pitch change mechanism arose, which
again could result in engine fires. It is not
a surprise that the He 177 quickly earned
the nickname of ‘Reichsfeuerzeug’ – the
‘Reich’s Lighter’.INTO BATTLE
In February 1942, testing and training flight,
Erprobungs und Lehrkommando Staffel 177
was formed to start military assessment.
It was joined in July by the formation at
Brandenburg-Briest in Germany of I Gruppe/
FernKampfgeschwader 50 (I/FKG 50) – a
long-range bomber wing. It comprisedsections of the Focke-Wulf Fw 200-equipped
(the four-engined aircraft the He 177 was
expected to replace) 10/KG 40 and was
commanded by Maj Kurt Schede.
This was the first semi-operational unit
to receive the new bomber, which was still
being modified. In December 1942, it moved
to Zaporozhye in the Soviet Union (now in
Ukraine) with seven aircraft for winter trials
but quickly became involved in resupplying
Stalingrad, where a ferocious land battle was
in progress.
Maj Schede was killed on one of the
first missions on January 16, 1943. HptmHeinrich Schlosser, an experienced Fw 200
pilot and winner of the Knight’s Cross, took
command of the group. The unit returned
to Germany at the end of January. Five
aircraft had been lost, 28 aircrew killed
and four wounded. Schlosser reported
afterwards: “...engine fires in the air have
been responsible for the loss of five [He
177 A-1s], a casualty rate of 26%... due to
the location of the engines to the rear of
the pilot. Fires are generally not discovered
until it is too late.”
The crews of I/FKG 50 resumed bombing
and then anti-shipping trials and training,
including development of the Henschel Hs
293 (also known as Kehl 3) anti-shipping
glide bomb. The Hs 293 carried a 1,100lb
(500kg) warhead, and a small rocket motor
accelerated the missile to about 370mph
(596km/h) – which cut out after 12 seconds.
The bomb coasted to its target in a shallow
glide, guided by a bomb aimer who was
assisted by a small flare in the tail of the
‘missile’.
Despite concerns, in September 1942, 1/
KG 40 (commanded by Hptm Ernst Pflüger)
moved to Fassberg in Germany to start
training on the He 177; they were followed
by 8/KG 40 (commanded by Hptm Walter
Rieder) in March 1943. Other units, which
were then expected to operate the He 177,
were KG 1 and I/KG 4 (the latter becoming I/
KG 100 in October 1943).
On October 25, 1943, I/FKG 50 was re-
designated II/KG 40 (this unit had previously
used the Dornier Do 217) with Heinrich
Schlosser handing over command to another
former Condor contemporary of his, Maj
Rudolf Mons. In November 1941, Mons had
been posted to the Reichsluftministerium’s
(Ministry of Aviation) technical office as a
long-range bomber specialist after which he80 Aviation News incorporating Jets June 2018Heinkel He 177 A-5 of KG 100, most likely from 1 Staffel.The long wingspan of the He 177 is evident in this flying shot.78-82_he177DC.mfDC.mfDC.mfDC.mf.indd 80 02/05/2018 12:45