Part of the family of designs that began with the HD.14, the HD.19 was a two-bay biplane with unstaggered wings of equal span.

Poland bought six aircraft HD.19bis in 1925 and a licence to produce the type for the Polish Air Force.

Production was located in the WWS Samolot factory in Poznań, which built 80 examples between 1925 and 1928, designated Hanriot H-19.

The aircraft was disliked by Polish pilots, as too difficult to fly for a trainer, among other difficulties demanding a precision landing.

In addition, the water radiator was originally placed above the engine, which obstructed the view from the cockpit.