Dornier Do 24

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Do 24

German Do 24
Type	Bomber, reconnaissance and air-sea rescue flying-boat
Manufacturer	Dornier, Aviolanda, Potez, CASA
Maiden flight	July 3, 1937
Primary user	Luftwaffe
Produced	1937-1945
Number built	279

The Dornier Do 24 is 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), the Do 24 is a 3-engined flying boat intended for military cargo transport and rescue. According to Dornier records, some 12,000 people were rescued by Do 24's during its flying career. A total of 279 were built between several factories from 1937-1945.

1 Operations
2 Survivors
3 Operators
4 Specifications (Do 24)
5 References
6 Related content

[edit] Operations

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 Roundel. Later, to avoid confusion with British or French roundels, Dutch aircraft flew a black bordered orange triangle insignia. (See left). After the Japanese invasion 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 one of the few aircraft serving operationally on both sides during WW2.

In Europe, the capture of the Aviolanda assembly line in Holland rekindled Luftwaffe interest in the aircraft. Eleven airframes were completed with Dutch-bought Wright Cyclone engines, but later models used the BMW Bramo 323R-2. A further 159 Do 24s were built in Holland during the occupation, most under the designation Do 24T-1.

Another production line for the Do 24 was established in Sartrouville, France, during the German occupation. This line was operated by SNCA and was able to produce another forty-eight Do 24s. After the liberation this facility produced a further forty Do 24s, which served in the French Air Force until 1952.

During the war a German Do 24 made a forced landing in neutral Sweden, was impounded and paid for, and remained in Swedish service until 1952.

In 1944, twelve 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, and possibly later. In 1971, one of the last flying Spanish Do 24s was returned to the Dornier facility on Lake Constance for permanent display.

[edit] Survivors

In February 2004, a restored and re-engined aircraft, the Do-24 ATT, began flying around the world on a UNICEF mission to assist children in the Philippines. The Do-24 ATT is piloted by Iren Dornier, the grandson of Dornier founder Claudius Dornier. Upon completion of the work with UNICEF, it will be run as a special charter airliner by South East Asian Airlines. [1]

A replica MLD (Marine Luchtvaartdienst - Dutch Naval Air Force) Do 24 is on display at the Dutch Air Force Museum, Soesterberg, The Netherlands.