Germany's Other 'Stuka' - The Eastern Front Menace

The Junkers 87 Stuka is immensely famous, but the Germans also operated a biplane dive bomber throughout the war that was legendary for its ruggedness and effectiveness as a ground attack plane - the Henschel Hs. 123, the 'other' Stuka.
Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS, FRSA, is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
Visit my audio book channel 'War Stories with Mark Felton': • One Thousand Miles to ...
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Credits: The National Archives; Library of Congress; Jim Sheach; Alan Wilson; Airwolfhound
Primary Source: 'Henschel Hs. 123', Luftwaffe Resource Center, www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org

[@jimmiller5600]

Open cockpit. Eastern Front. Winter. Three phrases a pilot didn't want to hear together.

[@raylawes8938]

Yes, the famous night witches, all female crews, and groundstaff too

[@Mrtweet81]

Winter isn’t a phrase…

[@benjaminbrockway5998]

I will never not find it wild how WWII opened with biplanes and ended with the advent of jets.

[@danweyant4909]

The brief span between the Wright Brothers and Atomic bomb just amazes me. Yes, it is astonishing

[@s_e-LBR]

@@danweyant4909 guess thats what happens when you're in a war and you needa develop sht quickly...

[@danweyant4909]

@@s_e-LBR OH I get it. 2nd place guy at air superiority doesn't get to go home. It's just... I mean... it was 42 years from Kittyhawk to the Trinity test. Forty- two years ago Michael Jackson released Thriller and Argentina borrowed the Falklands for a couple weeks

[@s_e-LBR]

@@danweyant4909 i mean it wasnt ALL war that entire period, but i could imagine the couple of wars in that time sped up development of aircraft by alot

[@richardm3023]

How about 6 years between the panzer I and the panzer VI King Tiger?

[@oldesertguy9616]

The 30's biplanes were, in my eye, some of the most beautiful planes ever made. They just seemed "right." The compactness and the look of the engine fairings just looks good.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Airplanes from the 1930s are some of the most beautiful airplanes ever designed, just a marvelous blend of form, function, and Art Deco design. The 1930s haven't been called "The Golden Age of Aviation" for nothing.

[@RobMacKendrick]

As a maritime historian, it seems to me that biplanes are to aviation as tall ships are to naval architecture. After their short period of dominance, they ceded to new technology that was much more effective and efficient and devoid of their soul.

[@oldesertguy9616]

@@RobMacKendrick great way to put it.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@RobMacKendrick Very poetic! I like that!

[@marksaxby607]

I guess they were pretty much the pinnacle of the design and monoplanes were the natural next step. They, of course, were designed by eye and slide rule, rather than wind tunnel and computer, so the 'If it looks right, it is right' notion applied.

[@ericscottstevens]

My Grandfather stated the Hs123 was the original aircraft for the inception of the Sturzkampfgeschwader model as well as the He70 Blitz while he was with I./St.G.165 in Kitzingen in 1936. The He70 Blitz was quickly dropped out of service due to performance was not up to par with the tactical needs which were probably the steep dives. He felt Hubertus Hitschold who pioneered several facets of the dives and tactical assembly used the Hs123 as the test platform. It may even been Hitschold who was commanding St.G 2 by 1939 that had my Grandfather transferred from St.G 77 to St.G2 for a few weeks during the invasion of Poland.

[@derekbowbrick6233]

I like to hear stories like this, they are unique and a nice change of pace compared to the usual I like this. Thank-you

[@ericscottstevens]

@@derekbowbrick6233 Thanks...... with his respect for Hubertus Hitschold, he greatly felt Günter Schwartzkopff was the father of the Stukas. He and others very much disliked Oskar Dinort (Iron Oskar) for being a harsh martinet to everyone. I was lucky to have the inkling to have my Grandfather write out our his memoir a few months before he died in 1985. An early 1914 birth year I felt he did not have much time left with several strokes and the final looming. Once he got word about my interest in his story he got the typewriter out and typed it out with one finger and one eyeglass missing from his eyeglass frames. Hunt and peck. It is abbreviated memoir as he probably could have produced something remarkable about the forming of the early prewar Sturzkampfgeschwader's tech issues and modifications and his time being volunteered as a cargo specialist during the airlift in Stalingrad. By all odds on the gambit, he should not have have survived Stalingrad and disappeared without a trace.

[@kilo21swp]

@@ericscottstevensyou should find some way to publish/share his story. It would be very unique to say the least.

[@Skeptic236]

Sorry, but the He70 'B;itz' was never used as a dive bomber. It was originally designed as a fast passenger aircraft and mail carrier, carrying 4 passengers and the pilot in 1934 for DLH. It was incorporated into the LW as a reconnaissance and communication aircraft and served in the Condor Legion in Spain. During the war it served with the LW as a liaison and was sold to other airforces, including the Hungarians. You are probably mising it with the He50, which was developed as a biplane dive bomber, not adopted by the LW but sold to the Japanese navy amongst other foreign forces. The rivals to the JU87 in the 1936 LW stuka evaluation were the He118, Ar82 and Ha137. The Hs123 was developed prior to the 1936 competition as an interim solution pending the result of the 1936 evaluations, but was adopted due to it's need and design.

[@davejob630]

Sir may I suggest you rewrite your Honored grandfathers memoirs as an account of the time that others and posterity might share. It's clear you have both the interest and the sensitivity to interpret his story, and make it part of larger history. These firsthand accounts are rare and should be preserved, both for the story they tell and the wisdom inherent in the telling.

[@herschelmayo2727]

Stuka pilots called the radiator the "bullet magnet" One pilot told me that the Soviet tactic of mass infantry fire was always going to get the radiator. He was always hoping that after he got a hole in his radiator, that he was close enough to German lines to get home before the engine seized.

[@x-x101]

I always love seeing biplanes at airshows. Thanks for this enlightening piece on their continued use in ww2. I'd never heard of the Hs123.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@MightyHuzarion For short-field operations it's hard to beat biplanes and the extra lift you get from two wings. Those AN-2's hung around for so long for some good reasons.

[@nathanglasser6845]

I have a book about both the history of the Luftwaffe and the aircraft. Includes most of the planes they used, and some of the prototypes. I knew of the Hs 123, but it's been a while, so I could only remember it was a Henschel.

[@somesz83]

Hungary used An-2 and I guess you may find them in agricultural services also even today.@@MightyHuzarion

[@douglasstrother6584]

"Old designs still prove useful": the B-52. Never heard of the Hs 123: yet another Dr. Felton gem.

[@jdlamb4212]

Healthcare is pretty useful too

[@johnfisk811]

The Ju87 and Hs123 were for different roles. Akin to artillery and mortars. The Ju87 would be tasked for missions against specific targets by a higher level whilst the Hs123 was locally tasked by regimental level units for individual small targets. When properly used the two complemented each other. The key to Ju87 success was Intelligence derived targeting whilst the Hs123 key was ground troop marking and wanted ground air radio contact. The HS123 was less of an interim dive bomber but rather came in as an examination of the ground attack role on the Great War schlact model. The Ju87 was vulnerable in the dive and had to begin quite high up to do it’s accurate task whilst the Hs 123 relied upon keeping at low level to reduce the warning and time for the enemy to react. At ground level a difficult target to notice and acquire. In effect the Stuka was the counterpart to modern mobile heavy artillery in striking accurately at a distance whilst the Hs123 was the period attack helicopter. Not entirely unlike the way the Swordfish was the counterpart to the modern ASW Helicopter.

[@madgavin7568]

Would it be safe to conclude that the Hs 123's true successor in its role was actually the Hs 129 and not the Ju 87?

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

The Swordfish wasn't used for so long because it was that good, but because the RN just didn't have anything else. It's initial replacements didn't even offer anything better in performance because the Fleet Air Arm was bottom last in priorities in getting new aircraft. Luckily for the RN the USN was not dead last in priorities and the new Corsairs, Avengers and Hellcats saw extensive service with the RN in the latter half of the war. The Swordfish low landing speed did make it very useful for small escort carriers in the battle of the Atlantic.

[@genericpersonx333]

Indeed, it is very fortunate for the Royal Navy that it didn't face the full might of the Imperial Japanese Navy's modern carrier forces early in the Pacific War. It is one thing to catch lone German ships with limited AA weaponry or Italian ships at anchor and quite another to face entire fleets with coordinated AA and CAP.

[@kaneclements7761]

My previous reply seems to have gone missing. In summary the Swordfish was in terms of tonnage sunk in WW2 a class leader. From early in the war Swordfish were equipped with radar and the RN owned the night. Taranto was a night action remember.

[@pkia898]

The plane was only 3 years old when war broke out in 1939. And it had decent avionics for a 1936 aircraft. Every task asked of the plane it accomplished. Can't ask much more than that.

[@kaneclements7761]

@@genericpersonx333 When the IJN and the RN were operating off Ceylon early in the war Somerville was endeavouring to meet them in a night action. RN radar and gunnery from ships like Warspite would have caused great damage on the back of torpedo strikes. The Japanese didn't have the night air capability and their radar capability was not as good. So your comments about CAP are a bit off the mark. Plus the RN carriers had armoured decks. Have a read up about the British Pacific Fleet later in the war.

[@adenosine2electricboogaloo647]

don't forget how they thrashed the bismarck

[@jerryjeromehawkins1712]

The Henschel 123 is a gorgeous craft indeed. Thank you Dr Felton!

[@KeithPrince-cp3me]

North Korea used Polikarpov biplanes during the war of 1950-53 and being mainly cloth and wood radar waves went through them and they couldn't be detected, in a way an early "stealth" plane. High performance US planes had trouble flying slow enough to engage them without stalling. In 1967 two North Vietnamese Soviet made biplanes were shot down by US Navy Phantom jets of squadron VF114 operating from the USS Kitty Hawk, aircraft carrier, in what must have been the most unusual air combat of the 20th century.

[@quan-uo5ws]

Even more unusual was how during the Korean war a north korean PO-2 biplane was credited with a jet kill, as an american F-94 starfire slowed down to intercept it, stalled and crashed.

[@genericpersonx333]

That is not quite true about the radar. 1950s Radars, especially American designs, generally could detect even small birds with surprising efficiency. it is more the biplanes were usually smaller airframes that flew low and slow by default, so they were under most radar systems and/or radar operators failed to recognize the biplanes because they were looking for faster and bigger contacts. The biplanes were not "literally" invisible, but less visible and acting different than "normal planes" so they were often misidentified by radar operators. Now, cool fact, that is the principle behind ACTUAL stealth planes like the F117, which is not INVISIBLE to radar, but has such a small radar cross-section that it is only seen as a bird-sized object by most radars, so most radar operators ignore them. It is not about being invisible, but not being paid attention to. However, F117s and B2s have been "seen" by smart operators who noticed a "bird" moving above Mach 1 on straight paths, leading them to question if that "bird" was actually a bird.

[@eugeneoreilly9356]

Most radars also determine speed of target to improve discrimination of small reflectors.

[@roelantverhoeven371]

the Fiat Falco also had an impressive record in Belgian service, non lost to air combat against 7 kills, including 2BF109's!

[@Thorr-kl6jl]

In Italian service, the Fiat CR-42 "Falco" flew against France, Britain, Greece, and operated in North Africa. The "Falco" was also used by the air forces of Hungary, Sweeden, and Belgium. Hungary used the "Falco" in the ground attack role, against Stalin's USSR, during 1941.

[@normantas_bataitis]

I never thought that German biplanes were flying on the Eastern Front battlefields. Mark, it would be interesting to research and make a video about pre-dreadnought and dreadnought ship's service in WW2.

[@jerribee1]

I think Drachinifel would probably have made a video about such ships.

[@Theshropshireratter]

There was a group of soviet female biplane bomber pilots.

[@edgarknobloch2176]

​@@Theshropshireratter, unit called the "Night Witches" for its night operations with the Po-2 biplane.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

The only pre-dreadnought era ship I'm aware of that fought in WW2 was the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein, one of the few, if not the only battleship the German Navy was allowed to keep after WW1. There's famous film footage of the S-H shelling shore targets during the invasion of Poland in 1939.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@desubtilizer Thanks! I'll have to dig out my copy of "Conway's Fighting Ships" and have look for any others.

[@Roscoe_B]

I've always been fascinated by the exploits of Hans Ulrich Rudel, who would not give up on the ''obsolete'' JU87 and repurposed it as a ground attack aircraft with legendary results.

[@MangoTroubles-007]

He also got a special knights cross made just for him and awarded to no one else

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@MangoTroubles-007 Right, the Knights Cross with GOLDEN Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds.

[@RBAILEY57]

Soviet tank crews feared the JU-87.

[@tomdonahue4224]

Did you read his book?

[@madgavin7568]

Was there a reason why he didn't switch to the Hs 129?

[@dustylover100]

The Japanese were paying attention when the British Swordfishes attacked those warships in Italy. It was the beginning of the development of the torpedoes that could be used for attacks in shallower water like at Pearl Harbor.

[@stevemartin6144]

I am surprised that not mentioned is that Adolf Galland piloted the Hs 123 in a ground attack role throughout the Polish Campaign in 1939.

[@RO8s]

Wow, I'd forgotten that.

[@Thorr-kl6jl]

You are correct. Adolf Galland also flew the HE-51 biplane fighter against the Spanish Marxists. Of course, he finished WW-II flying the ME-262 jet fighter. I met General Galland at an aviation event in 1991, in San Jose, CA. He signed my copy of his book "The First and the Last". The RAF ace J.E. Johnson was also there. The event was sponsored by "Virginia Bader Fine Arts" Virginia Bader, herself, was a cousin to the RAF ace Douglas Bader. A good book about General Galland is "Adolf Galland", by David Baker

[@michaelporzio7384]

and with the Condor Legion in Spain.

[@stevemartin6144]

@@Thorr-kl6jl, I was a long time pen pal of Galland. He signed quite a number of photos for me, including a large original photo of an Hs 123. J. E. Johnson, I met a few times. First time was in Toronto when he attended a Canadian Fighter Pilots Assn. reunion in 1986. He invited me up to his hotel room and we chatted for about half an hour. He gave me an 8X10 signed photo of self sitting in his Spit. His son lived in Georgetown, Ontario, a few miles from Toronto.

[@Thorr-kl6jl]

Steve, that's great! At the 1991 event that I attended, J.E. Johnson signed my copy of his book "Wing Leader". In 1998, I met U-Boat "ace", and later Rear Admiral, Erich Topp. He signed my copy of his book "The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander".@@stevemartin6144

[@BasicModelling]

Being a scale modeller I knew of the aircraft (Airfix has an old, but still reasonably good kit in 1/72 scale) but I didn't know it was such a good and rugged aircraft. Great video, very informative.. :) As for other biplanes shown in this video, the Swedish Air Force also operated the Fiat CR.42 Falco, between 1940 - 1945, designating it the J11. The Italians were one of very few willing to supply aircraft to Sweden during WWII, when others refused. Hence Swedens decision to develop it's own fighters post war, resulting in some of the best jet fighters made (J29 Tunnan, J35 Draken, J37 Viggen) and continuing even today with the JAS-39 Gripen.

[@kirgan1000]

Do not forget that Sweden did make J22 during the war, a a mediocre fighter plane, J21 a excellent fighter that was not delivered in number before the war ended.

[@BasicModelling]

Yes, I'm well aware of the J22, the fastest fighter in the world, allegedly, for its engine size. At certain conditions it even outperformed the P-51 Mustang, apparently. A beautiful little fighter, but no doubt it would not have lasted long in a hot situation of actual war. Still, better than nothing.. @@kirgan1000

[@fakshen1973]

Biplanes were still remarkably maneuverable compared to monoplanes of the time. Trying to attack them at low altitudes was very difficult. You're not going to be able to catch them in a turn. Granted, that kind of defense requires a very skilled pilot. But at the beginning of the war, you're going to have a lot of experienced biplane pilots.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

The only real advantage a monoplane of the time had over a biplane was speed. Of course by WW2 for most aerial combat speed was the name of the game, a few extra knots could mean the difference between life and death.

[@madgavin7568]

@@wayneantoniazzi2706 Monoplanes could carry heavier armament. Although not every nation exploited this fact to save on cost and weight until war experiences showed it was necessary to upgrade. In addition, the superior speed of Monoplanes meant that diving or 'boom and zoom' tactics by Monoplanes could prove deadly against the much slower Biplanes.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@madgavin7568 Right. "Boom and zoom" also proved effective in monoplane vs. monoplane combat, it was the tactic used by the Flying Tigers in their P-40's against the Japanese Zero.

[@madgavin7568]

@@wayneantoniazzi2706 That is true yes. It was an effective tactic in monoplane vs monoplane fights but in biplane vs monoplane fights, deadly to the slower biplanes.

[@plane_simple]

The story goes, when diving down for strafing vehicle convoys the propeller could reach such high rpm that the blade-tips produce sonic bangs like machine-gun fire. Which would cause the convoy to break up in confusion to avoid bullets that weren't even shot. Don't know if that's a true story, but I remember having read about in some WWII book...

[@akula9713]

A nice easy 1/72 scale Airfix kit of it that’s been around for decades. Loved the inclusion of the Roy Cross artwork in your video!

[@orwellboy1958]

I have the Italiari 1:48th scale model, one of my favourites.

[@htos1av]

THAT model is in the 1936 chapter of "Luftwaffe Commander", the game from 1999. The intro TO that game is on my channel.

[@sirnigelgresleyproductions4498]

LETS GO NEW MARK FELTON VIDEOOOOO

[@TheRealBatCave]

It's an old 1

[@Klaatu-ij9uz]

The "Pioneering" aircraft designs will always remain intriguing for centuries to come!

[@ColinH1973]

Fascinating little known anecdote of history. Thank you.

[@rob1129]

Idk how they flew open cockpit in a Russian winter & survived ! It's a modest 9°F here & with a 17 mph wind coming off an international airport where gassed up my vehicle across the street & that wind cut me in half. My bones are still cold & that was an hour ago !

[@Bradzerker-ed2dj]

Mr. Felton, if you ever travel to the US, particularly the state of Michigan, I humbly recommend visiting the Kalamazoo Air and Space Museum while you're there. (It is referred to as the "Air Zoo" for short). It isn't the largest or most famous museum in the United States but it is laid out rather well with quite the collection of historically significant aircraft and spacecraft.

[@Alex-ib4np]

He could make trip out of it and fly into Chicago. See U-505 at the museum of science and industry. Take the Amtrack Wolverine to Kalamazoo and visit the Air Zoo. Hop back on the train to Dearborn, MI rent a car and visit the Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village and Yankee air museum at Willow Run. Drive down I-75 to Dayton, OH and visit the Air Force Museum. Then depart back home from Cincinnati, OH.

[@M1903a4]

@@Alex-ib4np In addition to the U-505 the museum also has Ju 87 R-2/Trop. Werk Nr. 5954, in its transportation gallery.

[@6thmichcav262]

And a gorgeous trip up the shores of Lake Michigan to Muskegon to see LST 393 and the submarine USS Silversides submarine museum.

[@oddballsok]

..and finally finishing the trip off with a visit to the famous Deja Vu Showgirls stripclub in Chicago...

[@Cincy32]

I would also recommend the US Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. It's free & you can see the only XB-70 to still exist.

[@johngulartie-hx8sv]

Once again, Dr. Felton has done an outstanding job of recreating WW2 history. You know, the big debate is which piston - driven fighter was the fastest and I believe, technically, that it was the Dornier - 335 twin propellered plane. Anyway ,I just wanted to thank Dr. Felton for a job well done 😂

[@RBAILEY57]

Three cheers for Dr. Felton! I look forward to your podcasts, sir.

[@towgod7985]

1,400 views IN 8 MINUTES! Dr Felton's viewers are FIERCE.

[@MrXdmp]

Thanks Dr. Felton!

[@ivanu88]

Amazing content as always!

[@stephengoodwin6403]

these were tough,effective airplanes,another sterling video.Thank you,Dr Felton.

[@garylawson5381]

I always look forward to Mark Felton Productions! Thank you Dr Felton.

[@rudeone4life]

Another great post Mark. Thank you very much.

[@autisticaeronaut]

These documentaries are incredible, thank you for all your hard work!

[@growlers90]

Anybody who built Airfix models as a kid knows all about these useful aircraft 👍🏻

[@JPGoertz]

Another great video. Thank you, Mark Felton!

[@marcusott2973]

Much awaited, much appreciated looking forward to excellent insights as always from you

[@mitchmatthews6713]

Another treasure of a lecture! Cheers, Mark!

[@blank557]

One of my favorite WW2 biplanes. Thanks for the excellent video, Mr. Felton!

[@alexbendyk4219]

Great work as usual mark!

[@donpeters2012]

Thank you for your wonderful videos

[@alkitzman9179]

Once again Dr. Felton you bring something into the limelight that most of us pseudo WW2 historians had no knowledge of Thank You. The pilots flying in an open cockpit in that Russian cold is an amazing feat.

[@gertvanniekerk46]

As always brilliant, informative and perfectly presented-Thanking you but I want MORE!

[@johngaller278]

Thank you for all of your great content all these years. Always the highest quality, informative and entertaining. In the 60s, I had many models of aeroplanes from history dangling from my bedroom ceiling. I even made a Hindenburg model with my own materials.

[@SparkyWaxAll]

Awesome post. Thank you

[@theemporersnewclothes]

Thank you DR Felton

[@bruce545]

The HS 123 shown at 5:41 and 5:58, and other times throughout has the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen (Infantry Assault Badge) painted on the right engine cowling. One can assume this nose art demonstrates the pilot's relationship with- and belief that his role is support of the infantryman or front-line ground soldier. Much like the USMC pilots wearing camo covers on their flight helmets. Great video Dr. Felton.

[@manudeman1841]

I would argue that choosing the Hs over the Stuka would have been a major advantage for Germany. Operating close to the front is a major advantage for supporting Blitzkrieg, and their superior handling, especially at low speed and altitude makes them better than a Stuka for executing low level attacks, while still able to dive bomb like a Stuka. Their slow speed is comparable to that of a Stuka when faced with enemy fighters, while actually being an advantage to staying alive at lower altitude, where they can quite literally hide in tree tops to avoid getting shot down, forcing attackers to overshoot. The Hs was probably also a lot cheaper and faster to produce, and useful in more roles, such as communication and recon, than the Stuka. It might have been Germany's equivalent of the Mosquito, an aircraft that could have made a major difference but was underestimated from the start.

[@B52Stratofortress1]

The Stuka has the advantage in payload, the later variants could carry larger and heavier bombs and had a tank busting variant. The Hs 123 was unfortunately limited to a single 250kg and 4 small 50kg.

[@antimatteranon]

@@B52Stratofortress1 true. but the stukas tended to be easy prey for enemy fighters, and they seemed to be pretty outmatched as the war went on. they were more of a "one trick donkey" as in they could dive-bomb and scream with their siren, which i think was later removed due to pilots hating it. the hs123 at least was more durable and could operate in shittier conditions. plus, like the above commenter said likely cheaper to produce.

[@Etaoinshrdlu69]

They could have attached rockets or even 20mm cannon pods like the IL2

[@kiwisteve6598]

It also had a crew of only 1, so less demanding of training and personnel (even if they both needed 1 pilot and the guy in the back of the Stuka was a smaller training investment)

[@garybrader8447]

Comparing the Hs123 to the Mosquito is not very sensible.

[@thesleepyweasel3775]

Brilliant, as always!

[@longdatedoptionsleaps6112]

Another gem 💎 from Dr Felton 👍

[@brucewarren3562]

Another example of Mark Felton’s superb research and presentation! A subject so obscure that when revealed almost seems like an alternative history of WWII is being presented. So well done! ❤

[@tammytorrey3747]

Once again thanks mark.

[@browngreen933]

Sad ending ... none remain today. 😢

[@geoffhunter7704]

Due to Biplanes tremendous Lift the Russians used such a plane cut the engine glide over the German Lines at night and release their bomb(s) and following this the Germans used the HE 123 in return to terrorise the Russians with similar tactic's too and Britain also used the Gloster Gladiator Biplane Fighter till May 1942 as well as the Fairey Swordfish till Sept 1945.

[@kirgan1000]

Biplanes have tremendous lift but also tremendous drag, you never see sail plain that is a biplane. I also doubt a singel pilot widout navigater, with only a compass and map as navigation aids, found a target to terrorize in the night.

[@raylawes8938]

Yes, the famous " night witches " i don't know if mr. Felton has made a vid of them

[@matthewmcmacken6716]

@@raylawes8938- Dr. Felton had made a video of the Soviet 'Night Witches'.

[@Articulate99]

Always interesting and informative, thank you.

[@noahwail2444]

Hs 123 was a stuka to, not only the JU 87. Stuka is an abriviation of STUtsKAmpffluzeug, dive fighting plane.

[@heermannmorrer]

Actually its called a STUrzKAmpfflugzeug, with rz , not st.

[@noahwail2444]

Ok, german is my 3. language. But the Hs 123 still is one... @@heermannmorrer

[@joestandby28]

Thank you for all your content its a pleasure to watch

[@stephenbridges2791]

That is a rare one, for sure. Interesting to see the rocker arm humps for each cylinder. Very cool.

[@pkia898]

The Swordfish wasn't really that old and had up to date avionics. 1936 is when it entered service. So it was only 5 years old when it hit Bismark.

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

Radar was a thing Swordfish could carry which its replacements could not. That makes a heck of a difference in the middle of the nght at sea.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@ABrit-bt6ce The Swordfish wasn't called the 'Stringbag" because of the wire bracing on the wings, it was called that because like a British housewife's string (shopping) bag it could carry just about everything you could stuff in it!

[@madgavin7568]

Technology advanced extremely quickly during that period of time, almost like how phone and computer technology advanced in the 2010s. Aircraft which were only a few years old at the beginning of the war (depending on the type) were generally considered to be obsolete unless they had major potential for upgrades like the Bf 109, He 111 and Do 17. Remember the Gloster Gladiator for instance had only been in service since 1936, and it was considered obsolete at the start of the war having been replaced by the Hurricane which entered service barely 2 years later.

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

@@wayneantoniazzi2706 String bags are ace. Fairey Swordfish are a yet to sampled delight, Iiirc you can gib one.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@ABrit-bt6ce I'll tell you, one of the BEST airshow photo's I've seen is of a Swordfish doing a fly-past and flying a Royal Navy ensign and the man in the back seat standing and rendering a naval salute. Class, pure class! Just what you'd expect from the RN!

[@foodlover2236]

Another excellent episode. I thank you for your efforts and time to bring to light all this wonderful information and many times about near forgotten stories and happenings. Kudos to

[@johnmartin4650]

Good stuff as usual… thank you Mr F

[@Spitfiresammons]

Ah the Hs-123 it reminded me of the model Airfix Hs-123 I build many years ago great video Dr Felton.

[@SevereWeatherCenter]

Awesome channel Mark!

[@Lepandro]

Third actually

[@imresomodi4961]

Never thought I learn something new about WW2 but you got me here, Dr. Felton. Thanks.

[@Wideoval73]

Once again a really good video. Very informative. Thanks

[@danielgreen3715]

Always learn something new with these Videos!

[@irishrover4658]

Excellent!! This was all new to me.

[@fightersweep]

Nice to see the Henschel Hs 123 receiving some recognition. It's an aircraft I've known about since building the Airfix kit as a kid (I spied the great Roy Cross artwork for that kit in your video). Those models were quite educational.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Granted time marches on and improvements in technology have to be adopted but in the end there's something to be said for simple, solid, rugged and reliable rather than complex, delicate, over-engineered and high-maintanance. The Henschel kind of proves that, even though realistically they could only operate in something of a low-threat environment. A modern example? I'm thinking of the Embraer series of counter-insurgency aircraft being made in Brazil. As I understand it they're selling like hotcakes to air forces that don't need gee-whiz-super-high-tech, just simple and reliable in addition to being economical.

[@cgross82]

Once again, Mark, you amaze and astound me with more history of which I was totally unaware!

[@milgeekmedia]

Every time I see a Hs 123 I always think of the vintage AIRFIX kit and the excellent box artwork! :)

[@carronade2456]

I have a lot of respect for the 123! Thank you for covering this lesser know plane!

[@keithfarrell3370]

I am no historian but I thought I had heard of, and read about, most Ww2 aircraft. The Hs 123 is a new one on me! Tough bird. Cant wait to research it. Those pilots flying open cockpit during a Russian winter must of been miserable. Thanks for the presentation Mark

[@WayBackNowLetsGo]

Great looking plane. Thanks Mark!

[@jmholmes98]

Excellent documentary

[@user-ez2tq4vi8f]

my fave plane of ww2! I'm so glad you gave it a feature Doc Mark!

[@ezrabrooks12]

Good Video/Info.

[@chriswalton720]

A more recent analogue to this aircraft is the Douglas AD or A-1 Skyraider, which saw its production restarted late in the Korean War because it was so useful, and later found itself serving in Vietnam at the same time as both its intended replacement (the A-4) and that aircraft’s replacement (the A-7).

[@keithwortelhock6078]

One of my favourites - I built an Aifix kit of it about 50 years ago. Many thanks for the video!

[@flak88gun]

The Fiat Falco and Henschel 123 were to of the best biplane ever built.

[@predragdjuric-tt9uc]

another great and very interesting video and aircraft Mr Felton.have a good one Sir.

[@TankerBricks]

Mark. Thanks for providing me with my Sunday night entertainment!

[@Sacto1654]

The Hs 123, along with the He 45, He 46, He 50, and He 51, actually served with distinction as a night harassment bomber in a role similar to the Polikarpov Po-2 on the Eastern Front.

[@jdlamb4212]

HeHeHeHe

[@Tyger448]

“Ah, surely I know everything about WWII, and there is nothing new that I could learn.” Mark Felton:

[@doolittlegeorge]

F4U Corsair found itself created for a granted far more advanced but similar idea "multirole aircraft" but the Corsair had to be modified in Theater by no less than Charles Lindbergh one of the big unsung heros for US Aviation of WW2 to do this. He also greatly enhanced the abilities of the P-38 Lightning in the Pacific Theater as well. Having a great plane is one thing but taking an already great plane and making it far better (most famously perhaps the P-51 Mustang) quite another and why in the end the German Luftwaffe was simply overwhelmed despite achieving truly mind blowing success rates early in the War at the tactical level.

[@deanbuss1678]

Thanks!

[@ralfklonowski3740]

Thank you for featuring one of my favourite German WW2 aircraft.

[@kevinbrennan-ji1so]

Great video. As a student of WW2, this is news to me.

[@alanparadis5061]

I love being a history geek! Lol Seriously I do! Thank you for sharing and keep em coming! Great video again!

[@jeffapplewhite5981]

Good info! Thanks for your service in the military!

[@alanpattee4383]

Thank you, for a balance report.

[@user-hr1cp7wd3p]

Superb post Dr Felton on a little known machine that bucked the trend against cutting edge technology

[@Glenn_AE6YT]

It's a shame that no examples of this remarkable airplane exist. Has no one ever made a replica? It looks like a fun design of plane to fly.

[@kilo21swp]

I knew of Hs-123 from a aircraft book I bought at K-mart as a teenager. They had drawings and about a paragraph or two on the planes. Never knew the extent of it’s actual combat service though. It actually was a nice looking aircraft. Thanks.

[@Thorr-kl6jl]

See "Luftwaffe Aircraft", by Michael Turner and Frank Mason

[@syahrulkamarudin1409]

Good information.Salute from Melacca Malaysia.

[@hamish7013]

Excellent video about a very interesting aircraft type. Thank you.

[@martinoppermann9868]

Now - after this very impressing report, I see the He 123 with other eyes. Really amazing!

[@jrnvanderknaap4119]

First time I hear about this type of plane. Remarkable story! This is why I like your channel so much! :)

[@craigstaehr3251]

Thanks for the information on this rare fighter. Would you consider a story/ video on the battles that took place in Eastern Africa between Italian and allied forces. It's a theatre of the war that could be interesting to highlight again. Both sides also used biplanes in most of the battles.

[@glasgowgallus247]

Among countless others, I built the Henschel Airfix model kit as a nipper. It had pride of place, hanging from my bedroom ceiling, suspended with fishing line, caught in an eternal dogfight with a Hurricane, a Spitfire, and, bizarrely, a harrier jump jet...😂... it could hold its own though, reinforced by a Japanese Zero, an ME109 and Thunderbird 2, seconded to the Luftwaffe for the duration...😂... Great days man...👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

It was a wonderful video about double wings HS 123 stuka utilized by Luftwafa as a dive bomber during WW2. It's the first time labeled to that unique information... Thank you for sharing