Illustrated throughout with detailed artwork, this book examines the
Do 17, also known as the "Flying Pencil," a common and feared sight in
the European skies, including over southern England during the Battle of
Britain.
Initially designed as a high-speed mail airplane and airliner, the Do 17
first made an appearance as a military aircraft in the Spanish Civil
War, both as a bomber and in reconnaissance roles. In the early stages
of World War II, it, together with the Heinkel He 111, formed the
backbone of the German bomber arm over Poland, France, Belgium and the
Low Countries, and saw action in almost every major campaign in this
period. However, by the start of the Battle of Britain, the Do 17's
limited range and small bomb load meant that it was ripe for replacement
by the Ju 88. Though it performed well at lower altitudes, the model
suffered heavy losses during raids, particularly during the Blitz and
were increasingly phased out. This fully illustrated study uses detailed
full-color artwork and authoritative text from an expert author to tell
the full operation story of one of Nazi Germany's best light bombers
from the early years of World War II.