Do 217K-1, WWII German bomber

In 1914, renowned German airship manufacturer Count Zeppelin established a special design bureau within his company, led by Claudius Dornier. This bureau later evolved into Dornier���one of the Third Reich���s leading aircraft manufacturing firms. The company specialized primarily in producing bombers and maritime aircraft, with the Do 17 and Do 217 series becoming their most notable bomber productions.The Do 217K-1 bomber was a variant of the basic Do 217 model, featuring a modified front fuselage section. Its new cockpit integrated the upper canopy into a single unit, creating more crew space and enhancing pilot visibility. Powered by twin BMW 80ID engines, the aircraft could reach 515 km/h at 4,000 meters. The bomber featured robust defensive armament at five points (later expanded to seven) and could carry a maximum bomb load of 4,000 kg.The first Do 217K-1 prototype flew on March 21, 1942, with serial production beginning in autumn of the same year. Though initially conceived as a night bomber, it served in both daytime and nighttime strike operations across Western Europe and the Mediterranean region.