Dornier Do 335

[ACE]

Actually it did see combat but not in squadron strength. Multiple accounts from both Russian and US pilots of engaging a few of the preproduction birds in the last months of the War. Since it was the only "push/pull" configuration no other possibility then the DO-335

I wanna believe you but is there any proof?

[Ack-Ack]

Actually it did see combat but not in squadron strength. Multiple accounts from both Russian and US pilots of engaging a few of the preproduction birds in the last months of the War. Since it was the only "push/pull" configuration no other possibility then the DO-335

The only reported encounter between the Do 335 and any Allied fighter came from French ace Pierre Clostermann.  In his book, "The Big Show", he mentions that he and his flight of Tempests encounted a Do 335 flying at low altitude and then the Tempest tried to intercept, the Do 335 reversed course and left the Tempests in the dust as they weren't able to get close enough to fire at it.  This was in April of 1945, about 2-3 weeks before Germany's unconditional surrender.  It's not stated whether the Do 335 was one of the planes from Erprobungskommando 335 that was formed to evaluate the Do 335 or the single Do 335 that was provided to III/KG2. 

In any event, when the US army overran the Oberpfaffenhofen factory in late April 1945, only 11 single seat fighter versions were completed and 2 trainers with a further 15 in the final stages.

If there are any records of Soviet pilots encountering the Do 335, they haven't been made public.

ack-ack

[ACE]

The only reported encounter between the Do 335 and any Allied fighter came from French ace Pierre Clostermann.  In his book, "The Big Show", he mentions that he and his flight of Tempests encounted a Do 335 flying at low altitude and then the Tempest tried to intercept, the Do 335 reversed course and left the Tempests in the dust as they weren't able to get close enough to fire at it.  This was in April of 1945, about 2-3 weeks before Germany's unconditional surrender.  It's not stated whether the Do 335 was one of the planes from Erprobungskommando 335 that was formed to evaluate the Do 335 or the single Do 335 that was provided to III/KG2. 

In any event, when the US army overran the Oberpfaffenhofen factory in late April 1945, only 11 single seat fighter versions were completed and 2 trainers with a further 15 in the final stages.

If there are any records of Soviet pilots encountering the Do 335, they haven't been made public.

ack-ack

I still want to know how you no all this stuff? lol

[Ack-Ack]

I still want to know how you no all this stuff? lol

I have a copy of The Big Show and this book, "Luftwaffe Secret Projects: Fighters, 1939-45" and a little research.  Just ordered this DVD a couple of weeks ago too but it hasn't arrived yet, "Dornier Do-335: The Luftwaffe's Last & Best Propeller Driven Fighter DVD".  Interested in seeing the test flight footage from Erprobungskommando 335's evaulation flights.


ack-ack

[GtoRA2]

If they bring that big overrated hunk of junk into the game, they would have to bring in all the US goody's thats just barely missed the war like the P-51k, F7F, F8F, F4U-5(maybe not this one) the P-80 etc, with an F7F and F8F why would you want to fly anything else?

[Ack-Ack]

The P-51K saw combat service in WW2, as it was essentially the same as a D but built in Dallas and had a different propellor.  The only reason why it had a different propellor was that Hamilton couldn't keep up with the demand so it was decided to use the Aeroproducts 4 bladed propellor.  Though, I'm sure you meant to reference the P-51H and just made a typo.


ack-ack

[GtoRA2]

The P-51K saw combat service in WW2, as it was essentially the same as a D but built in Dallas and had a different propellor.  The only reason why it had a different propellor was that Hamilton couldn't keep up with the demand so it was decided to use the Aeroproducts 4 bladed propellor.  Though, I'm sure you meant to reference the P-51H and just made a typo.


ack-ack

Oops Duh, thanks for the Catch Ack, indeed I meant H.

[Boozeman]

If they bring that big overrated hunk of junk into the game, they would have to bring in all the US goody's thats just barely missed the war like the P-51k, F7F, F8F, F4U-5(maybe not this one) the P-80 etc, with an F7F and F8F why would you want to fly anything else?

Because they all can't even touch the the uniqueness and thus theappeal of the Do335. Also, I'd rethink the part of "big overrated hunk of junk".
Leaving Tempests in the dust is a feat that i'd not call overrated at all, especially for the very first Mark of a new plane design.   
And the term "barely missed the war" does not apply to the Do335 either. Unlike the F7F and F8F, the Do335 was flown in a war zone. The question is, was it combat or not?   

[Bronk]

Because they all can't even touch the the uniqueness and thus theappeal of the Do335. Also, I'd rethink the part of "big overrated hunk of junk".
Leaving Tempests in the dust is a feat that i'd not call overrated at all, especially for the very first Mark of a new plane design.   
And the term "barely missed the war" does not apply to the Do335 either. Unlike the F7F and F8F, the Do335 was flown in a war zone. The question is, was it combat or not?   

Bahhh.... bring the P-63 with  1820 hp wet wep. It was squadron strength and it did fire it's guns in anger.

[Karnak]

Do335 may of been potentially a great piston fighter if the Germans had gotten their thumbs out and actually put some priority on getting it out, however it is something that doesn't meet the requirements for being added to AH, particularly when so many important WWII aircraft, and even AFVs, are not yet represented.

The Do335 was also the ugliest aircraft of WWII, in my opinion.  It took work, but the Germans managed to outdo the French in Ugly.

[Lusche]

The Do335 was also the ugliest aircraft of WWII,

Au contraire - it's a pure beauty if you stand in front of it.

[Karnak]

Going to have to agree to disagree on that, Lusche.  I have never seen a shot of a Do335 from any angle that I didn't think was a study in aeronautical hideousness.

[Lusche]

Munich 1986:



I was struck just by the looks of that machine.Was absolutely fascinated by it from that day on.

[Ack-Ack]

Because they all can't even touch the the uniqueness and thus theappeal of the Do335. Also, I'd rethink the part of "big overrated hunk of junk".
Leaving Tempests in the dust is a feat that i'd not call overrated at all, especially for the very first Mark of a new plane design.   
And the term "barely missed the war" does not apply to the Do335 either. Unlike the F7F and F8F, the Do335 was flown in a war zone. The question is, was it combat or not?   

No, other than that one report of the Tempest encountering a low flying Do 335, there are no other reports of Allied planes (both Western and Soviet) encountering one in the sky. 


ack-ack

[Ack-Ack]

Do335 may of been potentially a great piston fighter if the Germans had gotten their thumbs out and actually put some priority on getting it out,

When Hitler finally ordered maximum priority for the Do 335 sometime in 1944, ordered the shut down of other aircraft development programs and to cancel the He 219 and to use the Heinkel production facilities for the Do 335.  Heinkel dragged his feet and ultimately ignored this order.  So in this case, part of the fault lies with Heinkel.

ack-ack