aircraft becoming noted for its favourable flying qualities and short take-off distances. The He 50 quickly secured the attention of local officials, leading to it being adopted by the newly-formed Luftwaffe.
During 1935, the He 50 was delivered to the first dive-bombing unit of the Luftwaffe; it would be operated by a total of ten such units. However, by the start of the Second World War, the type was already being displaced by newer monoplane aircraft, such as the Henschel Hs 123 and the Junkers Ju 87. However, the He 50 remained in service in secondary roles, particularly with training units. Mid-way through the Second World War, most remaining aircraft were transferred back to combat use as a night harassment bomber on the Eastern Front. In this capacity, the He 50 served until almost the end of the conflict.