close support tactics to be adopted by the Luftwaffe had resulted in a redefinition ofthe Henschel’s role. Surviving records suggest that Udet, now head of the RLM’s technical
department, was less than satisied with the aircraft’s performance as a dive bomber (despite it far exceeding the original requirement), while the Ju 87 monoplane, which had
been flying for more than a year, seemed ideally suited to diving attacks. Early in 1937 several new line units came into existence; the Schwerin unit became I. Gruppe,
Stukageschwader 162 and was soon to be joined by a second Gruppe to constitute the Immelmann-Geschwader; I./St.G 162 gave up its Hs 123s in favour of the Ju 87, and by
the summer they only equipped Stukageschwader 165, and the Condor Legion in Spain.
It was to be in Spain that the Henschel’strue role was evolved. Forbidden to venture above about l,000ft to avoid combat with the nimble 1-15 fighters of the Republican
forces, the pilots of the Hs 123 Kette soon became extremely efficient in their sweeps over the opposing ground forces, using their light bombs sparingly but effectively against
small concentrations of troops and vehicles, and shooting up targets of opportunity with their twin synchronised MG 17 machine guns.Thus for a short time in 1938 a newly-styled
type of unit, the Schlachtflieger- gruppe (Assault Flying Group) came into being, two of these, SFG 10 and SFG 50, being equipped with Hs 123s.
Last of the line
By the date of Germany’s attack on Poland, September 1,1939, only one operational unit still flew the aircraft, II. (Schlacht)/LG 2, commanded by Major Werner Spielvogel.
Flying from Alt-Rosenburg, the “One-two-threes” operated in support of the German XIVArmy in its advance on Warsaw. Due to its relatively light armament the biplane was
unable to inflict much material damage, yet the booming roar of its BMW engine was enough to stampede the Polish Army’s horses and strike fear and confusion into the poorly
organised troops confronting the mighty Wehrmacht.
Spielvogel was to be killed in the Polish campaign, his place being taken by Otto Weiss, the man largely responsible for the continuing success of the old biplane. The award
of the Knight’s Cross to Weiss on May 18, 1940, in respect of his brilliant leadership of II./LG 2 in the Battle of France, was one of the first two suchawards made to the Luftwaffe
during the War (the other being to Generalmajor Wolfram, Freiherr von Richthofen,former commander of the Condor Legion,an ardent advocate of the dive bomber and, in 1940,
commander of VIII (Schlacht) Fliegerkorps. In the Battle of France II./LG 2’s Hs 123s were involved in clearing the way for the German armour across the Albert Canal.
Although production ended in 1940, Hs 123s continued in service with II./LG 2 until early in 1942 when the unit was disbanded to provide the nucleus of Schlachtgeschwader
1, a new assault unit flying Hs 123s, Hs 129s and its own fighter protection of Bf 109s. So successful were the “old assaulters that von Richthofen demanded in January 1943
that the Hs 123 be put back into production (this proved impractical as the old jigs had been scrapped). In all, II./LG 2 and Sch.G 1 produced no fewer than 42 holders of the
Knight's Cross, of whom 27 flew the old biplane—which continued to serve operationally until mid-1944—a truly extraordinary testimony to great human courage and an excellent
aeroplane.
