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- Dornier Do 17: The 'Flying Pencil' in Luftwaffe Service - 1936-1945
Designed both as a military and civil aircraft, the Dornier Do 17 'Flying Pencil', so called because of its slender fuselage, was one of three twin-engine medium bombers in service with the Luftwaffe at the start of WWII. Its service with the Legion Condor during the Spanish Civil War, mainly in the reconnaissance role, so impressed the Luftwaffe that high priority was allocated to the aircraft as both a bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.
The Do 17 was loved by its crews. It served over Poland, France and the Low Countries, Britain, the Balkans, Greece and the Soviet Union, often without escort and against increasing and improved fighter opposition. Despite a comparatively light bomb-load and limited range, the ultimate version, Do 17Z, possessed good maneuverability and during the Luftwaffe's campaign against England in 1940, it was preferred for low-level attacks on British airfields and installations, though its lack of protection made it vulnerable.
Though production ceased in October 1940, the sleek Do 17 could be found on the strength of Luftwaffe units to the end of the war operating as a glider tug, night reconnaissance platform, research aircraft and trainer.
In this book Luftwaffe historian, Chris Goss, recounts the operational history of the Do 17, perhaps the least understood and often forgotten of the Luftwaffe's medium bombers.
Pages: 336
Size: 9 X 12 (inches)
Format: Hardback
Illustrations: over 700 photos
Publisher: Crecy Publishing
ISBN: 9781906537555
Product Code: CP755
Chris Goss
Born in South Wales in 1961, Chris Goss became interested in aviation history from an early age and as a teenager began to actively research World War Two aircraft crashes, contacting both German and RAF aircrew. After a successful career in the RAF, retiring early with the rank of Wing Commander, in 2014 he began to write about and research aviation history full time. This is his sixth title for Classic Publications, a roster which includes books on the combat histories of the Focke-Wulf Fw 200 and Dornier Do 17.
More titles by this author
- The Luftwaffe's Blitz: The Inside Story November 1940 - May 1941
- Luftwaffe Fighter-Bombers over Britian: The Tip and Run Campaign, 1942-1943
- Bloody Biscay: The History of V Gruppe/Kampfgeschwader 40
- Luftwaffe Fighters' Battle of Britain
- Focke-Wulf Fw 200: The Condor at War 1939-1945
- Dornier Do 217 1941-1945