Heinkel He 177 Greif: Heinkel's Strategic Bomber

This is the intriguing and fascinating story of an aircraft which could have been one of the most important weapons in the Luftwaffe's armoury and a major problem to the wartime Allies, the Heinkel He 177 strategic bomber. Due, however, to political incompetence and design vacillation during its development it was never to achieve its full potential.

At its conception there were conflicting views on how it should be used. One problem was that the huge aircraft shiould be capable of delivering its bombs in a dive. Another was the technical one associated with its enormous engines, two conventional units coupled together to drive a single propeller. These difficulties were never really satisfactorily solved and Heinkel's suggestion that a version be produced powered by four separate engines fell on deaf ears until it was far too late. Eventually the engine problems were largely solved but by that time Germany lacked the reserves of fuel to mount a major strategic bombing attack.

The problems that beset the aircraft were to have a disastrous effect on the brave men, both test pilots and operational crews, who flew it. Many died due to crashes attributed not only to the unreliable engines but also to a fundamental weakness with the wing.

In telling the absorbing story of this aircraft in what is the most comprehensive study to appear in the English language, authors J. Richard Smith and Eddie J. Creek have been able to draw on many previously unpublished documents and photographs. Accompanied by superb colour artworks this is a major work of reference for all World War 2 historians, modellers and aviation enthusiasts.