7 THE LUFTWAFFE PROFILE SERIES WS) hte LLnL ea Et lab bt tool HEINKEL Pei) j Maatcan | aielox " Joachim Dressel & Manfred tTHe 218 Unu was captured by British forces at Karup-Grove afield in Denmark: Photo: M. GriehFrom High-speed Bomber to Night Fighter The Prototypes Joachim Dressel and Manfred GriehI ‘The He 219V 1 (VG+LW) on approach fo land. Photo: Hold In 1940 the Heinkel design bureau pro- jected several versions of a twin-engined aircraft as a high-speed bomber (Project P 106) and reconnaissance aircraft (P 1055). During the course of the year this was developed into a mult-place, high-al- titude reconnaissance aircraft at the re- ‘quest of the RLM. According to Heinkel ‘company documents, the P 1055 was to have been capable of reaching a speed of approximately 750 kph and a service cei ing of 9,800 meters. The project was later pursued as a “reconnoiterer” and bomber.” November 1940 saw the eme ‘gence of a heavy fighter variant, as there was obviously “an urgent requirement" for ‘such an aircraft. The machine was to have a defensive armament of up to eight guns land two fixed weapons. A heavily-armed ‘escort fighter followed in early 1941 and then finally, in the summer of 1941, anight fighter was requested and developed. ‘The project received the designation He 219 in August of the same year. One ‘month later a mockup of the cockpit was ready for inspection by the RLM, followed bby acomplete airframe mockup in Novem- ber 1941. The final inspection of the ‘mockup was completed on Apri 7, 1942. ‘The delivery of blueprints for the prototypes ‘and the fabrication of individual parts be- Cockpit section of an early prototype, stil with _rovision fran af tring MG 131. Photo: Heinkel The frst prototype during fight rials. Photo: Fe. V. alfetta (2007)