Paran's Flying Pencils

**Spinners** · August 26, 2023

Dornier Do-17K - 1st Bomber regiment, Parani Army Air Force, 1941

In June 1936, the Yugoslavian government ordered 36 Do 17E bombers from Germany and following protracted negotiations they eventually succeeded in obtaining a production licence to build the majority of these as the Do 17K variant powered by the French Gnome-Rhône Mistral Major engine. After production for the Royal Yugoslav Air Force was completed in April 1939 the Yugoslavian government were approached by Paran who wanted a new modern bomber aircraft for the rapidly expanding Parani Army Air Force and the sale of 24 Do 17K's was agreed.

Entering service with the 1st Bomber Regiment of the Parani Army Air Force in early 1941 the Do 17K's were first used in anger in a successful attack on the Al'Mahrag Docks in northern Dhimar on September 21st, 1941. With only a handful of P-36's defending northern Dhimar, the Do 17K's of the 1st Bomber Regiment roamed virtually unchallenged over northern Dhimar until the arrival of the Republic P-43 Lancers in the Spring of 1942.