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Germany's Dornier Do 24 flying boat^1,2

Dornier Do 24 flying boat:
Germany's Dornier Do 24 flying boat

Dornier Do 24T flying boat:
Germany's Dornier Do 24T flying boat

Design

Was originally designed for the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service.^1,2

Early models did not have a nose turret, but after losses one with a 7.9 mm MG 15 was installed.¹ The cockpit had additional side windows installed to improve visibility.¹

There were large winglets on each side of the fuselage that helped the Do 24 in rough seas.¹

Prototype

The first prototype flew on July 3, 1937.^1,2

Production

Weser-Flugzeugbau produced models in the Netherlands.¹ 170 were produced during 1940-1944.¹

Manufactured by Dornier, Weserflug, De Schelde, Aviolanda, Fokker, and CAMS.² The Potez-CAMS factory started manufacturing in 1941.²

Prototypes: 2²
Do 24K-1: 12²
Do 24K-2: 28²
- De Schelde and Aviolanda licensed built for Holland.²
Do 24N-1: 11²
Do 24T-1: 180²
Do 24T-2: 49²
Do 24T-3: 12²
Total: 294²

Variants

Do 24K: Models that were built in the Netherlands with Wright R-1820 engines.¹ In November 1937 deliveries started.²
Do 24MS: Had a degaussing loop and generator for mine sweeping operations.¹
Do 24N-1: Air sea rescue variant.²
Do 24T: Had BMW-Bramo engines.¹
Do 24T-3: Was built for Spain.² Delivered in 1944.²

Usage

The countries that used the Dornier Do 24 were Australia, France, Germany, Holland, Spain, and Sweden.²

Crews found the Do 24 to be very reliable even in rough water.¹

One time a Do 24 lost its tail during a rescue.¹ The crew sealed the aircraft and taxied back to their base.¹

Used in the Arctic, Mediterranean, English Channel, and the Pacific.¹

Germany

At the start of World War II there was only one airworthy prototype available.¹ Once the Netherlands were defeated all of their Do 24s were shipped back to Germany.¹

Fifteen Luftwaffe units were equipped with the Do 24.²

Crete

During the evacuation of Crete the Do 24s would carry 24 passengers.¹

Netherlands

Received eleven before the start of World War II.¹ Twenty five were licence built with Wright R-1820 engines.¹

Some were used in the East Indies against Japan.^1,2 These were given to the Australians.¹

Spain

In June 1944 Spain received twelve Do 24T-3s and they remained in used as search and rescue planes until the 1970s.^1,2

Australia

The Royal Australian Air Force used five Do 24s against Japan.^1,2

Sweden

Two Do 24s ended up being interned by Sweden.² One had 37 refugees.²

	Dornier Do 24²	Dornier Do 24K²	Dornier Do 24T²	Dornier Do 24T-1¹
Type	Reconnaissance² Air sea rescue²			Air-sea rescue¹ Transport¹
Crew	6²			2: pilots¹ 4: crew¹
Engine (Type)		3: Wright R-1820 Cyclone²	3: Bramo 323R-2 Fafnir²	3: BMW-Bramo 323R-2¹
Cylinders		Radial 9²	Radial 9²	Radial 9¹
Cooling
HP		760 each²	1,000 each²	1,000 each¹
Propeller blades		3 each²	3 each²	3 each¹
Dimensions
Span	88' 7"² 27 m²			88' 7"¹ 27 m¹
Length	72' 2"² 22 m²			72' 4"¹ 22.05 m¹
Height	18' 10"² 5.74 m²			18' 10"¹ 5.75 m¹
Wing area				1,162 ft² ¹ 108 m² ¹
Weight
Empty		17,011 lb² 7,716 kg²		20,680 lb¹, 20,732 lb² 9,400 kg¹, 9,494 kg²
Loaded		28,600 lb² 12,973 kg²		35,715 lb², 40,480 lb¹ 16,200 kg², 18,400 kg¹
Performance
Speed			195 mph² 314 kph²	205 mph¹, 211 mph² 331 kph¹, 339 kph²
Cruising speed			150 mph² 241 kph²	137 mph² 220 kph²
Climb
Service ceiling			17,390'² 5,300 m²	19,360'², 24,600'¹ 5,900 m², 7,500 m¹
Range			2,048 miles² 3,297 km²	2,915 miles¹, 2,950 miles² 4,700 km¹, 4,747 km²
Armament
Bow				1: 7.9 mm MG 15¹
Bow turret	1: 7.92 mm MG²
Dorsal turret	1: 20 mm or 30 mm²			1: 20 mm Hispano Suiza cannon¹
Stern turret	1: 7.92 mm MG²			1: 7.9 mm MG 15¹
Under wing racks - bombs or other stores	12: 110 lb² 12: 50 kg²

Sources:

Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998