Do 17 Z-5 Wk Nrs

[Chris Goss]

I have been asked the above question by another researcher. Work by others into the losses by KuFlGr 606 show no mention of the Z-5 variant when a photo of 7T+HH Wk Nr 2787 on 11 Oct 40 shows the ac to have the floatation pods of a Z-5. Therefore are 2771, 2772, 2783, 2788, 2790, 2794, 2796, 2799 all listed for this unit Z-5s? A photo of a defecting Croatian Z-5 has the Wk Nr 2899-2898 suffered damage with KuFlGr 606 in 1940 so was this a Z-5

[Pawel Burchard]

LDv 584/5 mentions that 40 Do 17 Z-3 were rebuilt with Seenotausrüstung and some kind of Abtrift- und Grundgeschwindigkeitsmesser and received designation Z-5. So the losses could have been reported as Do 17 Z-3 or just plain Do 17 Z.

p.

[Chris Goss]

Pawel

Exactly what I thought! Now to find out the Wk Nr range

[Pawel Burchard]

According to the listing I've got few years back from Jim P. there seem to be several not consistent W.Nr. ranges within 606 losses including 121x, 26xx, 27xx, 28xx, 34xx and 36xx so that would not be simple. Do 17 W.Nrn. were following some obscure pattern.

p.

[Chris Goss]

Agreed-Jim sent me some listings some months back and not one Z-5 was mentioned, just Z-3s. The unit was then withdrawn to re-equip with the Ju 88 in Jan 41

[Pawel Burchard]

However, it may be quite possible to obtain some information on the subject directly from EADS archive. I've been in contact with some very kind person from the archives some time ago and have received copies of Dornier documents regarding Do 17U, R, S and also on Do 215 exports to Soviet Russia. So your friend could just try and contact them with regard to Do 17 Z-5 documents they may have, if they're still opened to public.

p.

[Mikael Olrog]

I've visited that archive and didn't find any W.Nr. Lists for the Do 17 Z-5 or any documents related to how many Z-5s were built/converted.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Mikael. It would appear that any attempts to produce such a list will be prevented by Z-5s being recorded as Z-3s and a lack of photos showing Wk Nrs (the Croatian Wk Nr 2899 being the only one that I am aware of plus the link between 11 Oct 40 and 7T+HH/Wk Nr 2787)

[Mikael Olrog]

Slightly off topic, but it is interesting to note that this floatation equipment was used also on at least one Do 17 P. But if this conversion received a special designation or not is unknown to me or if more conversions where made or not. May be someone knows?

[Merlin]

Mikael,

the Do 17P was called Do 17P/U1. This version was used by Luftnachrichtenschule 6 at Dievenow for training flights over the Baltic Sea.