The Dornier Do 17, together with the Junkers Ju 88 and the Heinkel III, were the main German bomber aircrafts during the Blitz on Britain and London. In the Battle of Britain, the Dornier jet had been the favorite target for the Hurricanes and Spitfires of Fighter Command. However, it had proven itself to be a formidable part of the Luftwaffe in its campaign that led it to its battle. It was one of the nicknamed "Flying Pencils" because of its uniquely narrow fuselage. The first prototype had its maiden flight in 1934, which competed against other aircraft in the race to becoming a passenger plane of Lufthansa that would be flying passengers around Western Europe.