Air Enthusiast 2006-05
G.Cruz, P.Hebrero - Spain's Big 'boats /Flying-boats and floatplanes/ (2)
The Spanish industry took charge of producing an appropriate paint for the Do 24s. After some unsuccessful attempts, in 1953 one of the combinations of primer and paint - the so-called 'bottlegreen' - began to prove effective against corrosion. The trials were made on aircraft under repair, eg HR.5-6, '51-6' 'Virgen de la Esperanza'.
In the summer of 1958 a new unit, 58 Escuadrilla del SAR was formed with the four remaining Do 24s. The previous scheme was slightly modified, as shown by '58-2' (ex HR.5-11). In 1960 tail serials were omitted, rendering visual identification very difficult.
In the summer of 1964 the aircraft began to receive a new silver overall livery. Fuselage unit codes were kept but the numbers in the tail serials were those of the unit codes, not the original ones. Note the badge of 58 Escuadrilla on the rear fuselage - the first carried by any EdA Do 24 - and the bow turret of indigenous design.
The last scheme worn by the EdA Do 24s. HD.5-4 was the example presented by the Spanish Air Ministry to the Dornier company. For some unknown reason, the 'SAR' letters were slightly larger than those in the other three aircraft. Also unknown is the reason why this aircraft was re-serialled as HR.5-4 before being delivered to Dornier. Note the absence of fuselage unit markings and the repositioning of the SAR yellow band, as well as the incorporation of an anti-glare panel.
With the Pollensa’s mountain range background, HD.5-4 runs for take-off oh mirror-like waters.
HD.5-2 outside at the EdA Museum, Cuatro Vientos, in mid-2002.
HD.5-4 about to be lifted to Pollensa's shore by the huge Babcock Wilcox crane, built in Scotland, and installed in 1938.
Once re-assembled at Soesterberg in the Netherlands, HD.5-1 was painted to represent a Dutch Do 24K.
Cockpit rear bulkhead of the Do 24 at the EdA Museum that helped to 'crack' the identities of the survivors. All the aircraft's interior was olive green painted.
HD.5-1 was a tight fit inside the RAF Museum at Hendon. The aircraft was moved to the Netherlands in 1991.
Some time after the creation of the 58 Escuadrilla, the four Do 24s began to show the 'SAR' insignia on their noses, as on ‘58-2’, ex HR.5-11, anchored at Pollensa.
In the summer of 1964 a new overall silver livery began to he applied to the four remaining Do 24s. The scheme included fuselage and wingtips black-outlined yellow bands and the 58 Escuadrilla badge and big 'SAR' lettering. Three of the four Do 24 s are illustrated at Pollensa: '58-2' is still in the green overall scheme.
Flying in formation with Do 27 L.9-43 of 801 Escuadrilla del SAR, HD.5-1 in full 804 Escuadrilla markings.
HD.5-4 at Lake Geneva, Lausanne-Ouchy, Switzerland, during one of the stops en route to Friedrichshafen/Bodensee (Lake Constance), August 1971.
A 1964 view showing interesting details of the Do 24's front fuselage. Still devoid of propellers, HR.5-1 '58-1' on beaching gear. Port mooring clamp and nose lamp for night and bad weather operations are readily discernible, as well as the indigenous-designed bow turret.
In April 1965, 58 Escuadrilla was disbanded and replaced by a new unit, 804 Escuadrilla. The four Do 24s were devoid of unit markings and the black-trimmed yellow areas were slightly modified.
HR.5-3 '58-3' in full 58 Escuadrilla markings. Note the indigenous-built bow turret.
In the summer of 1958, 58 Escuadrilla was formed with the four Do 24 survivors. The seventh example, wearing the 58 Escuadrilla's colours and ‘DO-24-T3-7', received the code ‘58-1’. Engine cowlings were yellow painted.
Dornier Do 24T
The fuselage of HD.5-3 was used in the construction of the Dornier Do 24TT or Do 24ATT D-CATD.
Dornier Do 24TT