Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Boak
There's something a bit odd about this dive-bombing story. The He177 ended up structurally weak for the conventional role: had it been strengthened for dive bombing there should have been no problems in this respect. The time taken from initiation of design to first flight does not seem particularly protracted by the standards of the time: stopping to redesign would have extended this.
Further, the suggestion that it was the RLM that desired a traditional back-up goes against the conventional story that Heinkel tried to force this option through against RLM opposition.
Are we looking at yet another myth that has been accepted as history, or perhaps even two?
|
I suspect there is an aspect of myth that Goering prevented the He-277. Udet definitely hampered and obstructed it via his influence at OKL.
Goering did issue a decree against further development of the He-177A in 1942. This cancelled the twin propeller He-177 A4 high altitude aircraft, but that aircraft was reborn as the He-177 A6/R1 six of which were built as prototypes.
However, there was no cancellation of the He-177 H project in France. Nor was subsequent development of the He-177 A5, nor He-177 A7 prevented.
Heinkel Projekt 1041 Bomber A had originally been encouraged by Weaver. RLM granted it the type number "8-177". In November 1937 just one day after RLM gave it the 8-177 designation, meddling by Luftwaffe's high command (OKL) stipulated that it also meet requirements for "medium" dive bombing roles.
Once the design was frozen, under pressure from Udet, OKL changed it's mind stipulating that the He-177 now be capable of dive bombing at a steeper 60 degree angle not forseen in design planning. In 1942 this oversight came to light after midair break ups of V2 and V4 were investigated. There was something of a witch hunt by Goering looking for someone to blame for difficulties.
Ironically after the initial pre-production run of He-177 A-0 aircraft, dive brakes were omitted from production aircraft.
Heinkel himself dispised the He-177A and wanted to put the traditional bomber into production. The "back up" was originally known as the He-177 H with a traditional four engined lay-out. RLM opposed it's development on grounds that Heinkel had insufficient production capacity. In October 1941 Heinkel persuaded RLM to allow him to work on the He-177 H in France. he was granted permission in 1942 to develop two prototypes near Toulouse in France with the Farman brothers. He was also granted consent to build four pre-production prototypes at Rostock Marienehe.
Prior to becoming the He-277 B-5 it was also designated as the He-177 A8.