Dornier Do 24

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Dornier Do 24
Description
Role	Bomber & reconnaissance
Crew	3+
First flight	July 3, 1937
Entered service	November, 1937
Manufacturer	Dornier, Aviolanda, Potez, CASA
Dimensions
Length	22 m	72 ft 2 in
Wingspan	27 m	88 ft 6 in
Height	5.9 m	19 ft 3 in
Wing area	108 m²	1,162 ft²
Weights
Empty	13,470 kg	29,700 lb
Loaded	18,400 kg	40,565 lb
Maximum takeoff	kg	lb
Powerplant
Engine	3 × Bramo 323
Power (each)	750 kW	1,000 hp
Performance
Maximum speed	341 km/h	212 mph
Combat range	4,700 km	2,920 miles
Ferry range	km	miles
Service ceiling	5,900 m	19,357 ft
Rate of climb	m/min	ft/min
Armament
Guns	1 × MG 151 20 mm cannon 2 × MG 15 7.92 mm m/c guns
Bombs	12 × 50 kg bombs

The Dornier Do 24 was a flying boat produced before and during World War II by the German Dornier Flugzeugwerke. Originally designed for Dutch use in the Dutch East Indies (modern Indonesia) just before Germany broke the tenents of the Versailles Treaty, the Do 24 was a 3-engined flying boat intended for military cargo transport and rescue. According to Dornier records, some 12,000 aviators and passengers were rescued by the Do 24 during its flying career. A total of 279 were built between several factories from 1937-1945.

Thirty-seven Dutch and German built Do 24s had been sent to the East Indies by the time of the German occupation of the Netherlands in June 1940. Until the outbreak of war, these aircraft would have flown the tri-color rondel shown in the adjacent photograph. Later, to avoid confusion with British or French rondels, Dutch aircraft flew a black bordered orange triangle insignia. After combat losses during those very bad days after December 7, 1941, six surviving Do 24s were transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force in February, 1942. They served in RAAF through most of 1944 as transports in New Guinea, making the Do 24 almost unique in serving operationally on both sides during WW2.

Meanwhile, back in Europe, the capture of the Aviolanda assembly line in Holland rekindled Luftwaffe interest in the airframe. Eleven airframes were finished with Dutch bought Wright Cyclone engines. The powerplant was then changed to the BMW Bramo 323R-2. A further 159 Do 24s were built in Holland during the occupation, most under the designation Do 24T-1.

In 1944, 12 Dutch built Do 24s were delivered to Spain with the understanding that they would assist downed airmen of both sides. After the war, a few French built Do 24s also found their way to Spain. Spanish Do 24s were operational at least until 1967, probably a little longer. In 1971, one of the last flying Spanish Do 24s was returned to the Dornier facility on Lake Constance for permanent display.

Another production line for the Do 24 was established in Sartrouville, France, during the occupation. This line was operated by SNCA and was able to produce another 48 Do 24s by the time the Germans left the area. After the occupation, this facility produced 40 Do 24s for the French government, and these flew under French colors until 1952.

A single Do 24 found its way to Sweden. Impounded and paid for after a forced landing, this aircraft remained in service until 1952 as well.

Starting in February 2004, a restored and re-engined Do-24 called the Do-24 ATT began flying around the world on a UNICEF mission to assist children in the Philippines. The Do-24 ATT is being piloted by Iren Dornier, the grandson of Dornier founder Claude Dornier. Upon completion of the work with UNICEF, the Do-24 ATT will be run as a special charter airliner by South East Asian Airlines.

Operators

• Australia, France (Post war), Germany, Netherlands, Netherlands East Indies, Spain, Sweden

References

• Air Enthusiast Magazine, Vol. 2, # 1, Jan 1972. ISBN 0-385-06922-7
• [Article in 'Kölner Stadt Anzeiger' showing three photos of the Do-24 in flight on May 20, 2006]
• [UNICEF article describing the mission of the Do-24 ATT]
• [Homepage for the Do-24 ATT project]

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