Germany's Dornier Do 24 flying boat

Photos

Dornier Do 24 flying boat:	Dornier Do 24 flying boat:	Dornier Do 24 flying boat:	Dornier Do 24 flying boat:
Dornier Do 24 flying boat: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook	Dornier Do 24 flying boat: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook
Dornier Do 24T flying boat:
Dornier Do 24 flying boat:	Dornier Do 24 flying boat:

Design

The Dornier Do 24 was originally designed for the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service.^1,2,3 The Dornier Do 24 replaced the Dornier Do 18.³

Early models did not have a nose turret, but after losses one with a 7.9 mm MG 15 was installed.¹ The cockpit had additional side windows installed to improve visibility.¹

There were large winglets on each side of the fuselage that helped the Do 24 in rough seas.¹

Crew

The crew had sleeping areas in the hull.⁴

Prototype

The first prototype flew on July 3, 1937.^1,2,3

Production

Weser-Flugzeugbau produced models in the Netherlands.¹ 170 were produced during 1940-1944.¹

• Prototypes: 2²
• Dornier Do 24K-1: 12²
• Dornier Do 24K-2: 28²
  • De Schelde and Aviolanda licensed built for Holland.²
• Dornier Do 24N-1: 11²
• Dornier Do 24T-1: 180²
• Dornier Do 24T-2: 49²
• Dornier Do 24T-3: 12²
• Total: 220³, 294²
  • Manufacturer: Dornier Werke GmbH^2,3, Weserflug², De Schelde², Aviolanda², Fokker², CAMS²
    • The Potez-CAMS factory started manufacturing in 1941.²

Variants

• Dornier Do 24K: Models that were built in the Netherlands with Wright R-1820 engines.¹ In November 1937 deliveries started.²
• Dornier Do 24MS: Had a degaussing loop and generator for mine sweeping operations.¹
• Dornier Do 24N-1: Air sea rescue variant.²
• Dornier Do 24T: Had BMW-Bramo engines.¹
• Dornier Do 24T-3: Was built for Spain.² Delivered in 1944.²

Usage

The countries that used the Dornier Do 24 were Australia, France, Germany, Holland, Spain, and Sweden.²

Crews found the Do 24 to be very reliable even in rough water.¹

One time a Do 24 lost its tail during a rescue.¹ The crew sealed the aircraft and taxied back to their base.¹

Used in the Arctic, Mediterranean, English Channel, and the Pacific.¹

Germany

At the start of World War II there was only one airworthy prototype available.¹ Once the Netherlands were defeated all of their Do 24s were shipped back to Germany.¹

Fifteen Luftwaffe units were equipped with the Do 24.²

Crete

During the evacuation of Crete the Do 24s would carry 24 passengers.¹

Netherlands

Received eleven before the start of World War II.¹ Twenty five were licence built with Wright R-1820 engines.¹

Some were used in the East Indies against Japan.^1,2 These were given to the Australians.¹

Spain

In June 1944 Spain received twelve Do 24T-3s and they remained in used as search and rescue planes until the 1970s.^1,2

Australia

The Royal Australian Air Force used five Do 24s against Japan.^1,2

Sweden

Two Do 24s ended up being interned by Sweden.² One had 37 refugees.²

Specifications

	Dornier Do 242,3	Dornier Do 24K2	Dornier Do 24T2	Dornier Do 24T-11
Type	Reconnaissance2, Air sea rescue2, Transport3, Patrol Bomber4			Air-sea rescue1, Transport1
Crew	4 - 53, 54, 62			2: pilots1 4: crew1
Engine (Type)	3: BMW 323 R-23 3: BMW 132 Do4	3: Wright R-1820 Cyclone2	3: Bramo 323R-2 Fafnir2	3: BMW-Bramo 323R-21
Cylinders	Radial 93	Radial 92	Radial 92	Radial 91
Cooling	Air3
HP	760 each4, 1,000 each3	760 each2	1,000 each2	1,000 each1
Propeller blades		3 each2	3 each2	3 each1
Dimensions
Span	88' 7"2,3,4 27 m2			88' 7"1 27 m1
Length	72' 2"2,4, 72' 4"3 22 m2			72' 4"1 22.05 m1
Height	17' 10"4, 18' 10"2,3 5.74 m2			18' 10"1 5.75 m1
Wing area				1,162 ft2 1 108 m2 1
Weight
Empty		17,011 lb2 7,716 kg2		20,680 lb1, 20,732 lb2 9,400 kg1, 9,494 kg2
Loaded	29,700 lb4, 35,715 lb3	28,600 lb2 12,973 kg2		35,715 lb2, 40,480 lb1 16,200 kg2, 18,400 kg1
Performance
Speed	195 mph4		195 mph2 314 kph2	205 mph1, 211 mph2 331 kph1, 339 kph2
Speed @ 8,530'	206 mph3
Cruising speed			150 mph2 241 kph2	137 mph2 220 kph2
Climb
Service ceiling	24,605'3		17,390'2 5,300 m2	19,360'2, 24,600'1 5,900 m2, 7,500 m1
Range	2,000 miles4, 2,920 miles3		2,048 miles2 3,297 km2	2,915 miles1, 2,950 miles2 4,700 km1, 4,747 km2
Armament	2: MG3 3: MG4 1: 20 mm3
Bow				1: 7.9 mm MG 151
Bow turret	1: 7.92 mm MG2
Dorsal turret	1: 20 mm or 30 mm2			1: 20 mm Hispano Suiza cannon1
Stern turret	1: 7.92 mm MG2			1: 7.9 mm MG 151
Under wing racks - bombs or other stores	12: 110 lb2 12: 50 kg2
Bombs	3,300 lb4