| Do 17 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Light bomber, night fighter and reconnaissance aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Dornier Flugzeugwerke |
| Primary users | Luftwaffe |
| Number built | 2,139[1] |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1937 |
| First flight | 23 November 1934[2] |
| Retired | 15 September 1952 (Finnish Air Force)[3] |
| Variants | Dornier Do 215 |
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,[4] 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 The type was not withdrawn at this point; instead, the Do 17 continued to serve with the Luftwaffe during the latter years of the conflict in various secondary roles, including as a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 as of the twenty-first century.