Heinkel He 177 Greif (Griffin) Engines & Servicing Details

An He 177A-3 of Flugzeugführerschule (B) 16 starting engines.  The cart in front of the aircraft is an electrical generator which was widely used on Luftwaffe airfields while starting engines or to replenish batteries within the aircraft.  The ground crewman on the left stands by with a fire extinguisher, a prudent precaution.

The main powerplant of the early He 177, the Daimler-Benz DB 606.  This engine was built by combining two DB 601 twelve-cylinder engines.  The A-3 and later variants carried the similar DB 610 which used DB 605 engines and developed 2,860 hp (2,133 kW).

Each bank was married to a common reduction gear to drive the propeller.  This has led to a semantic debate about whether the He 177 was a two-engine or four-engine design.  In any case engine fires plagued the Greif and the developmental He 274 and 277 designs were laid out as conventional four-engine designs with each engine in its own nacelle.

Engine servicing on this 4./KG 100 machine would make for an interesting diorama!  The aircraft was designed to have this special crane fitted when a block and tackle was needed to service the engines.  Note the spinner on the hardstand in front of the aircraft and how uneven the spiral is painted.  The aircraft is W.Nr. 550043, coded 6N+HM.

Another view showing the maintenance crew preparing to remove the propeller.  Each DB 610 engine weighed a hefty 3,300 pounds (1,500 kg).

A different type of portable block and tackle commonly seen on Luftwaffe airfields.  The tarps covering the engines and cockpit glazing of this KG 50 Greif are noteworthy.  (World War Photos)

It is rare to see the Fowler flaps deployed on an He 177, on this example they are fully extended and depressed for maintenance.  Crews are working on both engines and the wing access panels have been opened.  The cover for the B1-Stand remote turret is on the starboard wing.  These are KG 100 machines at München-Riem airfield.

An He 177 is bombed up using a standard Luftwaffe hydraulic bomb cart.  Maximum bomb load was designed as 15,000 pounds (7,000 kilograms) although it is doubtful this was ever carried operationally.

More bombs are brought to the belly of this KG 100 bomber as armorers work to fuse bombs under the aircraft.  (Bundesarchiv photo)

A heavy load!  An SC 1800 bomb is wheeled under this He 177.  This bomb weighed in at 4,000 pounds, the Grief could carry one on the hardpoint under each wing.

The hydraulic bomb jack strains under the massive weight as armorers connect the shackles.  Note the aircrew approaching from the front of the aircraft.

Part I here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2020/08/19/heinkel-he-177-greif-griffon/