Today NO Dornier 17 exists in the world!
Their are many little details that have been lost over time and today many errors show up when describing the Do-17's.

These are the TOP SECRET files , and some of them are declassified here! (It is in no order, just as I go.)

©2004-2006 Joe Kudrna

It is wrong to assume that because a bomber could carry a certain weight of bombs, it can be any combination of bomb, and all internally. Mission profiles and munitions used in the mount provided limit what and how far, creating a innumerable combinations. Also forgoten on many bombers is how the munitions where stored in the bomb bay, and how the door opened.

The Do-17's could carry up to 1000Kg (2200Lbs) in bombload, and below is a table of some those it could carry (their are more that could fit). The 17 had 2 bomb bays, with the forward bay having an optional fuel tank. For a breif time the Luftwaffe used SC100's, however I have little info on its loadout.

Bomb loads
Max load 1,000 kg 2,200 lb
1/2 load, aux fuel 500kg 1,100lb
Bombs types (could have carried others)
name weight, kilogram maximum number
SC 50 50kg 20x
SC 250 250kg 2x
PD 50 50 kg 20x
SD 2 2kg 360x
SC 10 10kg 20x? (unknown amount)
SC 500 500Kg 2x? (investigating)

Bomb types could be carried in combination, for example 1x SC250 and 10x SC50's for a total of 750Kg load.
It should also be noted the SC50 is very close to 110 lb's in weight, and used a more powerful explosive then Allied bombs. Early in the war when tanks were lighter in weight and thinner armor,disabling or destroying tanks with a very close hit. A "stick" of 20 bombs will decimate a convoy on a road or in a close grouping. Do-17's were popular in the roll, as the He-111 was used in altitude bombing and the Ju-88 in dive bombing (at that time).

The doors of the bomb bay is hinged above the plane of the door, and not on the edge as is mistakenly assumed. In the photograph below you can see the fulcrum of the pivot, and the right angled arm connecting to the door. The beam across the image is what separates the forward and aft bays, and hold the pullies that operate the bay doors.
This view is looking forward (the lower tail gun position (C-stand) is just visible).

As you may notice, the pivot for the door is such at almost half of the door will be inside the bay, resulting in less drag and also the doors do not interfere with the lower gunners field of fire, an important feature.
A very good illustration of the open doors in the image below.

The image below reveals the cross section of the bomb bay. Note the section labeled"D-2". This is the SC250, 250Kg bomb, and it is obvious only one bomb can be carried for each of the 2 bays. This means that in carrying the SC250, the Do-17's could only carry a maximum of 2x SC250, for a total of 500Kg load. Some books have noted Do-17's could carry the SC500, 500Kg bombs, but this is questionable and being investigated.
The image also shows the 10x SC50 bombs in "D-1", and the Auxiliary Fuel Tank in "I"

A side view of the above.

The image below shows the beam mount used to carry the SC250 and possibly SC500. The name is "EHVC 500 / VIII", and such names usually designate type (EHVC) and carry weight (500Kg). The VIII could simply mean the 8th version.

 

Below is an outside view of the "B-Stand" defensive MG 15 7.92mm machine guns. Note the guards under the MG's so the gunner does not accidentally hit his own aircraft! The arc of fire for the oblique MG's are angled at the back. At the lowest depression, the fire would be just outside the vertical tail, but as the gun is moved upward, the barrel will reach a point where it will point directly aft! The arc to the sides are just aft of the propellers, so the total horizontal arc is some 100* (degrees) of movement. Vertical, it seems to be about 90*. The MG15 could also be twisted, so the ammo drum and sighting ring can be ideally positioned. The rear most MG15 is mounted in a bubble window that could rotate on a ring. This also allowed for ideal positions for the gunner to use it, however the arc guard would only work if the gun was at its lowest position!

Continuing the walk around.

Points to note in this picture collection are the Flaps and telescoping ne call! On the tail image (#2) are the balance 'horns' for the elevator (the round leading part goes though the tail!). The entire tail would pivot up and down for trim. Image #3 shows the portion of the canopy that could be removed for emergency egress, and the double ring direction finder antenna, later replaced by a streamlined teardrop type in the image below (#5, same as above image). The French text notes this as the difference between the Z-1 and Z-2, however some early Z-2's may have had the ring antennas.
In the engine image above (#3) one can see the round exhaust pipe (top), at the bottom the rectangular oil cooler air intake, and to the side (circled) is rectangular engine air intake. The engine air intake is on the right side (pilot perspective) on both engines.

In this nose close up, note how the lower MG15 is mounted in the cross beam. On the upper MG15 one can see the releasable clamp. The Lotfe bomb sight (c, d) is seen in the window, and the big teardrop under is for the periscope of the Lotfe sight. Their is a door in the bulge to close the rectangular window when the bomb sight is not used.

Simple close up of the yoke and rudder pedals. Note the trigger for the MG15 and knob for trimming.

Other little tidbits about the Do-17!:

"Flying tail"! The horizontal stabilizer was adjustable up and down for trim of the bomber
Cockpit armor plate additions for pilot! Yes, like the Ju-88 and He-111, armor was added!
Retraction mechanism for the Main Gear was a screw gear, mechanically actuated.

MORE TO SEE (with internal shots of the cockpit) in the images section!

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