Do-217 on the eastern front?
 

Hello, at the moment I am doing some research about the use of German bombers on the eastern front. My question is, was the Do-217 also used on the eastern front as bomber or reconnaissance aircraft - and if yes, where and by which Luftwaffe units?

There are apparently some reports from the Soviet side about encounters with DO-217s that are mentioned in these books:
"Yakovlev Aces of World War 2" by George Mellinger and "Soviet Lend-Lease Fighter Aces of World War 2" by George Mellinger and Jim Laurier.
So far I haven't found any information from the German side, therefore I am a little bit sceptical if the reports are correct.
I hope anybody can tell me more.

Re: Do-217 on the eastern front?
 

Re: Do-217 on the eastern front?
 

Thank you Peter.
3. Nachtaufklärungsstaffel operated in the area of army group north. The Soviet reports I mentioned above are from the Kuban area (army group south). Does anyone know which Luftwaffe unit could have flown the DO-217 in this area in 1942-1943? My guess is that it was a reconnaissance unit.

Re: Do-217 on the eastern front?
 

1., 2., 3. and 4.(F)/Nachtaufkl. Staffel all flew Do 217s.

Re: Do-217 on the eastern front?
 

Thank you Nick Beale. Apparently the Nachtaufklärungsstaffeln where the only units that used the DO-217 on the eastern front. I have read the information at ww2.dk about these units, but unfortunatly I can't find more detailed information. Did they only fly night reconnaissance missions as there name suggests or what was the exact task?

Re: Do-217 on the eastern front?
 

Germans used various types of Dornier bomber/recon aircraft in the battle of Kuban. Here are some loss records:

1943-02-01 Do 17E 3003 I/LLG 1 Fl.Pl. Sslawjanskaja
Bombenwurf. Bruch 35 %.

1943-02-08 Do 217K-1 4466 K7+XH 1. Nachtaufkl.St. (Asoff-Longontin-Ssamarskoje-Poluchin)
Flugzeugführer Fw Einhell, Ludwig vermißt
Beobachter Ofw Mathes, Helmuth vermißt
Bordfunker Uffz Schmidt, Josef vermißt
Bordschütze Ofw Kneip, Rudolf vermißt
Unbekannt. Bruch 100 %.

Re: Do-217 on the eastern front?
 

I recall comments that Dornier night fighters were not popular on the Eastern Front because the undercarriage was considered too weak. Presumably this would read across to the bombers as well.

Re: Do-217 on the eastern front?
 

From Der Adler No 25, December 1941

emblem is that of 1.(F)/Aufkl.Gr.Nacht,

Re: Do-217 on the eastern front?
 

The Hungarians also used Do 215s, up until late 1943. The Croats, too flew Do 17Zs on the Eatern Front for quite a while.

Re: Do-217 on the eastern front?
 

I came across this thread while researching a Do217E-2/R6. The info provided here greatly helps in my research. I am getting closer to having enough info to build the model I am hoping for. Thanks for all the great information.:bow:
Larry