Do P 238.01
The Do 335, which flew with excellent performance, practically demanded further development, especially since jet engines were only delivered very slowly. While retaining the concept of the Do 335, Dornier developed a high-altitude destroyer with a completely new fuselage construction, which was also designed to hold a larger amount of fuel. The design as a high-altitude fighter suggests a pressurized cabin and the tail unit and the rear propeller were probably designed to be jettisonable in the event of the pilot's ejection. Two very powerful Jumbo 222 high-altitude engines were planned. They were to provide a speed of more than 800 km/h and a ceiling height of 14,000 m, which would have more than covered the attack altitudes of the expected B-29 bombers even with a piston engine fighter. Development is said to have progressed to the point of mock-ups. The end of the war put an end to work on this project.
| Type |
Single seat high altitude fighter |
| Engine |
2 Junkers Jumo 222A-2 |
| Dimensions |
Length 17,10 m , height 5,30 m , span 13,80 m , wing area 38,50 m2 , |
| Weights |
Empty , loaded 12500 kg, max. take off weight |
| Performance |
Max.. speed 800 km/h , cruising speed , range , endurance , service ceiling 14000 m , climb |
| Armament |
|
As a further improvement on llie Do 335, the
Domier Project Office developed a heavyI
high-altitude Zerstörer with a fuselage of
revised design, capablc of accommodating a
larger quantitv of fuel. According to informa-
tion unconfirmcd lo date, the P 238/1 alsoi
bore the designation Ju 43ir as the Junkers-
Werke had been selected by tlie RLM to con-'
tinue fuither design work on the project.
Slnce Domier was lully oceupied with Uie
P 237/3 higli-altilude fightei project a Do 335
powered by a combination of reciprocating
and tuibojet. the TLR (Technical Air Arma-
ment Board) in a decLsion of 28th August 1944
stopped further workon it. Because of delays
in deliveiy of jet engines by the manulactiur-
ing firms, the RLM favoured the usc of high-
performance piston engines for high-speed
fighter and Zerstörers for combating .Allied
bomber formations whose campaign of
deslruclion of German cities in 1944 was near
its zenith.
The P 238/1 with its new aerodvnamic form
and its two 24-cylinder Junkers-Jumo 222A-2
high-altitude radials driving tractor and
pusher propellers, seemed ideal for this pur-
pose. With a calculated top speed of over
800km/h (497mph), it had a ceiling of
14,000m (45,93011) - an altitude which no
airscrew-driven enemy fighter had Ojus far
attained. Development proceeded apacc up
to the mock-up construction stage at the end
of 1944 under the highest priority, but the
approaching cnd of the war forced work on
the project to be terminated
