Dornier Do.335

Dornier Do.335
Country	Nazi Germany
Role	Fighter-bomber
First flight	26 October 1943
Built	37

The Dornier Do 335 Pfeil (“Arrow”) was a World War II heavy fighter built by the Dornier company. The two-seater trainer version was also called Ameisenbär (“anteater”). The Pfeil’s performance was much better than other twin-engine designs due to its unique “push-pull” layout and the much lower aerodynamic drag of the in-line alignment of the two engines. It was Germany’s fastest piston-engined aircraft of World War II. The Luftwaffe was desperate to get the design into operational use, but delays in engine deliveries meant that only a handful were delivered before the war ended.

Source: Dornier Do.335 on Wikipedia

Dornier Do.335 A-0 Pfeil Walk Around
Photographer	Cees Hendriks
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	67

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Dornier Do 335 A B-2 Pfeil
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Photos	26

Dornier Do 335

A Radical Approach to Speed

The Dornier Do 335 Pfeil was a revolutionary heavy fighter that defied conventional twin-engine design. By placing the engines in a “push-pull” tandem arrangement—one in the nose and one in the tail—Dornier eliminated the aerodynamic drag associated with wing-mounted nacelles and solved the deadly “asymmetric thrust” issues that plagued traditional twin-engine planes if one engine failed. The result was a massive, incredibly fast aircraft that could outrun almost anything in the sky.

Attribute	Technical Specification (Do 335 A-1)
Role	Heavy Fighter / Fighter-Bomber
Crew	1 (A-series) or 2 (M-series night fighter)
First Flight	October 26, 1943
Powerplant	2 × Daimler-Benz DB 603E inverted V-12s
Horsepower	1,800 hp (1,342 kW) per engine
Maximum Speed	474 mph (763 km/h)
Service Ceiling	37,400 feet (11,400 m)
Armament	1 × 30mm MK 103 cannon (engine-mounted); 2 × 20mm MG 151/20 cannons

The “Push-Pull” Innovation

Tandem Engine Layout: The front engine drove a standard tractor propeller, while the rear engine drove a pusher propeller via a long extension shaft. This kept the frontal area small, giving the Do 335 the drag profile of a single-engine fighter despite having double the power.
The Cruciform Tail: To protect the rear propeller during takeoff and landing, the Do 335 featured a unique four-finned “cross” tail. The lower vertical fin acted as a bumper to prevent the propeller from striking the runway if the pilot over-rotated.
Emergency Separation: Because of the rear propeller, a traditional bailout was impossible. The Do 335 featured an ejection seat; before the pilot was launched, explosive bolts would blow off the rear propeller and the top vertical fin to ensure a clear escape path.
Reversible Pitch Propellers: The rear propeller could be adjusted to provide reverse thrust, significantly shortening the landing run for such a heavy and fast aircraft.

Combat Capability & Late Arrival

The “Anteater” (Ameisenbär): The two-seat night fighter version (Do 335 A-6) featured a second, raised cockpit for the radar operator, giving the aircraft a humped appearance that led to its ungraceful nickname.
Heavy Firepower: The 30mm MK 103 cannon fired through the front propeller hub (Motorkanone), providing enough destructive power to down a heavy bomber with just a few hits.
The “Ghost” Interceptions: While the Do 335 never saw major air-to-air combat, several Allied pilots reported seeing a massive, incredibly fast German plane that simply pulled away from them with ease. Famous French ace Pierre Clostermann once attempted to intercept one in a Hawker Tempest, but the “Arrow” outran him before he could get in range.
Preservation: Only one complete Do 335 survives today. Captured by the Americans, it was returned to Germany for restoration in the 1970s before being placed on permanent display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia, USA.