Dornier Do 17

The Dornier Do 17 was a German light bomber used by the Luftwaffe during World War II. It was also used as a night fighter and reconnaissance aircraft. Due to the elongated and slender fuselage of the first variant, it was known as the 'flying pencil'. A total of 2,139 aircraft were manufactured in different versions, taking part in every theater of operation of WW2. The Do 215 would be developed from this warplane.

The Dornier Do 17 had originally been designed as a commercial aircraft; a high-speed mail plane capable of carrying six passengers. Under this guise, the first prototype, the Do 17 V1, performed its maiden flight on November 23, 1934. It was passed over to Lufthansa for evaluation, along with the second and third prototypes, which were fitted with two BMW V1 7.3, 12-cylinder engines, each delivering 750-HP. However, the Lufthansa test pilot saw it had potential as a bomber and communicated this to the air ministry.

The first production model was the Dornier Do 17E-1, a bomber, which was built alongside the almost identical Do 17F-1, which was a dedicated long-range reconnaissance aircraft. These two versions entered service with the Luftwaffe in 1937. The Do 17E-1 could carry up to 750-kg (1,650-lb) of bombs (one 500-kg and one 250-kg bomb), while the 17F-1 carried a pair of cameras for its reconnaissance missions. They would both be sent to Spain, with the Condor Legion, to take part in the civil war.

Below, the Do 17E-1 in flight in 1938.

The Dornier Do 17M and Do 17P were developed as replacements for the 17E-1 and 17F-1 respectively. The 17M bomber variant was powered by two Bramo 323A-1, Fafnir, 9-cylinder, air-cooled radial engines, which produced 950 horsepower each. Meanwhile, the reconnaissance version, the 17P, was equipped with two 865-HP, BMW 132N engines. These variants would see combat action in September 1939, during the German invasion of Poland.

Technical Description

The Dornier Do 17 was a two-engine monoplane. It was fitted with straight, cantilever shoulder wing and retractable landing gear.

Specifications (Do 17Z-2)

Type: light bomber

Length: 15.79 m (51 feet, 9 inches)

Wing Span: 18 m (59 feet)

Wing Area: 55 m2 (592 sq. feet)

Height: 4.56 m (14 feet, 11 inches)

Power Plant: two BMW Bramo 323P, Fafnir, 9-cylinder radial engines, each developing 1,000 HP.

Maximum Speed: 410 km/h (255 mph)

Range: 1,160 km (720 miles)

Ceiling: 7,000 m (22,750 feet)

Armament: two forward-firing 7.92-mm MG-15 machine guns; two 7.92-mm machine guns firing from side windows; and one 7.92mm firing aft from a ventral position. It carried up to 1,000-kg of bombs, or two 500-kg of bombs.

Below, the Dornier Do 17 V1, the "flying pencil".

The 17P-1 variant in late 1937.

The Do 17Z-2 version in the Summer of 1941, right before Operation Barbarossa was set in motion.

Below, the Do 17Z-1 on the Eastern Front.

Two bombers on their way to Poland in September 1939.

Blohm und Voss BV 222

The Blohm und Voss BV 222, Wiking, was a long-range, maritime reconnaissance flying-boat. Used by the Luftwaffe during World War II, it was the largest flying-boat to achieve operational status during this armed conflict. It had originally been designed by Dr. Richard Vogt and Herr R. Schubert to meet a 1937 Lufthansa requirement for a long-range passenger transport. A total of 13 flying-boats were built in three versions; BV 222A, 222B, and 222C.

The first prototype of the Blohm und Voss BV 222, the V1, made its maiden flight on September 7, 1940. The test pilot was the Flügkäpitan Helmut Rodig. Since it was a satisfactory performance, it would be fitted with enlarged doors for transport duties, being introduced into service with the Luftwaffe on July 10,1941. After flying sorties on the route to Norway, it was soon transferred to the Mediterranean theater. It was used to carry supplies for German forces in Libya, North Africa. Transport operations increased during 1942; however, two were shot down. In 1943, the Wikings were moved to Biscarose to carry out maritime patrol missions, with Aufklärungstaffel See 222.

Below, front view of the V1 prototype in flight in 1940, showing its large wing span.

Technical Description

The Blohm und Voss BV 222 was a six-engine, monoplane flying-boat. It was fitted with straight, rectangular shoulder-wing. The all-metal wing was supported by a single, stout and strong spar, measuring 1.45 m in diameter. This spar was divided into sections to contain six fuel tanks. The BV 222C variant was powered by six Junkers Jumo 207C, inline, diesel engines, each producing 1,000-HP.

The underbelly of the fuselage consisted of a boat hull, which was shaped to float and land on water. It was covered by corrosion-resisting alloy sheets, which measured about 3mm in thickness. The fuselage was divided into two portions; the lower one was allotted to passengers, or cargo, while the upper portion was for the flight crew of seven.

Specifications

Type: transport, maritime reconnaissance flying-boat.

Length: 37 m (121 feet, 5 inches)

Wing Span: 46 m (150 feet, 11 inches) Wing Area: 255 m2 (2,745 sq. feet)

Height: 10.90 m (35 feet, 9 inches)

Power Plant: six 1,000-HP, Junkers Jumo 207C, inline piston engine.

Maximum Speed: 390 km/h (242 mph)

Range: 6,095 km (3,787 miles)

Service Ceiling: 7,300 m (23,950 feet)

Armament:  three 20-mm MG-151 cannons; five 13mm MG-131 machine guns.

Below, the Blohm & Voss BV 222A, Lufthansa passenger version of the flying-boat.

The  BV 222B in flight over the Mediterranean in 1943.

Below, the BV 222C variant in 1943.

The BV 222 V5 prototype in 1941.

Blohm und Voss BV 142

The Blohm und Voss BV 142 was a maritime reconnaissance aircraft, which was in service with the German Luftwaffe between 1940 and 1942, during World War II. Developed from the BV Ha 139 float plane, it was a heavy airplane, which was powered by four engines and fitted with inverted-gull wings. Despite its long-range capability, it was withdrawn from service due to its disappointing performance and vulnerability in September 1942. Only four were built.

The first prototype, the Ha 142 V1, had first flown on October 11, 1938. This one was followed shortly by a second prototype, the V2. By the Summer of 1939, four prototypes had already been involved in the flight test program. By the Spring of 1940, two of them were delivered to the 2./Aufklärungsstaffel, being attached directly to the headquarters of the Luftflotte 3. Both planes operated from Denmark and Norway. Plans had been drawn to use the Blohm und Voss BV 142 to launch the GT 1200C guided torpedo; however these plans would never be implemented.

Specifications

Type: long-range, maritime reconnaissance aircraft

Length: 20.45 m (67 feet, 1 inch)

Wing Span: 29.53 m (96 feet, 10 inches)

Wing Area: 130 m2 (399.35 sq. feet)

Height: 4.44 m (14 feet, 6 inches)

Power Plant: four BMW 132H-1, radial piston engines, each delivering 880 horsepower.

Maximum Speed: 375 km/h (233 mph) at sea level.

Range: 3,900 km (2,423 miles)

Service Ceiling: 9,000 m (29,525 feet)

Armament: three 7.92-mm MG-15 machine guns. Provision for four 100-kg bombs.

Crew: four

Below, the Blohm und Voss BV 142 flew along the Norwegian coast of the North Sea during reconnaissance sorties.

The BV 142 in 1941.

Blohm und Voss BV 155

The Blohm und Voss BV 155 was an interceptor aircraft, which was designed for the German Luftwaffe to fight against the American long-range bombers, such as the Boeing B-29. Although it was tested for about two years, it never went into mass production, as none was ever introduced into service. Only three prototypes were built. One of the main features of this German aircraft was its extremely large span and relative narrow wings.

The Blohm und Voss BV 155 was first designed by Messerschmitt in two models; the Me 155A and the Me 155B, a bomber and a high-altitude interceptor respectively. Since Messerschmitt was too busy with the mass production and developement of the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Me 410, and the Me 262 Schwalbe fighters and jet interceptor respectively, the project for a high-altitude interceptor aircraft was put aside, but it would be picked up and continued by Blohm und Voss in 1943.

The prototype, the BV 155 V1, performed its maiden flight on September 1, 1944. Due to lack of adequate cooling on the first couple of tests, the engineers decided to build a second prototype, with a larger radiator intake, which was fitted outboard under the wing instead of above it. Thus, the second prototype, the V2, first flew on February 8, 1945. Although, it showed a good performance, it was too late, for Germany was about to lose the war as the Red Army was closing in on Berlin.

Technical Description

The Blohm und Voss BV 155 was a single-seat, single-engine monoplane. It had cantilever low wing and an all-metal fuselage. Had it entered mass production, the aircraft would have been armed with one 30-mm MK-102 and two 20-mm MG-151 cannons.

Specifications

Type: High-Altitude Interceptor

Wing Span: 20.5 m (67 ft, 3 inch)

Length: 12 m (39 ft, 4 inch)

Wing Area: 39 m2 (420 sq. ft)

Height: 3 m (9 ft, 10 inch)

Power Plant: one Daimler-Benz DB-603A, inverted V-12 piston engine, delivering 1,600 horsepower.

Maximum Speed: 690 km/h (429 mph) at high altitudes.

Range: 1,440 km (895 miles)

Crew: 1

Below, front view of the German interceptor prior to its first flight. You can see that the air intakes are located under the wings.

Below, the drawing of the first prototype (V1) design made in 1943. Notice that the air intakes are above wings.

The Blohm und Voss BV 155 V1 prototype in a hangar in 1944.

Blohm und Voss BV 138

The Blohm und Voss BV 138 was a German flying boat and maritime patroller, which was used by the Luftwaffe during World War II. The first prototype, the Ha 138 V1, took off on its maiden flight on July 15, 1937. After improvement made and the hull enlarged, it was finally approved for mass production after three years of flight tests. It entered service in October 1940 as the BV 138A-1, on time to take part in the Norwegian Campaign. Because of its distinctive shape, it was called the 'Die fliegende Holzschuh' (the flying clog).

The BV 138A-1 version was followed by the BV 138B-1, which first flew in December 1940. The second one was a much superior machine than its predecessor. Armament consisted of a forward-firing 20-mm MG-151 cannon, set up in a turret in bow portion of aircraft, and a 7.92-mm MG-15 machine gun, which was mounted in an open position behind the central engine nacelle. Later, a factory conversion would increase the weapon load to six bombs or depth charges. The BV 138C-1 variant had a strengthened airframe, a four-bladed propeller on the central engine, and an additional 13-mm machine gun in the starboard side fired by the radio operator.

From the Norwegian bases, the Blohm und Voss BV 138 flew sorties over the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans, tracking and attacking convoys bound for Russia. During one of its many missions, it shot down a Catalina and a Blenheim. In northern waters, this German aircraft got refueled from U-boats. Meanwhile, the BV 138C-1 operated in the Black Sea region, taking off from Constanza, Romania. It was also used in the Mediterranean theater in 1943.

Technical Descriptions

The Blohm und Voss BV 138 was a three-engine monoplane flying boat. It was fitted with a cantilever high wing, which was mounted on a pylon above the hull. The wing had split flaps between the ailerons and the fuselage. The aircraft was a three-piece metal construction with sheet plates. The center section, which was made of steel, housed the fuel tank. The hull was a short, single step, all-metal boat.

Specifications (138C-1)

Type: reconnaissance and maritime flying boat.

Length: 19.90 m (65 ft, 3 in)

Wing Span: 27 m (88 ft, 7 in)

Wing Area: 112 m2 (1,206 sq. ft)

Height: 5.9 m (19 ft, 4 in)

Power Plant: three Junkers Jumo 105D inline, piston engines, each delivering 880 horspower.

Maximum Speed: 285 km/h (177 mph)

Range: 5,000 km (3,107 miles)

Ceiling: 5,000 m (16,405 ft)

Crew: 6 men

Below, front view of a BV 138A-1 version at a Luftwaffe base on the Norwegian coast.

The BV 138C-1 flying over the Black Sea in the Summer of 1943. Notice the 20mm gun in the bow section.

Below, the drawing of the Blohm und Voss BV 138 prototype.

The German flying boat being refueled by a U-boat in the middle of the North Sea.

Vultee BT-13 Valiant

The Vultee BT-13 Valiant was a two-seat, trainer aircraft used by the US Army Air Forces during World War II. Developed from the BC-3, the prototype, the Model 74, first flew in March 1939. It was the most prolific basic trainer of this period, entering service in June 1940.

The main production variant was the BT-13A, with 6,407 aircraft built. It was powered by one Pratt & Whitney R-985 AN-1, 9-cylinder, air-cooled radial engine, which produced 450 horsepower. This version was followed by the BT-15, which was equipped with one 450-HP, Wright R-975-11 Whirlwind-9 radial engine. Although it was a reliable and easy-to-fly aircraft, both versions were quickly retired after the war.

Technical Characteristics

The Vultee BT-13 Valiant was a two-seat, single-engine monoplane. It had an all-metal structure, with cantilever low wing, with all control surfaces being fabric-covered. The landing gear featured oleo-pneumatic shock struts, a steerable tailwheel, and hydraulic brakes. The cockpit provided accommodation for a crew of two, who were seated in tandem beneath a continuous transparent canopy.

Specifications

Type: basic trainer

Length: 8.79 m (28 ft, 10 inch)

Wing Span: 12.80 m (42 ft)

Wing Area: 22.20 m2 (239 sq. ft)

Height: 3.51 m (11 ft, 6-inch)

Powerplant: one Pratt & Whiney R-985 AN-1, 9-cylinder radial engine.

Maximum Speed: 290 km/h (180 mph)

Service Ceiling: 6,600 m (21,650 feet)

Range: 1,167 km (725 miles)

Crew: 2

Below, the Vultee BT-13 Valiant flying over the sky of Colorado in 1942.

Grumman F9F Panther

The Grumman F9F Panther was a carrier-borne jet fighter used in the Korean War by the US Navy. It was the first American jet combat aircraft to see action in an armed conflict, and it was also the first to reach widespread service and to win popularity among the Navy and Marine pilots. It also got the US Navy's first jet-vs-jet 'kill' in a dogfight in military aviation history, when it shot down a MiG-15 on November 9, 1950.

The Grumman F9F Panther performed its maiden flight on November 24, 1947, as the XF9F-2 prototype flown by test pilot C.H. Meyers. It was powered by one Pratt & Whitney J42 jet engine, with 5,000-lbs of thrust (dry). The first production Panther, the F9F-2, first flew exactly one year later, on November 24, 1948. It was equipped with one Pratt & Whitney J42-P-6 engine, producing 5,755-lb thrust. It was armed with four 20-mm M3 cannons, which were mounted in the nose. Grumman would build 1,380 aircraft, with the F9F-5 being the most massively manufactured version.

Extensively used on ground-attack missions in Korea, the Panther was a fine warplane in the hands of trained pilots. Its structural strength helped Marine pilots greatly when they flew the F9F through gunfire to attack enemy ground troops in the Korean War. However, it was outclassed by the US Air Force F-86 Sabre in speed and maneuverability. The last operational Panther was retired from service in 1958. The F9F-6 version had a 35-degree swept-wing design, instead of the straight one, and it would become the F-9 Cougar.

Below, the F9F-5 variant on deck of USS Boxer in 1953, off San Diego.

Technical Description

The Grumman F9F Panther was a single-seat, single-engine, jet-propelled monoplane. It had a straight, low-wing configuration and an all-metal fuselage. The engine air intakes were located in the wingroots. The wings could be folded upwards on the aircraft carrier for storage convenience. The aircraft was fitted with two ventral airbrakes, or dive brakes, mounted left and right on the front fuselage.

The F9F Panther was equipped with two 120-gallon, non-jettisonable, wing-tip fuel tanks. It was fitted with a pressurized, air-conditioned cockpit, with ejection seat and an automatic radio direction finder. An internal 95-liter (25-gallon) tank of water/methanol was fitted beneath the fin to give extra engine thrust. It had additional hardpoints on the wing to carry bombs and rockets.

Specifications (F9F-5)

Type: carrier-based fighter

Length: 11.84 m (38 ft, 10 inch)

Wing Span: 11.58 m (38 ft)

Wing Area: 23.23 m2 (250 sq. ft)

Height: 3.73 m (12 ft, 3 inch)

Power Plant: one Pratt & Whitney J48-P-6 (licence-built Rolls-Royce Tay), producing 7,004 lb.

Maximum Speed: 932 km/h (579 mph)

Range: 2,100 km (1,305 miles)

Service Ceiling: 13,000 m (42,650 ft)

Armament: four 20-mm, Browning M3 cannons. Underwing hardpoints to carry up to 1,360 kg of bombs/rockets.

Below, the Grumman F9F-2B Panther on a combat mission in Korea in 1951.

The F9F-2P variant in flight

Below, the swept-wing F9F-6 (F-9) Cougar development.

The Panther operating from USS Randolph (CV-15) (video)

Arado Ar 240

The Arado Ar 240 was a military prototype aircraft which was designed and developed for the German Luftwaffe between 1938 and 1942. Although it underwent test trials for about two years, the program was abandoned in December 1942. The machine was too unstable and not maneuverable enough for the combat role. However, from the 14 prototypes that were built, 7 would be used to fly reconnaissance missions on the Eastern Front in the Ar 240A-01/ and 02 variants.

The first prototype of the Arado Ar 240, the V1, made its maiden flight on June 25, 1940. Both V1 and V2 flew badly. The had been conceived as heavy fighter and dive-bomber. The V3 prototype would be used as a reconnaissance aircraft. Although the combat variant was cancelled, Arado would doggedly keep developing it as the V4, V5, V6, and V7 (Ar 240C-01) prototype. The last one was intended to be used as a bomber, which never entered production.

Technical Description

The Arado Ar 240 was a twin-engine, mid-wing monoplane, with twin fins and rudders. The fuselage had a stressed-skin monocoque structure. The wing center was rectangular; the outer wing panels, on the other hand, were trapezoidal, with unswept leading edges and slats. The wing was a two-spar structure, which consisted of a one-piece center-section and two outer sections. The cockpit was set in forward position ahead of wings, giving the pilot a good vision of the terrain below. Landing gear and tail wheel were retractable.

Specifications

Length: 12.80 m (42 ft)

Wing Span: 13.33 m (43 ft, 9 inch)

Wing Area: 31.30 m2 (337 sq. ft)

Height: 3.95 m (12 ft, 11 inch)

Power Plant: two Daimler-Benz DB 601E, 12-cylinder, inline piston engines, each producing 1,176 horsepower.

Maximum Speed: 620 km/h (384 mph)

Range: 2,000 km (1,240 miles)

Service Ceiling: 10,500 m (34,400 ft)

Armament: two fixed, foward-firing 7.92-mm MG machine guns; four 7.92-mm machine guns in remotely-controlled barbettes.

Below, the Arado Ar 240, V3, prototype in 1941, before taking off.

The Ar 240A-02 reconnaissance variant on the Eastern Front in the winter of 1943.

 

Arado Ar 234 Blitz

The Arado Ar 234 Blitz was a WW2 jet bomber, which entered service with the Luftwaffe in September 1944. Although it had been conceived as a fast reconnaissance aircraft, it would officially be introduced as a bomber, being the first one in history of military aircraft to be powered by jet engines. 210 Blitzs were built in the Ar 234A, 234B, and 234C variants. It was a good design, with excellent handling and performance. However, many of them would be shot down by British Hawker Tempest fighter/interceptors.

The first prototype, the V2, flew for the first time on June 15, 1943. The V3, V4, V5, and V7 prototypes all flew in quick succession. The V6 and the V8 would be fitted with four jet engines and they would become the Ar 234C version. The mass production variant was designated Ar 234B. It carried out the first bombing raid on December 24, 1944. It was a successful air attack on Allies' munition and military equipment supplies located in Liege, Belgium. But the most important sorties took place during the Battle for Ramagen, in early 1945, bombing Allied troops advancing in a counteroffensive on the Ardennes. This German bomber would also fly missions as a reconnaissance aircraft.

Below, the Arado Ar 234B parked at a Luftwaffe airbase in late September 1944.

Technical Characteristics

The Arado Ar 234 was a large, twin-engine, shoulder-wing monoplane. The fuselage consisted of metal semi-monocoque structure covered by stressed skin, with 'top hat' section longerons being used. The wings were built around two main spars, which ran across the top of fuselage. These wing spars rested on a central box girder arrangement and were attached to upper fuselage longerons at four points.

The early Ar 234 prototypes were not fitted with conventional landing gear. They used a three-wheel trolley, which was jettisoned once the aircraft was 60 m off the ground. Later, the Ar 234B and 234C versions would be equipped with retractable tricycle landing gear. Two Walter rocket-assisted take-off units were fitted to the wings to improve thrust; these were dropped after climb out and descended to earth by parachute.

The Ar 234B version of the Blitz was powered by two Junkers Jumo 004B-1 Orkan, axial-flow turbojets, with 1,975-lb-thrust. The Ar 234C was equipped with four engines. Flying in a straight line, it was fast, outrunning most Allied aircraft. However, it was hard to maneuver at slow speeds.

Specifications

Length: 12.64 m (41 ft)

Wing Span: 14.44 m (46 ft)

Wing Area: 27.3 m2 (294 sq. ft)

Height: 4.29 m (14 ft)

Weight: 5,200 kg (empty)

Power Plant: two 1975-lb-thrust, Junkers Jumo 004B-1 Orkan turbojet engines.

Maximum Speed: 742 km/h (461 mph)

Range: 1,556 km (967 miles)

Ceiling: 10,000 m (32,810 ft)

Crew:  1

Armament: two fixed, aft-firing 20-mm Mauser MG 151/20 cannons. Up to 1,995 kg of bombs.

Below, an Ar 234A taking off assisted by the two rocket units.

The Ar 234C version. You can see the four jet engines, two on each wing.

The Blitz bomber in 1945, after the war.