Here is a picture of Dornier Do 217M Wk Nr. 56527 (AM107)
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(c) Bill Pippin Collection.
The ‘M’ mark had that distinctive bulbous cockpit (like the K mark). Even if am105 and 106 had pale undersides, the cockpit in Richards father’s photo seems to taper towards the nose.
Compare a 217M with a 217E. The stepped cockpit was also seen with the nightfighter J and N marks. These had inline engines unlike the E’s.
Its a bit of a puzzle to me: Its has dive brakes which suggests a bomber. Has inline engines (cowlings look too narrow to be radials) and that rules out Es. It appears (to me) to have the earlier stepped cockpit and that rules out Ms. Why would a nightfigher J or N have dive brakes?
Whatever it has under its wings have wide (twin-finned??) tail units attached. And it was flying over Wiltshire in 1955 still in German markings?
Two explantions occur to me (And they might raise some ire but need to be considered):
The photo is genuine but date and location are mistaken.
The photo is a fake (wartime Do 217 spliced over picture of houses) but has over time been associated with a genuine memory.
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