Canadian Warplanes (6) Quebec, Knowlton, Brome County Historical Society (BCHS), Fokker D.VII

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

(Author Photo)

Fokker D.VII A1b (Serial No. 6810/18).

This German War Pirze biplane fighter was one of three Fokker built aircraft using the MANA engine, a unique design not to be confused with MAN’s license built BMW IIIa. None of these engines are known to have survived so the decision was made to use another ‘unique’ power-plant, the Mercedes D IIIavu, a high compression D IIIa variant with a 5mm larger bore and yielding 200 hp.

While a propeller was donated to this project circa 1975, it was incorrect for a D VII so I donated (on behalf of the Vintage Aviation Team) an original, wartime, Heine propeller of correct length and pitch for the D VII. In fact, this propeller is factory marked ‘Fok D VII’. (John Weatherseed)

(Author Photos)

Fokker D.VII A1b (Serial No. 6810/18).

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)

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

Fokker D.VIIs in Canadian Air Force service post war, No. 1 & 2 Fighter Sqns, 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 Nos. 3390440)

Fokker D.VII, Maj A.E. McKeever, CO No. 1 Sqn, CAF, Upper Heyford, UK, 1919.

(Library and Archives Canada Photos, MIKAN No. 3390444)

Fokker D.VII, Maj A.E. McKeever, CO No. 1 Sqn, CAF, Upper Heyford, UK, 1919.

(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.

(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)

(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)

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