The initial model of the aircraft, the first prototype of which performed its maiden flight in August 1937, was powered by a pair of 960 PS (947 hp, 720 kW) BMW 132K nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engines.

Subsequent models varied in several respects, such as being equipped with different engines or alternative armament arrangements, increased fuel capacity or payload, and some He 115s could even accommodate an additional crew member.

The origins of the He 115 can be traced back to 1935 and the issuing of a requirement by the German Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) that called for a twin engined general purpose floatplane, suitable for maritime patrol and anti-shipping strikes with both bombs and torpedoes.

[2] According to aviation historian Hans Amtmann, Hamburger Flugzeugbau did not have enough spare manufacturing capacity for series production and declined the order, leading to Heinkel's selection instead.

[1] Prior to these records being set, the prototype had been modified to achieve greater aerodynamic performance, such as the deletion of the angular glazed nose and the rear compartment, which were replaced by fairings.

[10] Throughout the Second World War, the primary mission of the Luftwaffe's He 115s was to conduct minelaying, typically during night time to lower the likelihood of interception.

[4] Following the first such mission on 20 November 1939, the He 115 was frequently used for dropping (typically via parachute) magnetic mines in British waters, normally aiming for narrow passages close to busy ports on the English south coast; the River Thames was also a prime target.

Due to early convoys lacking any air cover, the slow and lightly-armed He 115 was less vulnerable during these attacks than it was when operating near to the English coast.

[citation needed] Apart from its use as a minelayer and torpedo bomber, the He 115 was used for coastal reconnaissance and by KG 200 to drop agents behind enemy lines.

[15] The Norwegians signed another order of six He 115Ns in December 1939, with delivery expected in March/April 1940 but this was forestalled by Operation Weserübung, the German invasion of Norway of 9 April 1940.

Four of the Norwegian aircraft (F.52, F.56, F.58 and F.64) made the journey to the United Kingdom shortly before the 10 June 1940 surrender,[12] a fifth (F.50) escaping to Finland, landing on Lake Salmijärvi in Petsamo.

[12] The exiled Norwegian Cabinet Nygaardsvold made plans shortly after arriving in Britain to use the four He 115s to perform leaflet dropping missions over Norway.

The three He 115s assembled at Scapa Flow were ordered to fly to Norway and drop the declaration over the cities of Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim.

Shortly before the mission was to get under way, the British Air Ministry intervened and stopped the expedition, insisting that such an undertaking would be suicidal to attempt with the slow flying He 115s.

[14] BV184 was attacked and damaged by two Polish Spitfire fighters over the Bay of Biscay in the spring of 1942, while co-operating with French fishing boats and later lost in a refuelling fire in the UK.

The floatplane was interned but the pilot, experienced line captain and naval lieutenant Helge Dahl and crew were free to leave Finland.

From Summer 1941, it was used by the LLv.14 of the Finnish Air Force code HE-115 and named "Jenny", to ferry Sissi troops behind Soviet lines.