Dornier Do 17 in the Battle of Britain

Dornier Do 17 in the Battle of Britain PDF

Author: Chris Goss

Publisher: Air World

Published: 2023-01-24

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13: 1526781239

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During Britain’s desperate struggle for survival that in the summer of 1940, the Dornier Do 17 played a prominent part in raids designed at neutralizing the RAF’s ability to resist and the British people’s will to fight back. Having been built to outrun contemporary fighters when introduced into the Luftwaffe in 1937, it had become the Luftwaffe’s main light bomber, and for the attack against Britain, three bomber wings, KG 2, KG3 and KG77, were equipped with the Do 17. But by 1940, the Do 17 was nearing obsolescence and, with its weak defensive armament, it fell prey to Fighter Command’s Hurricanes and Spitfires. Its vulnerability was starkly revealed on 18 August 1940, when eight Dorniers were shot down and nine damaged in attacks on RAF Kenley, and on 15 September – Battle of Britain Day – when twenty were shot down and a further thirteen damaged. On that day, Sergeant Ray Holmes rammed his Hurricane into a Do 17 that was reportedly aiming for Buckingham Palace. Part of the bomber’s wreckage fell to earth near Victoria Station. In this comprehensive pictorial record of the Do 17, the bomber’s role throughout the period of the Battle of Britain is displayed in the author’s unique collection of British and German photographs. These photographs, coupled with first-hand stories from those who flew and those who fought against the Do 17, bring those desperate days and dark nights back to life in the manner which only contemporary images and accounts can achieve.

Dornier Do 17 Units of World War 2

Dornier Do 17 Units of World War 2 PDF

Author: Chris Goss

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2019-09-19

Total Pages: 97

ISBN-13: 1472829654

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Initially designed as a high-speed mail aeroplane and airliner, the Do 17 first made an appearance as a military aircraft in the Spanish Civil War, both as a bomber and in reconnaissance roles. In the early stages of World War II, it, together with the Heinkel He 111, formed the backbone of the German bomber arm over Poland, France, Belgium and the Low Countries, and saw action in almost every major campaign in this period. However, by the start of the Battle of Britain, the Do 17's limited range and small bomb load meant that it was ripe for replacement by the Ju 88. Though it performed well at lower altitudes, the model suffered heavy losses during raids, particularly during the Blitz and were increasingly phased out. This fully illustrated study uses detailed full-colour artwork and authoritative text from an expert author to tell the full operation story of one of Nazi Germany's best light bombers from the early years of World War II.

DORNIER Do 17–The Luftwaffe's 'Flying Pencil'

DORNIER Do 17–The Luftwaffe's 'Flying Pencil' PDF

Author: Chris Goss

Publisher: Casemate Publishers

Published: 2018-04-30

Total Pages: 249

ISBN-13: 1848324731

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For the first three years of the Second World War, the Dornier Do 17 was the Luftwaffe’s principal light bomber. Designed to be fast enough to outrun contemporary fighter aircraft, the Dornier helped to spearhead Germany’s Blitzkrieg as Hitler’s armies raced through Poland and then France and the Low Countries. Until its withdrawal to secondary duties in 1941, the Dornier Do 17 served in every theatre of war involving German forces. This included the invasion of the Balkans and Greece as well as the battle to capture Crete. After suffering heavy losses at the hands of Fighter Command in the Battle of Britain, the Do 17 was employed in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. The Do 17 was withdrawn from frontline service later in 1941 but continued to be used by the German Air Force in various roles until the end of the war, including seeing service as a glider tug and in the defence of the Reich in 1944 as a night fighter. In this compilation of unrivalled images collected over many years, and now part of Frontline's new War in the Air series, the widespread deployment of the Dornier Do 17 is portrayed and brought to life.

The Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain PDF

Author: Jon Lake

Publisher: Amereon Limited

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13:

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Traces the events that led to the attempted German invasion of Great Britain in 1940 describing the prolonged bombing of London by the Luftwaffe, the tactical errors made by the Germans, and how the outcome of the battle affected the course of the war.

We Remember the Battle of Britain

We Remember the Battle of Britain PDF

Author: Frank Shaw

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2013-05-09

Total Pages: 388

ISBN-13: 1448177316

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‘I was talking and laughing with a school friend in the street when suddenly there was the eerie wailing notes of the air raid siren filling the air. I can remember that our laughter stopped straight away, and I recall feeling chilled and scared. Doors were opened and people came out of their houses looking up to the sky ... It was a Sunday morning on a beautiful summer’s day with blue skies and really warm sunshine. But within minutes our lives had changed, and the child in me had gone, never to return.’ Mrs Mary Earle, Kent After the surrender of France to Germany Churchill announced that ‘the Battle of Britain is about to begin’ and on 10 July 1940 the Luftwaffe began bombing ships in the English Channel in readiness for a full air assault on the south of England. In August, German aircraft were attacking coastal airfields, moving inland to attack radar bases, further RAF airfields and aircraft factories, until finally turning their attention to London and other major cities. But Hitler had underestimated the determination of the RAF and by mid-September the Luftwaffe sustained such great losses that Britain had won the battle for our skies and the German invasion was called off. This third instalment in the ‘We Remember’ series is filled with stories from servicemen from the air and on the ground, and the men, women and children who witnessed the extraordinary fights between British and German planes.

Dornier Do 217 Units of World War 2

Dornier Do 217 Units of World War 2 PDF

Author: Chris Goss

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2021-09-16

Total Pages: 97

ISBN-13: 147284615X

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The Do 217 had a much larger bomb load capacity and had considerably greater range than the Do 17, which it replaced in frontline service from mid to late 1941. Although initially used simply as a bomber, later variants were developed to allow the Do 217 to undertake the precision maritime strike role. In order to perform the latter mission, the Do 217 was modified to launch glide bombs – units employing these pioneering weapons enjoyed some success in the Mediterranean from the autumn of 1943. During the course of these operations the Do 217 became the first aircraft in military aviation history to deploy a precision-guided bomb in combat in the form of the 'Fritz X' radio-guided, free-fall weapon, which sank the Italian battleship Roma shortly after Italy capitulated in September 1943. The Do 217 served on all fronts, and was often used on anti-shipping strikes during the Battle of the Atlantic and against the Allied invasion fleet at Normandy. This versatile aircraft was also converted into a nightfighter, seeing action in the Defense of the Reich through to war's end. This highly illustrated study explores the design and development of the Do 217 and chronicles its use in the frontline as a strategic bomber, launch platform for first generation precision weapons, reconnaissance aircraft and nightfighter, among others.

Shot Down in Flames

Shot Down in Flames PDF

Author: Geoffrey Page

Publisher: Casemate Publishers

Published: 2011-06-29

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 190916660X

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A pilot’s first-hand account of the Battle of Britain. “Quite simply one of the best books I have ever read about the men who fought the war in the air.” —Daily Mail On 12 August 1940, during the Battle of Britain, in an engagement with Dornier Do 17s, Geoffrey Page was shot down into the English Channel, suffering severe burns. He spent much of the next two years in hospitals, undergoing plastic surgery, but recovered sufficiently to pursue an extremely distinguished war and postwar career. This eloquently written and critically acclaimed autobiography tells of his wartime exploits in the air and on the ground. He was a founding member of The Guinea Pig Club—formed by badly burnt aircrew—and this is a fascinating account of the Club, of the courage and bravery of “The Few,” and of Geoffrey’s later life and achievements, most particularly in the creation of The Battle of Britain memorial. “For sheer narrative power, it ranks with the best.” —The Daily Telegraph

Dornier Do 17/Do 215

Dornier Do 17/Do 215 PDF

Author: Marek Murawski

Publisher: Monographs

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9788364596339

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The monograph on the WW2 German bombers Dornier Do 17 and Dornier Do 215 discusses their design, development and operational history. Each variant is specified and comprehensively described with coverage of changes made in its sub-variants, including the special modifications for the foreign recipients. Designed and built in the late 1930s, originally as reconnaissance and bomber plane, the Do 17/215 was also used as a night fighter equipped with radar systems. A large part of the book is devoted to the combat use of the aircraft in the Spanish Civil War, Poland, the Balkans and Russia together with the Western Campaign and Battle of Britain. A short account of the night fighting missions is also included.

Duel of Eagles

Duel of Eagles PDF

Author: Peter Townsend

Publisher: Booksales

Published: 2008-05-15

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780785815686

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Former RAF ace chronicles the growth of the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe and their decisive engagements during the Battle of Britain in 1940.