German crossGermany's Balkenkreuz aircraft marking

Germany's Dornier Do 17 "Flying Pencil" medium bomber

Photos

Dornier Do 17 V-1 prototype, medium bomber:
Germany's Dornier Do 17 V-1 prototype, medium bomber 		Dornier Do 17 dropping bombs, medium bomber:
Germany's Dornier Do 17 dropping bombs, medium bomber		 Dornier Do 17 E-1, medium bomber:
Germany's Dornier Do 17 E-1, medium bomber		 Dornier Do 17 Z, medium bomber:
Germany's Dornier Do 17 Z, medium bomber
Dornier Do 17 Z-2, medium bomber:
Germany's Dornier Do 17 Z-2, medium bomber		 Dornier Do 17 Z-2, medium bomber:
Germany's Dornier Do 17 Z-2, medium bomber		 Dornier Do 17 Z-2, medium bomber:
Germany's Dornier Do 17 Z-2, medium bomber
Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook 		Dornier Do 17 Z-2, medium bomber:
Germany's Dornier Do 17 Z-2, medium bomber
Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook
Dornier Do 215, medium bomber:
Germany's Dornier Do 215, medium bomber
Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook 		Dornier Do 215, medium bomber:
Germany's Dornier Do 215, medium bomber
Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook 		   
Dornier Do 17 medium bomber with the Finnish Air Force:
Germany's Dornier Do 17 medium bomber with the Finnish Air Force		      

Design

The Dornier Do 17 was initially designed to be a mail and passenger transport for Luft Hansa.2,3 However, it was rejected as the cabin wasn't large enough.2 The Do 17 could only carry 6 people.3

Captain Untucht, a former Dornier employee, suggested to the Luftwaffe that it would make a good bomber.2

The initial prototype of the Dornier Do 17 had a single fin and rudder and was rather slim.1 Initially it was abandoned as it was cramped.1 It was redesigned with a twin fin and rudders and was evaluated as a high speed bomber.1

Faults in Spanish Civil War

It was shown by battle experience that the Do 17 had inadequate defensive armament.2 There was only a machine gun with a limited field of fire that protected the belly.3 This resulted in the redesigned of the cockpit area which allowed for more machines guns.2 The nose became fully glazed and was named "Beetle Eye."2

Prototype

The first three prototypes had a single fin and were powered by two BMW VI engines (660 HP).2 The first time they flew was in 1934.2 After these all Do 17s had twin fins and rudders.2

In 1935 new prototypes with BMW and Hispano-Suiza engines were flown.2 These would try out having a glazed nose, defensive armament, and a bomb bay.2

Production

Initially the Do 17E-1 bomber and Do 17F-1 photo reconnaissance plane were ordered.2

  • Dornier Do 17S: 32
  • Dornier Do 17U: 152
  • Dornier Do 17Z: >5003, 5352
    • Production: ? - 19403
  • Dornier Do 215: 1122
  • Total: 1,2002
    • Manufacturer: Dornier Werke GmbH3

Variants

  • Dornier Do 17V-1: Prototype.1
  • Dornier Do 17E: Bomber.1,2 Initial production model.1
  • Dornier Do 17E-1: Bomber.2 Entered service in 1937.2
  • Dornier Do 17F: Reconaissance.1,2 Initial production model.1
  • Dornier Do 17F-1: Reconnaissance.2 Entered service in 1938.2
  • Dornier Do 17L: Pathfinder.2
  • Dornier Do 17K: Was based on the Do 17M.2 Had Gnome-Rhône 14 (980 HP) engines.2 Sold to Yugoslavia.2
  • Dornier Do 17M: Bomber.1,2 Used during 1939-1940.1 Bramo radial engines (900 HP).1
  • Dornier Do 17P: Reconaissance.1,2 Used during 1939-1940.1 BMW 132N radial engines (865 HP).1
  • Dornier Do 17R: Engine test beds.2
  • Dornier Do 17S: Service trial aircraft.2 Had new glazed nose.2,3 First flown in 1938.2 Had Daimler-Benz DB600 V12 engines.2,3
  • Dornier Do 17U: Pathfinder version.2
  • Dornier Do 17Z: Bomber.1
  • Dornier Do 17Z-0: Preproduction.2 Built in 1938.2
  • Dornier Do 17Z-1: Bomber.1 1,102 lb / 500 kg bombs.1 Four 7.92 mm MGs.1
  • Dornier Do 17Z-2: Bomber.1,2 2,205 lb / 1,000 kg bombs.1 Eight 7.92 mm MGs.1 Bramo engines (1,000 HP).1
  • Dornier Do 17Z-3: Photo reconaissance.1,2
  • Dornier Do 17Z-4: Trainer with dual controls.1,2
  • Dornier Do 17Z-5: Maritime reconnaissance.2
  • Dornier Do 17Z-6: Night fighter.1,2,3 Had a nose cone from the Junkers Ju 88.2 Had three machine guns and a 20 mm cannon in the nose.3
  • Dornier Do 17Z-10 Kauz (Screech Owl): Night fighter.1,3 Two 20 mm cannons and four 7.92 mm machine guns in the nose.1,3
  • Dornier Do 215: Export version of Do 17Z.2 Had Daimler-Benz DB601 engines.2 Ordered by Sweden and Yugoslavia.2

Usage

Croatia, Germany, Spain, and Yugoslavia (70) used the Dornier Do 17.2

Germany, Hungary (4), and Soviet Union (2) used the Do 215.2

Spanish Civil War

The Dornier Do 17E and Do 17F (Do 17E and Do 17P3) saw action in the Spanish Civil War starting in 1937.1,2,3

World War II

At the start of World War II there were 370 Do 17s in service.2,3 212 of these were Do 17Zs.2

By the end of 1942 most Do 17s had been withdrawn from frontline service.2,3 These planes were primarily used to tow gliders.3

Specifications

  Dornier Do 17E2
Type Medium bomber2
Crew 3 - 42
Engine (Type) 2: BMW VI 7.32
Cylinders V 122
Cooling  
HP 750 each2
Propeller blades 3 each2
Fuel capacity  
Dimensions  
Span  
Length  
Height  
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty  
Loaded  
Maximum load  
Performance  
Speed at sea level  
Cruising speed  
Climb  
Service ceiling  
Range  
Armament 2: 7.9 mm MG2
Bombs 1,650 lb2
748 kg2
  Dornier Do 17E-12
Type Medium bomber2
Crew  
Engine (Type)  
Cylinders  
Cooling  
HP  
Propeller blades  
Fuel capacity  
Dimensions  
Span  
Length  
Height  
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty 9,920 lb2
4,500 kg2
Loaded  
Maximum load 15,520 lb2
7,040 kg2
Performance  
Speed at sea level  
Cruising speed  
Climb  
Service ceiling  
Range  
Armament  
Bombs  
  Dornier Do 17M2
Type Medium bomber2
Crew 3 - 42
Engine (Type) 2: Bramo Fafnir 323A-12
Cylinders Radial 92
Cooling  
HP 900 each2
Propeller blades 3 each2
Fuel capacity  
Dimensions  
Span 59'2
18 m2
Length 52' 9.75"2
16.09 m2
Height 14' 11"2
4.55 m2
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty  
Loaded  
Maximum load  
Performance  
Speed at sea level  
Cruising speed  
Climb  
Service ceiling  
Range  
Armament 4: 7.9 mm MG2
Bombs 2,205 lb2
1,000 kg2
  Dornier Do 17M-12
Type Medium bomber2
Crew  
Engine (Type)  
Cylinders  
Cooling  
HP  
Propeller blades  
Fuel capacity  
Dimensions  
Span  
Length  
Height  
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty  
Loaded  
Maximum load 17,637 lb2
8,000 kg2
Performance  
Speed at sea level 214 mph2
344 kph2
Speed @ 13,120' /
4,000 m 		255 mph2
410 kph2
Cruising speed 218 mph2
351 kph2
Climb  
Service ceiling 22,965'2
7,000 m2
Range 845 miles2
1,360 km2
Range with maximum bomb load 310 miles2
500 km2
Armament  
Bombs  
  Dornier Do 17Z2
Type Medium bomber2
Crew 4 - 52
Engine (Type)  
Cylinders  
Cooling  
HP  
Propeller blades  
Fuel capacity  
Dimensions  
Span 59' 0.5"2
18 m2
Length 51' 9"2
15.79 m2
Height 14' 11.5"2
4.56 m2
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty  
Loaded  
Maximum load  
Performance  
Speed at sea level  
Cruising speed  
Climb  
Service ceiling  
Range  
Armament  
Bombs  
  Dornier Do 17Z-2
Type Bomber3,4, Medium bomber1
Crew 41,3
Engine (Type) 2: Bramo Fafnir4
2: Bramo 323P piston1
2: Bramo Fafnir 323P2
2: B.M.W. Bramo 323 P3
Cylinders Radial1, Radial 92,3
Cooling Air3,4
HP 1,000 each1,2,3,4
Propeller blades 3 each1,2
Fuel capacity  
Dimensions  
Span 59'3,4, 59' 5/8"1
18 m1
Length 51' 9"3, 52' 5"4, 52' 9.75"1
16.1 m1
Height 14' 11"3, 14' 11.25"1, 15' 9"4
4.55 m1
Wing area 592.01 ft2 1
55 m2 1
Weight  
Empty 11,486 lb1, 13,145 lb2
5,210 kg1, 5,962 kg2
Loaded 18,937 lb1,2, 18,940 lb3, 19,500 lb4
8,590 kg1,2
Maximum load 19,841 lb2
9,000 kg2
Performance  
Speed 275 mph4
Speed @ 13,125' /
4,000 m 		255 mph1
410 kph1
Speed @ 16,400' /
5,000 m 		263 mph2
423 kph2
Speed @ 18,120' 255 mph3
Cruising speed 186 mph2
300 kph2
Climb  
Service ceiling 26,740'2, 26,900'1,3
8,150 m2, 8,200 m1
Range 750 miles4, 845 miles1
1,360 km1
Range with 1,100 lb / 500 kg bomb load 720 miles2, 721 miles3
1,158 km2
Range with maximum bomb load 205 miles2
330 km2
Armament 6: MG3
6: 7.9 mm MG2
8: 7.92 MG 151
Fuselage 2: MG4
Nose 1: MG4
Tail 1: MG4
Bombs 1,100 lb4, 2,200 lb3, 2,205 lb1,2
1,000 kg1,2
  Dornier Do 215B
Type  
Crew  
Engine (Type) 2: Daimler-Benz DB601A2
Cylinders Inverted V 122
Cooling  
HP 1,100 each2
Propeller blades 3 each2
Fuel capacity  
Dimensions  
Span  
Length  
Height  
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty  
Loaded  
Maximum load  
Performance  
Speed at sea level  
Cruising speed  
Climb  
Service ceiling  
Range  
Armament  
Bombs  
  Dornier Do 215B-1
Type  
Crew  
Engine (Type)  
Cylinders  
Cooling  
HP  
Propeller blades  
Fuel capacity  
Dimensions  
Span  
Length  
Height  
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty 12,740 lb2
5,780 kg2
Loaded  
Maximum load 20,282 lb2
9,200 kg2
Performance  
Speed at sea level  
Speed @ 16,400' /
5,000 m 		292 mph2
470 kph2
Cruising speed  
Climb  
Service ceiling 29,530'2
9,000'2
Range 1,520 miles2
2,446 km2
Range with 1,100 lb / 500 kg bomb load 932 miles2
1,500 km2
Armament  

Sources:

  1. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
  2. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
  3. World War II Airplanes Volume 1, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
  4. Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook, Ensign L. C. Guthman, 1943