Dornier Do 335 Pfeil

[David]

Designed and developed by Dr. Claudius Dornier of Germany, the Do 335 Pfeil (or 'Arrow'), was a unique aircraft idea in every respect of the phrase. Beginning life as the Goppingen Go 9 test and research test bed, the airplane's general concept centered along a two-engine idea with minimum central fuselage drag (very apparent in other piston-engine aircraft of the time). The idea was to fit two engines, one in front and the other behind the pilot along a slim and slender fuselage, producing stability, performance and survivability.
The concept revolved around the central idea of two similar engines achieving a very dissimilar result. "Push-Pull", as it came to be known, was the idea that one would have the forward powerplant pushing the plane along whilst the secondary rearward-most engine would work on pulling the aircraft along. The result would be a powerful effect working in unison along a low-drag fuselage capable of carrying a formidable array of firepower. The concept was later patented by Dr. Dornier in 1937.
Initial development centered around creating a high-speed fighter capable of agility, speed and firepower. Unfortunately, as with many other German developments of the time, the German Air Ministry concentrated on developing this aircraft as a high-performance bomber (so the potential as a fighter would never be met because of this decision). The project came far along until it was abruptly cancelled as higher-ups called on projects needing only one year or less of development to be pushed forward with all haste and resources allowed. After the need for Germany to develop a high-speed, high-altitude interceptor to combat the waves of incoming Allied bombers became apparent, the Do 335 was resurrected once more - but the delay was inevitably to work against the weapon system ever seeing actual production and thusly no combat experience.
The basic construction of the aircraft centered on the all-metal construction of the pencil-like fuselage design. The aircraft featured a retractable tricycle landing gear, a novel and revolutionary concept in itself for the time) and was of a large size when compared to other fighters (the images below reflect this!). The fuselage featured a very low monoplane wing design and was fitted with two Daimler-Benz DB 603 inline piston engines capable of delivering 1,800 horsepower (later variants installed larger more powerful engines). Even running just one of the engines was still about the same power that most single piston engines of the Allies could attain.
Fourteen prototypes eventually were constructed with a few seeing flight time in tests and technology demonstrations and the like. A single-seat and two-seat trainer variant was made available with an extensive array of other models in the works (none reaching the paper design stage). Up to ten preproduction variants were under evaluation by mid-summer 1944 and the first Do.335 A-1 was produced shortly thereafter. Only 11 full-production models were completed but none ever saw combat action.
The Do 335 would never see combat duty for the Third Reich. Instead, a handful of captured models were shipped to the United States for additional testing - one passed on to the United States Air Force and the other to the United States Navy. One of the aforementioned models is now on display in a Washington-area museum whilst the other has disappeared through history and disinterest. To history buffs and aircraft aficionados, the Do 335 will join the Parthenon of other Third Reich logistical and bureaucratic blunders as weapon systems that might have changed the course of the war.
Specifications for the Dornier Do 335 Pfeil:

Designation: Do 335A-O Pfeil ('Arrow')
Manufacturer: Dornier
Powerplant: 2 x 2,250 hp Daimler-Benz DB 603E/MW50 liquid-cooled inline piston engines.
Length: 45.44 feet
Wing Span: 45.28 feet
Weight: 16,315 (Empty); 21,160lbs (MTOW)
Maximum Speed: 477 mph
Maximum Range: 868 miles (with full bomb loadout)
Armament: 1 x 30mm cannon; 2 x 20mm cannons; 1 x 1,103 bomb
Crew: 1 Pilot (2 in trainer version)
Variants: Goppingen Go 9 (technology demonstrator and runner-up to the initial Do 335 concept); Do P.231 (adopted as bomber but cancelled under new directives); Do 335A-0 (Ten preproduction models); Do 335A-1 (Full production model of which 11 were completed); Do 335A-12 (two-seat trainer variant).
More Pictures of the Do.335 Pfeil Fighter / Bomber Plane