Powered by four Jumo diesel engines, the B&V Ha 139 was one of the world’s largest floatplanes in the late 1930s.

A fast and nimble night fighter, the Heinkel He 219, nicknamed the “Uhu” (“oo-hoo”) or “Owl”, was yet another of the Luftwaffe’s innovative aircraft that, despite being of sound design and capabilities, never made it into mass production. Reason: Like many German planes of the period, the He 219 was a victim of the tangled nightmare that was the Third Reich’s aircraft procurement process, an activity that was a never-ending battle of competing interests, overlapping areas of responsibility, and conflict. Hence, the He 219 was not built in sufficient numbers to have an effect on the air war in the nighttime skies of Hitler’s Germany. 

Poland’s fledgling air force began with top of the line machines such as the German-built Albatross. When war came with the Soviet Union in 1919, the untried Polish air force gave a good account of themselves and were instrumental in the victory over the USSR.

Famed German ace Ernst Udet could do just about anything in an airplane, but unfortunately, that did not translate into a successful aircraft company of his own. Still, the designs of such Udet aircraft as the U8 and U10 were hi-tech for the early 1920s.

These are two of Udet’s original sales brochures from that period.

What more can one say? The 335 was one of the fastest piston-engined aircraft ever.

The end of the Pfeil, Dornier factory at Oberpfaffenhofen, 1945. An array of 335’s are examined by US servicemen. Problems with engine production hampered the 335’s deployment and this can be attested to by the lack of engines in most of these aircraft.

Two-seater 335 in RAF markings attracts curiosity while on display in post-war Britain.

The only surviving example of a 335 is this one, an American war prize. Restored by Dornier in the 1970’s, it is now at the National Air & Space Museum.

This Junkers-Ju 52/3m (Wk-Nr 4013) was, in 1932, the first Ju52 delivered to Luft Hansa. Registered as D-2201, on its nose is the name of the immortal (Oswald) Boelcke.

You see the word “Zeppelin” and automatically think “airship”, but they were also in the heavier than air business as well. Pictured here are the R .VI and its later refinement the R.XIV.

The featured aircraft is an early version FW-189 “Uhu”. Later 189’s packed more firepower. Great photo.

Inserted in this issue was a tribute to Werner Mölders who had died only days before when the plane in which he was a passenger crashed while attempting to land.

Flugsport magazine of November 1921 offers a glimpse at a grand aircraft display.

When the April 1940 edition of Luftwissen hit the stands, both aircraft and Germany had changed. Aircraft is a Heinkel 115 seaplane.