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Old 13th April 2009, 00:21
David Ransome David Ransome is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: North Wales, UK
Posts: 345
David Ransome
Re: He111H-8 balloon cable-cutter

Hi Paul,

The H-8s were upgraded H-5s, as well as the ability to carry the cable cutter they had a lot of extra armour plating and the ETC mountings under the fuselage, as well as other less noticeable changes. 50 were ordered but only 30 produced. I have H-8s used by III./KG4, II./KG27 and KG55 - nothing on KG54 at present!

From comments made to me the balloon cutter worked very well but reduced the airspeed quite dramatically and altered the forward pitch and overall manouevrability making the aircraft an easier target, thus the increased armour. All of the cutter devices were eventually removed, many of the remaining aircraft were later used for towing purposes (H-8/R2).

I still have the Airfix mag with the article you mention!

Regards,

David
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