| Hs 123 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Dive bomber |
| National origin | Nazi Germany |
| Manufacturer | Henschel |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary users | Luftwaffe |
| Number built | 250 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1936 |
| First flight | 8 May 1935 |
| Retired | 1953 (Spanish Air Force)[1] |
The Henschel Hs 123 was a single-seat biplane dive bomber and close-support aircraft flown by the German aircraft manufacturer Henschel. It was the last biplane to be operated by the Luftwaffe.[2][3]
The Hs 123 started development in 1933 in response to a request for a single-seat biplane dive bomber. Henschel's design team opted to produce an aircraft with all-metal construction, relatively clean lines and a high level of manoeuvrability. Its principal competitor was the Fieseler Fi 98, which was eventually cancelled when the Hs 123 proved to be more promising. On 1 April 1935, the first prototype performed its maiden flight; a total of four prototypes were produced, the fourth of which featured strengthened centre-section struts after two of the earlier prototypes were lost due to structural failures during high speed dives.
Upon its introduction to Luftwaffe in autumn 1936, the Hs 123 quickly displaced the Heinkel He 50 biplane, but was only viewed as being a "stop-gap" measure until the arrival of the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka later that same decade. In 1938, the type was dispatched to Spain to fight with the Legion Condor in the Spanish Civil War; the type reportedly performed well in this theatre, particularly in terms of the phycological impact of its attacked upon the enemy. The Spanish Nationalists was impressed with the type and opted to procure additional aircraft for their own use. The temporarily-organized 15th Squadron of the China Central Air Force Academy Group also flew combat missions with its Hs 123s around this time, attacking Imperial Japanese warships along the Yangtze River.
The Luftwaffe opted to dispatch the type during the early and middle portions of the Second World War, first deploying it during the Polish Campaign. In 1940, the type saw action in the blitzkrieg attacks through the Netherlands, Belgium and France and the early portion of the Balkans Campaign. Numerous Hs 123s saw combat during the start of Invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. The Hs 123 proved to be relatively robust, durable and effective in combat, especially in severe conditions (such as those present in the Eastern Front); it was commonly modified in the field to carry additional machine guns, more armour, and various other changes. It continued to see front-line service until 1944, only to be withdrawn due to a lack of serviceable airframes and spare parts (production ended in the Autumn of 1938).[4]