The Dornier Do 17 was produced by the Dornier-Werke company. As a result of the restrictions placed on Germany by the Versailles Treaty it was originally produced as a commercial passenger plane. However, later it was transformed into a bomber aircraft.

The Dornier Do 17 had a maximum speed of 255 mph (410 km) and had a range of 721 miles (1,160 km). It was 51 ft 10 in (15.79 m) long with a wingspan of 59 ft 1 in (18.00 m). The aircraft was armed with 6 machine-guns and could carry 2,200 lb (1,000 kg) of bombs.

At the beginning of the Second World War the Dornier Do 17, along with the Heinkel He111 and Junkers Ju 88A, were the main bombers used by the Luftwaffe. However, the Dornier was slower than the Junkers and could carry fewer bombs than the Heinkel and was withdrawn from service in 1942.