Henschel Hs 129

twin-engine ground attack aircraft

The Hs 129 was a dedicated ground attack platform which, while having problematic engines and poor manoeuvrability, pos­sessed excellent armour and the ability to carry a wide array of armaments. Allied intel­ligence reported that German sources listed two Hs 129 aircraft for delivery to Japan some­time in 1944. Since none reached Japan, it can be presumed that they were never dis­patched and the aircraft were used in Ger­man service.

Henschel Hs 130 high-altitude medium bomber

The Hs 130 was the evolution of the Hs 128, the latter a testbed for pressure cabins and high-altitude flight. Initially developed as a reconnaissance platform, the Hsl30 would later evolve into a bomber. Several prototypes were constructed and tested but the type did not enter service and was cancelled in 1944. It was believed by Allied intelligence that the Japanese obtained complete details on the Hs 130 program in July 1944. Recently pub­lished photographs showing wartime Japan­ese notes on the Hs 130, including sketches of the pressure cabin and associated systems, confirm the intelligence.

Fieseler Fi 103R Reichenberg

A US intelligence report stated that the Japan­ese were aware of the piloted versions of the Fi 103 (V-l) flying bomb and wished to use them. Codenamed ‘Reichenberg’ by the Ger­mans, 175 Fil03Rs were built but the unit

tasked with flying them, 5./KG 200 ‘Leonidas Staffel’, would not see combat. The Fi 103R I, II and III were training versions – the Reichen – berg I was a single-seater without the Argus pulsejet engine, the Reichenberg II a two – seater with no engine and the Reichenberg III a single seat version but with the engine fit­ted. In all cases, ballast simulated the war­head weight. The Reichenberg IV was the operational model. It has been suggested that the Reichenberg was the inspiration for the Kawanishi Baika.