Non standard nose turret on late war Dornier Do 24

[Hans Mcilveen]

Hello,

This image was first published in Aeroplane Monthly, April 1985. It shows a late war Do 24 from SNGr 81 evacuating children, fleeing from the advancing Russian army, at the coastal village of Nest (now Unieście, Poland) in 1945.
The flying boat has a nose turret that differs from the usual Alkan type used on all other Do 24 I have seen. Was it a powered turret?
Was it introduced in the last production run of the type or simply a one off?

Hans

[Clint Mitchell]

Looks the same as the He177A-5 DL131/1C turret?

[Rulaman]

Originally Posted by Hans Mcilveen

Hello,

This image was first published in Aeroplane Monthly, April 1985. It shows a late war Do 24 from SNGr 81 evacuating children, fleeing from the advancing Russian army, at the coastal village of Nest (now Unieście, Poland) in 1945.
The flying boat has a nose turret that differs from the usual Alkan type used on all other Do 24 I have seen. Was it a powered turret?
Was it introduced in the last production run of the type or simply a one off?

Hans

It's the same turret type as used on the Ju 188, Ju 290, BV 222 and a few Fw 200s and I think it's the version with the MG 151 rather than the version with the MG 131.

Frank

[Hans Mcilveen]

Thank you both. The turret does look familiar. Wouldn’t a turret like that, if powered, be relatively heavy, and have a profound effect on the centre of gravity of the aircraft? I am not an engineer but, it seems to me, this would rule out a modification at unit level. Does anyone have a clue if this was tested at the Dornier Werke or E-Stelle Travemünde?

[Seaplanes]

According to the monthly report from E-Stelle (See) Travemünde for February 1943, a Do 24T-3 had completed tests with MG131 in A-Stand (nose) and Heck-stand (aft).

The monthly report for April 1943 states that the first fully French production Do 24T-3, W.Nr. 1001 was transferred on 17.4.43 from Paris to Schellingwoude in Holland and four days later to Travemünde. This aircraft had the HD151 installed while in Schellingwoude, but it is not stated if this concerned A or C-Stand.

The report for January 1944 give the following details: Short testing of first series aircraft of French Do 24 production with MG 151 and MG131.

Finally in the weekly report for 2. to 9. September 1944 it is stated that Do 24T-3 W.Nr. 3381 had completed successfully trials installation and fire testing of the HD 151/2. The aircraft was returned to its Staffel on 8.9.44.

[Hans Mcilveen]

Hello Seaplanes,

thank you very much for the details. Just what I suspected. The turret does indeed look like a HD 151/2. And it is not impossible that W.Nr. 3381 is the one in the picture.

Hans

[Rulaman]

Originally Posted by Seaplanes

According to the monthly report from E-Stelle (See) Travemünde for February 1943, a Do 24T-3 had completed tests with MG131 in A-Stand (nose) and Heck-stand (aft).

As for the MG 131 equipped planes there was no change with the turrets, see images.