Despite plenty of initial difficulties and a lengthy development process in the early 1930s, the BV-138 became an excellent Navy patrol aircraft, operating at farther ranges and for long periods of time, and capable of taking off and landing from any water source.

While the seaplanes were not technically speedy machines, a particularly powerful machine gun arrangement allowed the crews to protect themselves, and the aircraft could even engage in air-to-air combat.

The Sea Dragon eventually played one of the most pivotal roles in maritime reconnaissance and patrol for the Third Reich's air force while serving all over Europe and occasionally working with the ever-feared U-boat submarine crews, creeping the Atlantic and Mediterranean waters for enemy ships.

Loyal to the Luftwaffe until the end of the war, the Blohm & Voss 138 seaplane became the final military aircraft to serve the Führer as a once-powerful nation crumbled into pieces…


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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.

All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.