Does anyone know if the German fighter aircraft Dornier D-335 ever flew in combat?

Question

This was an aircraft with propellers at both ends.

Although I think, strictly, one was a propeller and the other a tractor.

They were contra-rotating (so as to prevent the pilot getting dizzy :-)

Does anyone know the top speed?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Great question!

I had heard of this aircraft before but knew little about it.... wiki'd it!

Answer 2

The best web site, in terms of operational employment,  I found was of Sebastian Schneider:

http://www.waffenhq.de/flugzeuge/do335.h...

unfortunately only in German, but it does raise the question of "operational use" of the DO 335. The reply is that they were not. He mentions that unconfirmed reports of allied pilots state "a shadow similar to the DO335 was sighted", but he also mentions that according to Luftwaffe records, none of these Aircraft was ever listed as "operational". I tend to agree with Schneider’s argumentation. The reply could be that the Allied pilots saw a training flight (quite a number were carried out) and mistook it for an operational one.

At the end of the article you’ll find detailed technical data.

Here's the translation

Type ratingDornier Do 335 A-1

Type A/C:one seater fighter bomber

Constructor:Dornier Flugzeugwerk, Oberpfaffenhofen

First flight:26. October 1943

Construction year:Autumn1944

Crew:1 Pilot

Engines:two 12-Cylinder-In line Daimler Benz 603 A-2

Thrust (PS):each 1.750 PS

Max airspeed:770 km/h at 6.400 m

Service ceiling (m):11.400

Fuel cap.(kg):1.230 internal 500 external

Range (km):1.380

Weight (kg):7.400 Dry weight 9.600 MTOW

Length (m):13,85

height (m):5

Wingspan (m):13,80

Wing surface (m2):38,50

Armament:one  30 mm MK 103, two 15 mm MG 151,

one 500 kg or two 250 kg Bombs in bay; two 250 kg Bombs slung outside

Production:37 (all Versions)

Personal note: together with the ME 262 (Schwalbe/Swallow Jet) the DO 335 (Pfeil/Arrow - Pull-Push prop) was one of the best Aircraft to be produced in WW2. Luckily for the RAF/USAAF old AH was so darned stupid as to insist on they being converted to "fighter bombers", had they maintained their original role of fighters, they'd have flown much earlier and allied casualties would have rocketed.

How come the detailed interest in Aviation?

Answer 3

These were code named Arrow, had an engine in both the nose and the tail. There was trouble getting engines for them at the time,being close to the end of WW2. mJust a few (38)were in service. Bailing out of this would have been risky and fatal.They had a speed of 475MPH

Answer 4

Look at this page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornier_Do_...

It'll tell you all you need to know.

Answer 5

The aircraft did not have Contra-rotating props, although they flew with one spinning to port, one to Starboard. The name Pfiel (arrow) was given to it. It also had (at first) explosive bolts to blow the prop (rear) off the engine, to allow the pilot to leave the aircraft, later a rudimentary (compressed air) ejection seat. Most of the film  you will see is from the captured Do- 335 flown to England (where it was later destroyed in an accident) the aircraft had some teething problems, and Dornier was out of favor with Milch (Luftwaffe ,well, in charge of deciding what aircraft would be produced) and Hitler, Goring by thien was in his estate and could not be bothered, with anything actually. The aircraft would have been a nightmare to the allies if built and deployed in numbers, it never flew in combat. Top speed was approx 470 MPH, depending on altitude, etc.