Canadian Warplanes 1: Fokker D.VII War Prizes

Fokker D.VII War Prizes

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3397977)

Fokker D.VII crash, Nov 1918.

The Fokker D VII was one of First World War’s best fighters. After the aircraft won the German fighter competition in January 1918, large construction contracts were awarded to Fokker, and its main competitor, Albatros, was required to manufacture D VIIs under licence. The Fokker D VII rapidly became the premier fighter of the German air force. Well-liked by its pilots and much feared by its opponents, the D VII’s famous reputation was built during a remarkably short life from January to November 1918.

The D VII was strong and very manoeuvrable, simple to fly for the novice aviator, and had excellent control characteristics at very slow speeds. It could hang on its propeller and shoot upwards while other aircraft would stall and spin away. Unlike many other contemporary aircraft, it remained agile in the thin air near its service ceiling . Singled out for destruction in the Armistice Agreement, D VIIs were smuggled out of Germany into Holland after the war. Anthony Fokker “arranged” that those trains carrying D VIIs would be too long for the sidings at the Dutch border. Inspections would therefore have to be quick in order to unblock the main line.

During the opening months of 1919, Doughty and a young Canadian staff officer by the name of Captain R.E. Lloyd Lott persuaded the RAF and the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) to share a portion of their aeronautical booty with Canada. In February and March of 1919, the recently formed Canadian Air Force (CAF) took possession of twenty Fokker D.VIIs from the RAF. The original intent was for the CAF to pack the aircraft for shipment to Canada, but No. 1 Fighter Squadron also flew them extensively alongside their standard British service machines. In part, this was because the experienced Canadian airmen felt that the D.VII was superior to their issued Sopwith Dolphins.   Many were later sent to Canada.  (Edward Petger Soye)

(RAF Photo)

Fokker D.VII, No. 1 Squadron, Canadian Air Force, 1919.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390446)

Fokker D.VIIs, Canadian Air Force, Hounslow, UK, ca 1919.  

Edward Peter Soye has determined that these four aircraft are Albatros-built D.VIIs bearing the Serial Nos. 5924/18, 6769/18, 6810/18 (currently preserved at Knowlton inside the Brome County Historical Society Museum), and 6822/18.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3214722)

Fokker D.VII, Maj Barker, VC, 25 Aug 1919 in Toronto at the start of the Toronto-New York air race.

A large number of ex-German military aircraft were brought to Canada in 1919 as part of a war trophy collection acquired by the Dominion Archivist for Canada, LCol Arthur Doughty (later Sir Arthur) for the Canadian government. Included among these were a at least 28 Fokker D.VII fighters (two further aircraft had been written off while in England). Unfortunately only one of the remaining aircraft is known to have survived, that being Fokker D.Vll 6810/ 18 (Alb.) now at Knowlton, Quebec, in the Knowlton Museum of the Bronte County Historical Society. Six aircraft were also donated to Canadian universities but none of these survived intact. Additional aircraft were offered to a variety of technical schools but few details are available for these aircraft. The complete known list of these (30) aircraft is presented here with serial numbers and notes on their fate. Apart from those aircraft donated to universities, where further details of their fate are not known, it seems almost certain they were among those ordered destroyed at Camp Borden, apparently in 1921.

Seven Fokker D.VIIs were delivered at Leaside Aerodrome in August 1919 and at least three were assembled and flown (including No. 10349/18). The remainder were probably used for spares. Unfortunately the OAW-built D.VIIs did not have their serials painted on them and while these aircraft can be seen in photographs, they cannot be specifically identified, as to which were assembled and flown. It seems likely the above list may still be incomplete for the following reasons. The foundation of the list is the (incomplete) shipping record of the Canadian War Trophies Board with only the occasional other record being found. Even so, at least nine Fokker D.VIIs above are recorded as being in Canada without a shipping record. Two Fokkers, likely D.VIIs, of unrecorded serials, were listed as being shipped on the SS War Peridat on July 7, 1919. The wings of another Fokker were also noted as being shipped from Dieppe on 23 May 1919, on the SS Venusia. Similarly the list of Fokker’s dispersed to Canadian universities and technical schools is also incomplete and / or contains some inaccuracies. (Kestrel Publications)

Albatros D.Vll (Serial No. 5492/18). Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Venusia5 May 1919. Placed in storage: undercarriage not fitted and noted as considerably damaged by shipping; fate unknown.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390442)

Fokker D.VII, (Serial No. 5924/18), RK, Major Andrew McKeever, DSC, MC and Bar, Commanding Officer of No 1 Sqn CAF.  Major McKeever was the highest scoring pilot on the Bristol F 2B, early in 1919.

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Albatros D.Vll (Serial No. 5924/18). No shipping details but arrived in Canada. Coded “RK” from Jasta 63. Delivered to Leaside Aerodrome & BBAL. Never assembled& possibly used for spares; fate unknown.

Albatros D.Vll (Serial No. 6504/18). No shipping details. Placed in storage: undercarriage not fitted and noted as slightly damaged by shipping; fateunknown. 

Albatros D.Vll (Serial No. 6769/18). Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Venusia May 23, 1919. Placed in storage: undercarriage not fitted and noted as slightly damaged by shipping; fate unknown.

Albatros D.Vll (Serial No. 6786/18). Written-off in an accident shortly after delivery from No. 2 ASD at Biggin Hill, England.

(Author Photo)

Fokker D.VII A1b (Serial No. 6810/18).  Brome County Historical Society (BCHS), 130 Lakeside Road, Knowlton, Quebec.

(Author Photo)

Fokker D.VII A1b (Serial No. 6810/18).  Brome County Historical Society (BCHS), 130 Lakeside Road, Knowlton, Quebec.

Albatros D.Vll (Serial No. 6810/18). No shipping record from overseas or Camp Borden. Placed in storage at Camp Borden: undercarriage not fitted and noted as slightly damaged by shipping. Preserved in Paul Holland Knowlton Museum of Brome County Historical Society, Knowlton, Quebec. Fabric repairs completed by No. 6 RD RCAF in 1963.

(Vintage Wings of Canada Photo)

Albatros D.VIIs with the Canadian Air Force, Hounslow, UK, ca 1919. The nearest aircraft is identifiable as 6822/18.

Albatros D.Vll (Serial No. 6822/18). Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Venusia May 5, 1919. Placed in storage: Mounted on undercarriage and notedas in fair condition; fate unknown.

(University of Saskatchewan Archives Photo)

Fokker D.VII, 6832/18, Engineering Building Tractor Lab in 1920.

Albatros D.Vll (Serial No. 6832/18). Likely with No.1 (Fighter) Squadron, CAF, Shoreham. Shipped to Canada via SS Perklat 24 June 1919.Noted as being fitted with Mercedes engine No. 45715. Shipped to the University of Saskatchewan,
Saskatoon, from Camp Borden, 7 May 1920. Last photographed in 1923. Final disposition unknown. 

Albatros D.Vll (Serial No. 6833/18). Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Venusia 23 May 1919. Placed in storage: undercarriage not fitted and noted as slightly damaged by shipping; fate unknown.

Albatros D.Vll (Serial No. 6842/18). No shipping record from overseas. To the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, from Camp Borden, 7 May 1920. Airframe demolished and engine retained in Engineering Faculty. The engine was later sent to CA&SM in an exchange in May 1975 and is now installed in that museum's Fokker D.VII 10347/18.

Albatros D.Vll (Serial No. 6846/18). 6846/18 (Alb.). Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Venusia 5 May 1919. Placed in storage: Mounted on its undercarriage and noted as being slightly damaged by shipping; fate unknown.

Albatros D.Vll (Serial No. 6849/18). Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UKvia SS Montezuma 10 July 1919. Noted as being fitted a with Mercedes engine No. 45628. Noted as being on loan to BBAL; fate unknown.

Fokker D.VII (Serial No. 7685/18). Fokker built. One of several aircraft on strength with No. 1 Squadron, CAF Shoreham. Held over from shipping for use by the Commanding Officer. No shipping record from overseas. No shipping details but arrived in Canada. Noted as being fitted with Mercedes engine No. 1284.Used for an exhibition in Ottawa; fate unknown.

Fokker D.VII (Serial No. 7690/18) Fokker built. No shipping details; assembled at No. 2ASD, France for CAF; fate unknown.

Fokker D.VII (Serial No. 7701/18). Fokker built. No shipping details; assembled at No. 2 ASD, France for CAF; fate unknown.

Fokker D.VII (Serial No. 7722/18). Fokker built. No shipping details; assembled at No. 2 ASD, France for CAF; fate unknown.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3214714)

Fokker D.VII (Serial No. F 7728/18) with Major W.G. Barker, VC, and visitors at Hounslow Aerodrome, UK, 20 April 1919.

Fokker D.VII (Serial No. 7728/18). Fokker built. Shipped to Canada via SS Montezuma 10 July 1919. Noted as being fitted with Mercedes
engine No. 12099. Placed in storage: Mounted on undercarriage and noted as being slightly damaged by shipping; fate unknown.

O.A.W. D.VII (Serial No. 8413/18). Damaged on arrival in England in March 1919.Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SS Venusia 23 May 1919. Placed instorage: Mounted on undercarriage and noted as being slightly damaged by
shipping; fate unknown.

O.A.W. D.VII (Serial No. 8474/18). Flown to Hounslow, England from No. 2ASD France by Lt. Griffiths on 26 February 1919. Shipped to Canada from Dieppevia SS Venusia 23 May 1919. Assembled and displayed at the “War Trophy Building” Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, August 1919; fate unknown..

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390431)

Fokker D.VII (Serial No. 8482/18), flown by Capt Albert Debrisay Carter, DSO & Bar, Belgian Croix de Guerre, from Moncton, New Brunswick.  He is shown here shortly before he died on 22 May 1919, as he prepared to take offf on the last flight to have a mock dogfight with an S.E.5a.  No. 1 and 2 Fighting Squadrons, CAF, Upper Hayford, UK, 1919.

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O.A.W. D.VII (Serial No. 8482/18). Flown to Hounslow, England from No. 2ASD France by Capt. Carruthers on 23 February 1919. On strength with No. 1 Canadian Fighter Squadron in Shoreham, England. Involved in a fatal crash when being flown by Major A.D. Carter of No. 2 (Day Bomber) Squadron. On 22 May 1919, he took off on flight and crashed in a field shortly afterward. The airframe was demolished.

O.A.W. D.VII (Serial No. 8487/18). No shipping details; assembled at No.2 ASD, France for CAF; fate unknown.

O.A.W. D.VII (Serial No. 8488/18). Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Venusia 23 May 1919. Placed in storage: undercarriage not fitted and noted as being slightly damaged by shipping; fate unknown.

O.A.W. D.VII (Serial No. 8492/18). Flown to Hounslow, England from No. 2ASD France by Maj Foot on 28 February 1919. Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Venusia 23 May 1919. Placed in storage: undercarriage notfitted and noted as being slightly damaged by shipping; fate unknown.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No.  339044)

Fokker D. VII. 8493/18, with Canadian Air Force markings, Major Andrew McKeever, DSC, MC and Bar, Commanding Officer of No 1 Sqn CAF, Upper Heyford, UK, 1919.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390440)

Fokker D. VII. 8493/18, with Canadian Air Force markings, Major Andrew McKeever, DSC, MC and Bar, Commanding Officer of No. 1 Squadron CAF, Upper Heyford, UK, 1919.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390430)

Fokker D.VII, 8493/18, No 1 & 2 Squadron, CAF, Upper Hayford, UK, 1919.

O.A.W. D.VII (Serial No. 8493/18). Flown to Hounslow, England from No. 2ASD France by Maj McLean on 23 February 1919. One of several aircraft on strength with No. 1 Squadron, CAF Shoreham. No shipping record from overseas. Noted as being fitted with Mercedes engine No. 45105. Placed in storage: under carriage not fitted and noted as being slightly damaged by shipping. Shipped to the University of Calgary from Camp Borden 12 May 1920. Displayed there from 6 to 8July 1920. Later disassembled and its parts were dispersed.

O.A.W. D.VII (Serial No. 8502/18). Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SS Venusia23 May 1919. Noted as being fitted with Mercedes engine No. 32746. Noted as being on loan to BBAL; fate unknown.

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O.A.W. D.VII (Serial No. 8526/18). Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SS Venusia23 May 1919. Noted as being fitted with Mercedes engine No. 45648. Noted as being on loan to BBAL; fate unknown.

O.A.W. D.VII (Serial No. 8583/18). Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SS Venusia23 May 1919. Noted as being fitted with Mercedes engine No. 42527. Noted as being on loan to BBAL. Shipped to McGill University, Montreal, from Camp Borden14 May 1920. University has no record.; fate unknown.

(Vintage Wings of Canada Photo)

O.A.W. D.VII (OAW) 8609/18 sits outside a hangar in Leaside, assembled and ready to be flown by the pilots of Bishop-Barker Aeroplanes Limited.

O.A.W. D.VII (Serial No. 8609/18). Surrendered to American Expeditionary Force at the factory without any German markings applied. Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SS Venusia 23 May 1919. Noted as being fitted with Mercedes engine No. 37176. Noted as being on loan to BBAL; fate unknown but likely scrapped at Camp Borden.

O.A.W. D.VII (Serial No. 10349/18). Fokker-built. Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SS Venusia 23 May 1919. Noted as being fitted with Mercedes engine No. 45700. Assembled at Leaside Aerodrome. Capt. L.B.Hyde-Pearson flew this aircraft through a tree in the fall of 1918 but returned safely to Leaside Aerodrome, Toronto. The aircraft was likely scrapped thereafter at Camp Borden.

Fokker D.VII (Serial No. 10350/18). Fokker-built. Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SS Venusia 23 May 1919. Noted as being fitted with Mercedes engine No. 45659. Assembled and likely flown at Leaside Aerodrome, Toronto, August 1919. The aircraft was likely scrapped thereafter at Camp Borden. (CWHM)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3329025)

Flanders, German aircraft just hitting the ground, ca 1917.

(Author Photos)

Fokker D.VII (Serial No. 10347/18), Canada Air and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.

This aircraft was built by Fokker in 1918 and was one of 142 shipped to the United States for the U.S. Air Service. Later sold for civilian use, it was featured in several movies, including Hell's Angels (1930). The Museum purchased the aircraft in 1971, and a propeller and engine were donated in 1972 and 1975, respectively. During restoration, the Museum discovered the German air service serial number 10347/18 on the aircraft, revealing it to be a very late-production D.VII. It was powered by a Daimler Mercedes D.IIIav, 160 hp, in-line engine. It was most likely confiscated by Allied forces at the manufacturing plant. (CASM)

(RCAF Photo)

Fokker C.II Express, Reg. No. G-CAEV, three-seat D-7 conversion, c/n 174.  Camp Borden, 1927.  It was powered by a 185 horsepower BMW IIIa piston engine.  The type first entered the market in 1920 as a civilian version of the Fokker C. I.  The airframes were built in the Veere (Zeeland) with a small number being imported to Canada after having been shipped to the United States by sea.  The Certificate of Registration was issued on 3 January 1925 to the owners Brock & Weymouth Limited of O'Brien, Quebec.  It was damaged in Hamilton, Ontario on 13 May 1928 to the point that the C of R was cancelled on 21 November the same year.  (Chris Charland)

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