Pfeil 3 - German Air Force | Gallery

Pfeil 3

Do-335. The first 10 Do 335 A-0s were delivered for testing in May. By late 1944, the Do 335 A-1 was on the production line. This was similar to the A-0 but with the uprated DB 603 E-1 engines and two underwing hardpoints for additional bombs, drop tanks or guns. It was capable of a maximum speed of 763 km/h (474 mph) at 6,500 m (21,300 ft) with MW 50 boost, or 686 km/h (426 mph) without boost, and able to climb to 8,000 m (26,250 ft) in under 15 minutes. Even with one engine out, it could reach about 563 km/h (350 mph). Delivery commenced in January 1945. When the United States Army overran the Oberpfaffenhofen factory in late April 1945, only 11 Do 335 A-1 single-seat fighter-bombers and two Do 335 A-12 trainers had been completed. (Wikipedia) Many years later a Do-335 captured by the Americans was reconstructed by Dornier enginees and is in exhibition in the USA. This aircraft is in flying conditions.


This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/german-air-force/44390/pfeil-3

larry41, I saw it a few months ago myself with my nephew. This series of photographs provided much more context than what they had at the museum.

Seems like a very large plane, so it would be interesting to know how it performed in a dogfight. Could it "turn and burn" or more of a "boom and zoom?" Inspiration for more research!