Designed in the early 1930s, the Dornier
Do.17 was one of the most important
German bombers during the first years of
the war. The Do.17 Z was its most advanced
version, with a new cockpit design, extended
to insert a rear firing gunner, new more
powerful engines, and more effective
defensive armament. First adopted in
1939, the Z-version was also used for reconnaissance missions and
as a night fighter. The Z-wversion was extremely resistant to enemy
weapons and able to execute disengagement dives at high speed.