The Dornier Do 17 — nicknamed the Fliegender Bleistift (Flying Pencil) for its exceptionally slender fuselage of approximately 15.8 m — was one of the Luftwaffe's primary twin-engine medium bombers of the late 1930s and early Second World War. Conceived ostensibly as a high-speed mail aircraft for Deutsche Luft Hansa but designed from the outset as a military bomber, it was a masterpiece of aerodynamic subterfuge consistent with Germany's clandestine rearmament under Versailles Treaty restrictions. This collection brings together 12 original German-language technical manuals spanning three principal variants: the Do 17 M (bomber), Do 17 P (reconnaissance), and Do 17 Z (improved bomber), covering aircraft handbooks, armament systems, radio equipment, spare parts catalogs, operating instructions, and instructional image series.

Definitive Collection with Free Lifetime Updates: This is a living collection that we continuously expand and refine. As we acquire additional Dornier Do 17 documentation, technical bulletins, or variant-specific materials, we update this collection and provide free lifetime updates to all purchasers. Your one-time purchase guarantees access to all future additions and improvements to this collection.

Historical Note

The Do 17's slender, high-aspect-ratio fuselage gave it a top speed that initially outpaced contemporary fighters, making it a formidable asset in the Spanish Civil War and the early campaigns of the Second World War. Its superior speed during the early war years made it particularly suited to low-level precision strikes. A specially modified Do 17 (V8) with DB 600 engines reached 284 mph in 1937, outperforming contemporary fighters of the day.

The Do 17 M was the principal bomber variant, powered by Bramo 323A-1/P or Daimler-Benz DB 600G radial and liquid-cooled engines, carrying a crew of three to four. The Do 17 P was a dedicated long-range photographic reconnaissance variant, equipped with cameras and BMW 132 or DB 601A engines, serving extensively on the Eastern Front and over Britain during the Battle of Britain. The Do 17 Z represented the most refined production version: its forward fuselage was redesigned and widened — the so-called "bulged" nose (Do 17 Z-0) introduced following lessons from Spain, accommodating a prone belly gunner with an MG 15 — and was powered by 1,000 HP Bramo 323P Fafnir 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engines offering better low-altitude power.

By 1942 the Do 17 was largely obsolete as a front-line bomber, superseded by the Do 217 and Ju 88, with production phased out by 1940. Total production across all variants exceeded 2,000 airframes. Today, a single Do 17 Z survives — recovered from the Goodwin Sands off the Kent coast in 2013 and now undergoing restoration at the RAF Museum Cosford.

Manuals Included in This Collection

Variant M — 8 Manuals

• Do 17 M Aircraft Handbook — Flugzeug-Handbuch (German Language)
• Do 17 M Droppable Weapons Operating Instructions — Bedienungsvorschrift Wa - Abwurfwaffe (German Language)
• Do 17 M Fixed Firearms Operating Instructions — Bedienungsvorschrift Wa - Schußwaffe (German Language)
• Do 17 M Aircraft Short Operating Instructions — Kurz-Betriebsanweisung (German Language)
• Do 17 M Aircraft Onboard Radio System Manual — Bordfunkanlage LDv 584-3a (German Language)
• Do 17 M Aircraft Illustrated Parts Catalog — Ersatzteilliste (German Language)
• Do 17 M Aircraft Instructional Image Series — Lehrbildreihe (German Language)

Variant P — 7 Manuals

• Do 17 P Aircraft Handbook — Flugzeug-Handbuch (German Language)
• Do 17 P Armament and Camera Equipment Manual — Bewaffnung und Bildgerät LDv 584-4 (German Language)
• Do 17 P Aircraft Onboard Radio System Manual — Bordfunkanlage Ldv-584-4a (German Language)
• Do 17 P Aircraft Illustrated Parts Catalog — Ersatzteilliste (German Language)

Variant Z — 1 Manual

• Do 17 Z Bomb Release System Manual — Abwurfwaffenanlage (German Language)

This collection spans the full operational breadth of the Do 17 family, from pre-war bomber configuration through dedicated reconnaissance and the refined Z-series, covering the aircraft's entire front-line service life from the mid-1930s through the early war years.

Aerodynamic and Design Characteristics

• Fuselage: Exceptionally narrow, high-aspect-ratio design (~15.8 m length) minimising target profile, requiring a crew of 3–4.
• Wings: Shoulder-mounted with slight taper and rounded tips; flush-riveted aluminium alloy skin over girder spars. Complex extrusion requirements created notable production challenges.
• Stability: Early prototypes faced landing gear issues; the V2 prototype introduced a modified twin-tail configuration to enhance stability and lateral control, which became standard for all production variants.
• Flying Controls: Comprised hollow steel tubes, rods, and fittings throughout.
• Structural Note: Main spar and wing root fittings used chromium-molybdenum steel. Engine mounts were specialised welded steel triangulated structures. Fuel and oil tanks were housed within the wings between the two main spars.

Engineering Norms and Standards

All manuals were produced under Luftwaffe technical publication standards (Luftdienstvorschrift — LDv series), the German military's equivalent of the Allied Air Publication (AAP) and Technical Order (TO) systems. The LDv numbering system (e.g., LDv 584-3a, LDv 584-4) identifies the aircraft type, manual category, and revision state. Armament manuals follow the Bedienungsvorschrift Wa classification, distinguishing between Abwurfwaffe (droppable weapons) and Schußwaffe (fixed firearms). Parts catalogs (Ersatzteilliste) follow standardised Luftwaffe illustrated parts breakdown conventions consistent across Dornier, Heinkel, and Junkers types of the period.

Performance Data

Note: A specially modified Do 17 V8 with DB 600 engines achieved 284 mph (457 km/h) in 1937, outperforming contemporary fighters. The Do 17 was considered a "very stable" and enjoyable platform to fly by its crews.

Format and Delivery

All manuals are delivered as high-resolution PDF files, optimised for both screen reading and printing. Files are clearly named by variant and manual type for straightforward navigation. Instant download upon purchase — no waiting, no shipping.

Disclaimer

These documents are provided for historical research, archival study, and educational reference only. They do not constitute airworthiness guidance and should not be used for any operational or maintenance purpose on any aircraft. All trade names and designations remain the property of their respective owners. Copyright © Sicuro Publishing.