Book excerpt: The Heinkel He 219 was acknowledged by friend and foe alike as one of the most outstanding night fighters of World War II. In 1942, Heinkel received a contract to develop the twin-engined He 219. Not only was the He 219 very fast, with a maximum speed in excess of 600 km/h, but it also possessed excellent maneuverability, had a well-designed cockpit, and was equipped with airborne radar. The He 219 was the first German production aircraft to have a tricycle undercarriage and ejector seats for both crew members. The author provides many previously unpublished details in describing the development history of the He 219, the technology it employed, its testing, production, and use in combat.