Facts about the Luftwaffe's Dornier Do-17 & 215.   Copyright © 2004-2006 Joe Kudrna

A number of web sites and general books on WW2 aircraft are inaccurate concerning the Dornier Do 17 bomber.   It is important to publish correct data so future authors and game creators will have accurate information.   The information provided here is scoured from more specialized and detailed books on the 17 and on Luftwaffe bombers in general, trying to filter out inaccurate data.

There are a few myths that seem to be prevailing most casual mentions of Do-17's, namely the work horse Do-17z-2, active since the start of WW2.   The most erroneous ones will be addressed here, and other (future) pages will go into greater detail on this aircraft.   At the bottom of this page is the list of sources for this site.

Note, these statements only compare the three primary Luftwaffe twin engined bombers during the Blitzkrieg in May, 1940; which is the He-111h-2, Ju-88a-1, and the Do-17z-2.

Myth: The Do-17 was developed as a transport aircraft.

Fact:   It was made strictly as a bomber, and the claims of being a transport were only lip service.   The second prototype was made up as a transport to keep up the illusion, however.   The 9th version seems to also have been relegated to transport duties, but only after it was no longer used for flight tests.

Myth:   The Do-17z-10 failed as a night fighter.

Fact:   The first 2 kills claimed by the Luftwaffe's newly formed Night Fighter squadron (NJG1) was made by Do-17z-10's over a pair of Wellingtons.   It is important to note that NGJ1 did have Ju-88c's at their disposal, as well as Bf-109 and Bf-110's, so it is intriguing that the Do-17 was chosen as the lead platform for developing nightfighting hardware and tactics. Over time NJG1 continued to convert more Do-17's and then Do-215's, despite the fact its Ju-88c could have just have easily been chosen instead. In the latter half of 1940, the RAF's night bombing was making a mark so it was a priority project to counter this nuisance (note the accidental bombing of Berlin and Hitler's reaction), thus it is reasonable to assume they would use the best equipment to counter it, not "obsolete and surplus" Do-17's, a very interesting and telling fact on the performance of the type!   The first version, the 17z-6, used the nose of a Ju-88c, but this marriage was not ideal, so a new nose was made, but used the same weapons.   The 17z-7 was not satisfactory either, so an entirely new nose was made, with nearly double the armament of the 88c, the 17z-10, and that was the arrangement used in all future versions.   A logical conclusion is that the 17 was far from out classed in 1940, and could still provide good service.  

While a logical conclusion, supporting details are scares.   The early creation of night fighting equipment and tactics was done mostly at airbases, so little documentation exists, thus the best source of information will be those who actually where at those airbases.

Myth: Dornier 17's were lightly armed.

Fact: The Do-17z-2 primary bomber had more defensive MG 15 machine guns (6) than period He-111H's (5).   There was also a field modification that added 2 more MG's, so some Do-17z-2's had 8 defensive guns!   Conversely, the Ju-88A-1 of the same time period only had 3, with a field modification adding up to 5.   Some have said Do-17 gunners had to man several guns, but the same is true of Ju-88 and He-111's, so this argument has little merit.
When the new 17z-0 was first rolled out, it has only 3 guns (including a pilot fired MG15 that could be unlocked for free moment). This number was rapidly increased to 6 with the 17z-2 major variant and the Blitzkrieg. Several also installed 20mm MG/FF or 15mm MG151 instead of the lower nose 7.92mm MG 15.

Myth: Ju-88 and He-111 had crew armor before the Battle of Britain.

Fact: None of the 3 had armor when built (in fact in 1940 few bombers on any side had armor).   Mounting losses forced emergency armor additions for all 3 bombers, but retrofitting was time consuming and not many had it installed. Production lines for the He-111 and Ju-88 quickly added armor upgrades, however the Do-17's armor was slower to be applied, maybe becuase by then the 17 was no longer in production? Over time a majority of remaining Do-17's had the armor retrofits, perhaps completed in late 1940.
It should also be noted that all three types had self-sealing fuel tanks, a feature few other bombers of the period had. The Vickers Wellington did not have armor until the Mk.Ic in late 1940 (read text in link)!

Myth: Dornier 17's were not maneuverable.

Fact: They were very maneuverable for its size, and proved to be a tricky bomber to catch with a skilled pilot at the helm.   Many of its pilots commented it flew more like a fighter then a bomber, which speaks well for the design at the time.   Opposing pilots spoke of it being a tricky one to shoot down.
The Ju-88 had a pilot aimed and triggered MG15 in the windshield, and so did the 17's, the exact same mounting in fact (both could be unlocked for manual aiming). This is strong evidence the 17 could maneuver like the 88 in ground attack, or at other enemy aircraft!
Also consider that about 31 Do-17/215's where converted as nightfighters!

Myth: Dornier 17's was a slow bomber.

Fact: This is a relative question, but generally speaking, at the start of the war they where one of the fastest twin engine bombers in service in any air force (see note on Do-215), being a little faster then the Bristol Blenheim and He-111.   However its speed advantage was quickly eclipsed with many new cutting edge designs being pressed into service, like the 17mph faster Ju-88, or much faster Douglas DB-7.   However, it was still difficult to catch and could go at a full throttle 600kph dive to escape attacking fighters.   On a side, the later Daimelr-Benz engined Do-17R and Do-215 was actually faster then Ju-88's!

Myth: Dornier 17's were easy to shoot down.

Fact:  A simple examination of loss records during the Battle of Britain show the 17's fared only a little worse than He-111's, but had much fewer causalities than Ju-88's!   Even considering other factors (number of sorties, targets, escorts, defenses, luck, etc) to the worst case, Do-17z-2's fared about the same versus the other two medium bombers.   They could also take a lot of punishment, having a strong construction, able to do the aforementioned 600kph full power dives.   There are numerous photos of 17's full of holes making it safely back to German held territory.
The table below is total losses from the Battle of Britain and compiled from data on this site. Included to the table is estimates on the number of each aircraft available. The "Est", or estimated total number of type is used, because over time more would be made "Serv"icable for combat. "Loss %" and "Force %" is how much each contributed in make up and as a factor in losses. You may notice the 17z and 88 had equal numbers involved, however Ju-88a-1 losses are much higher, nearly double! Granted Ju-88's riskier missions may be large factor, but this loss rate seems excessive (the 88a-1 was known to suffer many shortcommings too).

Myth: By the end of the Battle of Britain (October 1940), they were removed from service.

Fact: They proved to be very successful and useful in the opening rounds in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of Russia. Carrying a variety of bombs, they decimated the Russian air force caught on the airfields and tore up ground units.   Only in the summer of 1941 when more Ju-88's and the totally new Dornier 217 entering service, were surviving Dornier 17z's used in secondary missions or passed on the allied countries, like the Finns, Croats, and Rumanians.   However the Luftwaffe did continue to use Do-17e's, Do-17p's, a few Do-17z's, and Do-215's till wars end for occasional combat sorties such as combat glider towing, combat supply drops, and support duties of photo recon, training, and test beds. While 1943 seems to be the last year any groups of 17's or 215 operated together in large formations, there is strong evidence to suggest remaining types continued to serve till wars end.
KG 3, III. Gruppe was the last KG to have a full Gruppen of Do-17's, in early 1942! After that, Do-17's where used for various other duties, including training, and a large number equipped the Croats, an ally of the Germans.
The Finnish also recieved 15 from the Luftwaffe (donated) which participated in the summer battles of 1944 versus Soviet Union. Do-17's flew many of bombing missions alongside the rest of the FiAF bomber "fleet" (including Blenhiems and Ju-88's) until the end of the war and performed well. Actually the last sortie by a Finnish plane in WW2 was flown in a Do-17 flying a recon mission at the end of the Lappland War in 1945.
Routine flights continued until the last flight of a Do-17 in FiAF, and mostlikly the last Do-17 flight ever, was flown on 13 Sep, 1948 (thank you 'grendel').

Myth: Ju-88 replaced Do-17's first.

Fact:   It was He-111's that where replaced by Ju-88's first.   The operational requirements of the Gruppen dictated where the Ju-88 was first assigned, and that was replacing He-111's for anti-shipping work.   The Kampfgeschwader's that switched to the Ju-88's first was KG54 "Totenkopf" and KG51 "Edelweiss" both useing He-111's. Attrition (losses) of the Dornier led to Gruppen switching over to the Junkers, one at a time until supplies of 17's where exhausted.   There is no doubt the switch over was planned, but with Do-17 losses about 50 a month and no new ones in production, it was an inevitable event.   Ironically, Ju-88's for costal patrols where themselves replaced by Do-217's.

Myth: Production of Do-17 ended because of Ju-88

Fact: Production was switched from the 17 to the 217, the natural successor of the 17, but until the design was perfected and enough could be made, 88's filled in the growing losses.   The 217 prototype flew August 1938, with production starting in early to mid 1940, with the end of 17 production at that time.   It is possible 17 productions were extended with 215's (export version of 17z that was never exported). An interesting side note, a Dornier plant was pressed into making Ju-88's by the RLM orders, the first Dornier built Ju-88 was found and is under restoration!

The Flying Pencil played a pivotal roll in the creation of the Luftwaffe's fleet.   It was the first, perhaps functionally only "Schellbomber" the Luftwaffe had, a bomber so fast it could out run opposing fighters, as it did in the Spanish Civil War, and was elusive to those fighters fast enough.   The standard of having all the crew in a front of the aircraft was passed on the Ju-88, Do-217, large part He-177, " Bomber B" prototypes, and other types that never went into production.   Speaking of which, the totally different Do-217 was based on the Do-17 because it was a fine design, thus the very close family resemblance.   The Do-17's, mostly the up-engine Do-215, also became the Luftwaffe's first dedicated night fighter!

The shortfall for the 17's was not from the enemy, but the march of progress in better aircraft.   Dornier and the Luftwaffe recognized the 17's limits, which is why work began on a new design using the best parts from the old deign.   The from scratch Do-217 design started in early 1937, but closely based on the Do-17; so closely the prototypes looked indistinguishable from Do-17's!

Other links on this site will give more detailed information on the specifics on this little known bomber.

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