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Description: The Dornier Do217 was a twin-engine German night fighter developed during the Second World War. Having made its first flight in 1942, the J1 was a powerful night fighter for the time being, equipped with heavy armaments, featuring a total of 4x 7.92 mm machine guns and 4x 20 mm cannons, even though it suffered various issues like increased weight due to all new weapons stored in the fuselage. In the same year, the Regia Aeronautica acquired a total of 6 J1 and 6 J2 to equip the 235° squadriglia, which would have been one of the few Italian night fighter squadrons. The 12 units were delivered from 1942 to 1943 and performed various interception missions, with only one of them leading to the destruction of a British Avro Lanchaster by a J1. Unfortunately, due to various factors, such as the machines quality, the crew training, and the conditions of J2’s radars, this led to a low performance by the squadron, with only an enemy aircraft shot down but also suffering a single loss. By the armistice in September 1943, 11 aircraft were still in service, with 5 being operative and 6 under maintenance. Their fate is not documented, as there is not data regarding their possible use by the ANR, but they could have probably be destroyed, captured by the Germans, or scrapped.
Why it should be in game: It could be a good veichle for low tier in the Italian tree, and it would also be one of the very few night fighter Italy ever operated.
Specifications
Riepilogo
Sources
Riepilogo
Dornier Do.217J-1 della Regia Aeronautica - Flying Lions
https://www.destinationsjourney.com/historical-military-photographs/dornier-do-217-in-italian-service/
Dornier Do-217J
Pictures
