After the end of the Second World War, British Forces took charge of two Dornier Do 335s from the Dornier plant at Oberpfaffenhofen. These were a Do 335 A-10 two-seat trainer Wk-Nr 240112 and a single-seat model. In early September 1945, the A-10 was ferried by air to the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) at Farnborough. On 18 February 1946 during a test-flight, the rear engine caught fire and the aircraft crashed, killing by Gp Capt Alan F. Hards.
The second Do 335 was damaged during transfer and did not reach the United Kingdom.
Dornier Do 335 A-10 Wk-Nr 240112 in British markingsDornier Do 335 British markingsDornier Do 335 British markingsDornier Do 335 British markingsDornier Do 335 A-10 Wk-Nr 240112 in British markingsDornier Do 335 AM225 (possibly WNr 24016). Captured by the USAAF at Rheims, it was handed over to the RAF
With the collapse of Nazi-Germany, several Dornier Do 335s fell into Allied hands. US forces found Do 335 A-02 Wk-Nr 240102 VG+PH, Do 335 A-1 Wk-Nr 240165 along with Do 335 M14, the a B-series prototype. The A1 and A-02 were transported to the USA on HMS Reaper.
Dornier Do 335 being loaded onto HMS ReaperDornier Do 335 being loaded onto HMS ReaperDornier Do 335 102 in US MarkingsDornier Do 335 in US MarkingsDornier Do 335 in US MarkingsDornier Do 335 in US MarkingsDornier Do 335 in US Markings W.Nr. 240161 1945Dornier Do 335 in US MarkingsDornier Do 335 in US MarkingsDornier Do 335 102 in US MarkingsDornier Do 335 102 in US MarkingsDornier Do 335 102 in US MarkingsDornier Do 335 102 in US Markings at NAS Norfolk in 1949Dornier Do 335 102 in US Markings
HMS York was a heavy cruiser of the York class, built for the Royal Navy in the late 1920s. She was the lead ship of her class, which also included HMS Exeter. The York class was base on the preceding County class cruisers, and designed to smaller and cheaper while having better armour.
HMS York was laid down at the shipyard of John Brown & Company in Clydebank, Scotland, on 16 May 1926. She was launched on 17 July 1928, and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 1 May 1930.
HMS York was armed with six 8-inch (203 mm) guns in three twin turrets, four 4-inch (102 mm) guns in single mounts, and six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes in two tripple mounts. She was also equipped with a catapult and could operate one Supermarine Walrus seaplane.
HMS York served extensively during World War II. She participated in the Norwegian Campaign in 1940, and she was later deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. On 26 March 1941, she was badly damaged by two Italian explosive motor boats in a dawn attack at Suda Bay, north Crete. The motorboats, each armed with 300-kg (667 lb) charges in the bows, were piloted by Italian Navy officers. Two boiler rooms and one engine room were flooded and the ship was run aground to prevent her sinking. On 18 May, a Luftwaffe air attack further damaged York. She was subsequently scuttled after her guns were wrecked.
The wreck of HMS York was raised and salvage for scrap in 1952.
HMS York being launchedHMS York being launchedHMS York being launchedHMS York being launched
HMS York
HMS York during a port visit to Karlskrona Sweden, 1931HMS York sails past the Finnish sea fortress Suomenlinna Sveaborg, September 3, 1933Aerial photo of HMS York in Admiralty Floating Dock No. 1 at Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda in 1934HMS York in Washington 1935HMS York in Washington 1935HMS York in 1936HMS York Montreal 20 June 1937HMS York 14 Jan1938 entering Havana HarbourHMS York (90) in Vancouver, British Columbia, 10 August 1938HMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS York
Armament
HMS York forward 8″ guns
Aircraft of HMS York
HMS York’s Supermarine Walrus aircraft
HMS York at Suda Bay Crete
The Wreck of HMS York in Suda BayItalians inspecting the wreck of the HMS York after it was abandoned by the BritishThe Wreck of HMS York in Suda BayThe Wreck of HMS York in Suda BayWreck of HMS York, in Souda Bay, summer 1941The wreck of HMS York being salvaged and scrapped
