Model Number: Dornier Do 17Z Light Bomber

Application: Collection,Souvenir Gift, Home Decoration,Educational,Model

Age Range: > 14 years old

Type: Static finished model

Material: Zinc alloy+plastic

Scale: 1:144

Size: approx 11.5cm(L)*12cm(W)/4.5inch(L)*4.7inch(W)

Package:Aircraft model + Display stand+Original box

The Dornier Do 17Z was a German twin-engine light bomber that served as one of the Luftwaffe's three main bomber types during the first half of World War II, alongside the Heinkel He 111 and the Junkers Ju 88. The Z-series was the definitive production version of the famous "Flying Pencil" (Fliegender Bleistift), a nickname earned by the aircraft's characteristically narrow, cylindrical fuselage designed for minimal drag .

First entering service in 1939, the Do 17Z played a significant role in the invasions of Poland and France, and most notably, during the Battle of Britain (July–October 1940). Approximately 537 Z-2 models were produced before production ceased in July 1940, with total production of all Do 17Z variants exceeding 1,700 aircraft .

Design and Development

The Do 17 was originally developed in 1933 under the guise of a civilian "mail aircraft" for Lufthansa, but it was in fact designed as a Schnellbomber (fast bomber) – a light bomber concept intended to outrun contemporary fighter aircraft . The design featured a narrow, cylindrical fuselage to reduce drag, which gave the aircraft its iconic "Flying Pencil" appearance and also made it a difficult target for enemy fighters .

Early prototypes used Daimler-Benz DB 600 inline engines, but these were in short supply, being reserved primarily for Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Bf 110 fighters. Consequently, production Do 17s were powered by alternative radial engines .

The Z-series represented the final major evolution of the Do 17. It featured a completely redesigned cockpit section – a larger, "pod-like" canopy that extended above the fuselage line and dropped down to meet the wing. This gave the crew of four significantly more room and provided much better visibility and fields of fire for the defensive gunners .

Operational History

Early Campaigns (1939-1940)

The Do 17Z proved highly effective during the invasions of Poland (September 1939) and France (May-June 1940). Its maximum speed of 427 km/h (265 mph) allowed it to stay ahead of most opposing fighters, and its relatively light defensive armament was considered adequate for the threats encountered .

The Battle of Britain (July-October 1940)

The Battle of Britain marked a turning point for the Do 17Z. Against the fast, heavily armed British Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire fighters, the "Flying Pencil" faced serious challenges. The Bramo 323P engines were optimized for low-altitude performance, so the Luftwaffe employed Do 17 units for terrain-following mass raids in attempts to evade fighter opposition .

Despite its maneuverability and easy handling – qualities that made it popular with pilots, particularly at low altitudes – the Do 17Z suffered heavy losses . A total of 171 Do 17s were lost during the Battle of Britain, with 54 shot down in August 1940 alone .

The Last Surviving Example

A remarkable piece of aviation history lies on the seabed off the coast of Kent, England. On August 26, 1940, a Do 17Z-2 (Werk Nummer 1160, code 5K+AR) of 7 Staffel, III Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 3 took off from St. Trond, Belgium, to attack targets in Essex .

The aircraft became separated from its formation and was attacked by Boulton Paul Defiant fighters of No. 264 Squadron RAF. Both engines were hit, and pilot Feldwebel Willi Effmert was forced to make a wheels-up landing on the Goodwin Sands. The aircraft flipped onto its back upon impact. Two crew members survived and became prisoners of war; the other two were killed .

The wreck lay forgotten in about 16 meters (50 feet) of water, gradually covered by shifting sands, until it was rediscovered by a diver in 2008. Sonar surveys confirmed it was in remarkable condition – with its tyres still inflated – and it was identified as the last substantially intact Do 17 in existence .

In June 2013, the RAF Museum successfully raised the wreckage from the seabed in a complex recovery operation. The aircraft, which weighed 9 tonnes when lifted (including sand and marine growth), was transported to the museum's conservation center at RAF Cosford. There, it underwent an innovative conservation process using citric acid in hydration tunnels to remove marine deposits and prevent corrosion . Today, it remains the only surviving example of its type in the world .

Legacy and Replacement

The Do 17Z was eventually superseded by the more powerful and versatile Junkers Ju 88, which offered greater range and payload . Production of the Do 17Z ended in July 1940, though surviving aircraft continued to serve in training units and with allied nations, including Finland and Croatia, through the final years of the war .

Few Do 17Zs survived the war, as most were scrapped for their valuable aluminum frames. The last operational model was scrapped by the Finnish Air Force in 1952 . The sole surviving example, raised from the Goodwin Sands, stands as a poignant memorial to the Battle of Britain and the crews who flew this distinctive "Flying Pencil."