Dornier Do.19

As early as 1934 the Luftwaffe began to think about a long-range heavy bomber, and in 1935 a specification for the 'Ural Bomber' was issued to Junkers and Dornier. Both Dornier and Junkers completed preliminary studies for such an aircraft, and each received in late 1935 an order for three prototypes under the respective designations Dornier Do 19 and Ju 89.

A mid-wing cantilever monoplane, largely of metal construction, the Do 19 had a rectangular-section fuselage; a tail unit with braced twin fins and rudders mounted on the upper surface of the tail-plane, at approximately mid-span on each side; tailwheel landing gear, with all three units retracting; and powerplant comprising four Bramo 322H-2 radial engines, mounted in nacelles at the wing leading edges. Accommodation was provided for a crew of nine, consisting of pilot, co-pilot/navigator, bomb-aimer, radio operator and five gunners. The intended hydraulically-operated two-man dorsal and ventral turrets, combined with the overweight aircraft, would have left the bomber severely under-powered.

The Do 19 V1 prototype flew for the first time on 28 October 1936, but by then an event had occurred which was to bring development of the long-range strategic bombers to an end. Using lighter turrets and Fafnir 323A-1 engines, a revised design showed an estimated range of 2000 km (1240 miles) and a top speed of 370 km/h (230 mph), but by this stage there were doubts about the usefulness of the 'Ural Bomber' and the ability of the aircraft industry to produce it without reducing the supply of other warplanes. On 3 June 1936 Generalleutnant Wever had lost his life in an aircraft crash and his successor, Generalleutnant Albert Kesselring, concluded that the Luftwaffe's more urgent requirements were increased numbers of fighters and tactical bombers of greater capability. The Do 19 V2, which was almost ready to fly, and the incomplete Do 19 V3 were both scrapped; the Do 19 V1 saw limited use as a military transport following conversion for such a role during 1939.

Do 19 V1
Engines: 4 x BMW "Bramo 322", 480kW
Span: 35 m (114 ft 10 in)
Length: 25.45 m (83 ft 6 in)
Height: 5.8 m / 19 ft 0 in
Wing area: 162.0 sq.m / 1743.75 sq ft
Empty weight: 11000 kg / 24251 lb
Gross weight: 18500 kg (40785 lb)
Maximum speed: 315 km/h (196 mph)
Cruise speed: 250 km/h / 155 mph
Ceiling: 5500 m / 18050 ft
Range w/max.fuel: 1600 km / 994 miles
Crew: 4-5