Warplanes of Germany: Luftwaffe Dornier Do 17

Dornier Do 17

(Luftwaffe Photo)

The Do 17Z.

The Dornier Do 17 is a twin-engined light bomber designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Dornier Flugzeugwerke. Large numbers were operated by the Luftwaffe throughout the Second World War. The Do 17 was designed during the early 1930s as a Schnellbomber ("fast bomber") that was intended to use its speed to outrun opposing fighter aircraft. It was a lightly built aircraft, possessing a twin tail, "shoulder wing" and typically powered by a pair of Bramo 323P radial engines. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 23 November 1934; it entered regular service with the Luftwaffe three years later. Sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift ("flying pencil") or the Eversharp, the Do 17 was a relatively popular aircraft among its crews due to its handling, especially at low altitude, which made the type harder to hit than other German bombers of the era.During 1937, the Do 17 made its combat debut during the Spanish Civil War, where it operated as part of the Condor Legion in various roles. Along with the Heinkel He 111, it was the main bomber type of the Luftwaffe at the start of the Second World War. The Do 17 was used extensively throughout the first half of the conflict, seeing action in significant numbers in every major campaign theatre as a front line aircraft. As such, it was deployed during the Polish Campaign, the Norwegian Campaign, the Battle of France, the Battle of Britain, and Operation Barbarossa amongst others. Its usage continued unabated up until the end of 1941, when its effectiveness and usage was curtailed by its limited bomb load and range capabilities.

Production of the Do 17 ended in mid-1940 in favour of the newer and more powerful Junkers Ju 88. The successor of the Do 17 was the much more powerful Dornier Do 217, which started to appear in quantity during 1942. The type was not withdrawn at this point; instead, the Do 17 continued to serve with the Luftwaffe during the latter years of the conflict in various secondary roles, including as a glider tug, research, and trainer aircraft. A considerable number were transferred to other Axis-aligned nations, including the Finnish Air Force, Bulgarian Air Force and the Spanish Air Force amongst others. Only a few aircraft are known to have survived the war and none are intact. (Wikipedia)

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17Z with Stammkennzeichen marking (coded) NF+LT, in flight.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do17 Z at a forward airfield in France, 1940.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 P bombers, KG 51, France, May 1940.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 Z.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 Z summer 1940,

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do17 Z-2.

(Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-341-0489-10A / Spieth / CC-BY-SA 3.0)

Dornier Do 17, over France, 21 June 1940.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17, Fliegender Bleistift, mail-plane/bomber/reconnaissance/night-fighter.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 Z-2s over France, summer 1940.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 with BMW VI inline V12 engines.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 Z-1.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 Z-1, coded F1+ER, KG76.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 Z, coded U5+AL, 3/KG 2, Bombing Poland, Sep 1939.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 Z and crew.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 P Rovaniemi, Finland.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 P, Stavanger, Sola, Norway.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17Z 5/KG3

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 Z-2, IV(Erg)/KG3.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 Z, I/KG 2.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17Z, coded 3Z+AM, 4/KG77.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 Z, coded 3U+FU, ZG26, at Castel Benito, Tripolitania, Libya, 1943.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 Z-7 Kauz I of the NJG 2 Gilze Rijen, Netherlands, 1940.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17 Z night fighter, NJG 2, Gilze Rijen, Netherlands, 1940.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

Dornier Do 17Z-10 nightfighter equipped with FuG 220 Lichtenstein radar.

(Luftwaffe Photo)

The Do 17Z was the most produced variant of the Do 17 series.

(SA-kuva Photo)

Dornier Do 17Z of the Finnish Air Force, January 1942.

(Flightsoffancy Photo)

Dornier Do 17 centre wing section with nacelle at RAF Cosford undergoing restoration. The wing is shown inverted and as it is being manually cleaned of loose sand and other debris, 3 Jan 2007.

Dornier Do 17Z, (Wk. Nr. 1160), coded 5K+AR, from III./KG3, has been recovered from the sea off the English coast.  On 26 August 1940, 5K+AR was taking part in a raid by KG2 and KG 3, targeting the RAF stations.  While flying over clouds, the aircraft became separated from the bomber formation and lost its bearings; it was then attacked by Boulton-Paul Defiant fighters of RAF No. 264 Squadron.  One of the Dornier's engines was disabled and the other damaged, so the wounded pilot, Feldwebel  (Flight Sergeant) Willi Effmert, elected to make a crash landing on the Goodwin Sands.  He and another crew member survived and were taken prisoner.  The other two crew were killed.  The aircraft was raised on 10 June 2013, and taken to RAF Cosford where it is being restored.  

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