Dornier 335 - 2007 and 1945 for Rob (debbielove) by Buffalo1
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Two views of Germany's experimental DO-335 twin engine centerline thrust ("push-pull" configuration that was pet project of Claudius Dornier) fighter show the difficulties of film photography. The lighting at the Dulles branch of the National Air and Space Museum is terrible and all the support beams make getting a "clean" shot impossible. Had I known I would have brought higher speed film (400 or 800)for the top photo taken last year or lugged my manually operated Canon AE-1 along instead of my Olympus automatic.
The B&W was taken by my Dad at the Dornier assembly factory at Oberpfaffenhoffen in Germany in May of 1945 with backlighting making problems and Dad not getting the rear prop into the frame.("Oooops," as Pop said)
That's the trouble with film for all you youngsters who only know digital. You don't really know what you got until the pics are developed.
Anyway, the DO-335 fighter-bomber was nearly operational when the war ended. It was very fast at 474 mph. The Luftwaffe and Dornier guys my Dad talked to said the real problem was getting pilots used to the high landing speed and tricycle gear.
An Arado 234, the world's first operational jet bomber and recon plane, and a Heinkel 219 night fighter fuselage are in the background of the top photo.
Finally got 'em posted for you, Rob, even if they ain't so great.

Comments (18)
Great capture..
Again a good capture picture erland
These are great! There's no such thing as a "bad" pic of the DO-335. This, and the Japanese "Shinden" win my vote for the coolest prop-driven aircraft of all time. Interesting how times change. These days tail-draggers are "exotic" and require special training...
Always have been interested in this particular airplane. Like your facts and your dad's photo. Travels around Germany right after their surrender must have been fascinating. Imagine finding ME-262s just sitting in tree lines, etc. Bill I need to get a trip in to Dulles. I've heard it is really something else.
Perfect way to show your dad's pictures.Personally I love old B/W pics.And these days with all the reprocessing capability in even an average computer it's great to give them a new lease of life.Your dad's pictures are history today, your pictures are the history of tomorrow.Every one is a gem and great in it's own way.I will happily view as many of these as you care to post.An extra thanks Rob to you and your dad.
@Bill: The Dulles museum is wonderful. I don't want anyone to think it it isn't worth the trip. I have a number of pics posted in my gallery of the cool stuff at NASM Dulles. It's just that the lighting isn't good. Thanks for the comments, everybody!
Nice work here! And what a fun recollection! Bravo!
real cool looking plane and history too
I like the one of the factory. A hangar was my first office. Seeing just what occupies the general space is remarkable when factories are abandonned or torn down for being not the right facility.
Wonderful collage and information. Hugs. Di. xx
This is wonderful! What a group of great aircraft. But you are right about the lighting - it looks almost as bad as the Railway Museum, York. Thanks huge amounts for digging these out, mate. Spurs me on to find some really interesting photos of my Dad's! Cheers! Rob
Wonderful capture my friend.....!!!!!
great piece of history
Cool pictures, excellent capture!!!!!!!
Roger, the imperfect lighting make these images more realistic to me. Great background information. I know what you are talking about film photography vs digital. Everything is made so easy nowadays, with instant review. There were many times where I shot off a whole role of film and didn't like any of the frames once the developed film came back. Great shots of these aircraft!!! Sig...
That is fantastic!
How the hell did I miss this. A very atmospheric shot of one of Germany's many unusual fighters and much credit to your dad. As Neil points out, these are history, some with planes never to be seen again. As for yours I think it adds to the image. Keep posting these personal photo's if you can, they are fantastic.
Fascinating plane this with it's rear propeller and very fast too!