Fokker D.XXI (English)

D.XXI

The Fokker D.XXI

The F-16 of the late 1930s is what you could call the D.XXI designed by German designer Erich Schatzki.

Schatzki worked for Fokker and designed the D.XXI in 1935. On March 27, 1936, this aircraft made its first flight.

The first flight took place at Welschap airfield (Eindhoven) with Fokker test pilot Emil Meinecke in the cockpit.

Another “D” type that was designed for use by the KNIL in the Indies and of which nothing came of it. But the LVA ordered 36 examples in 1937.

For the prototype a Rolls Royce Kestrel IV of 700 hp was considered, but it was chosen the Bristol Mercury VIII 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine of 830 hp. Also for the LVA machines.
The prototype was demonstrated in the Indies, where it was destroyed on the ground at Andir airfield in 1942 during a Japanese attack.

A total of 148 D.XXIs were built, including the license-built aircraft in Denmark and Finland, where the D.XXI was in service until 1948.
The Danes and Finns also purchased a number of D.XXIs directly from Fokker.
Some of the Finnish license D.XXIs had the Bristol Mercury VIII and some had the Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp R-1535 junior engine of 825 hp, with 2 rows of 7 cylinders.
In Finland one D.XXI was equipped with retractable landing gear, as the D.XXI was fitted as standard with fixed, non-retractable landing gear.

Fifty D.XXIs were also to be built under license in Spain, but only one aircraft was built.
This was partly because during the Spanish Civil War the Nationalists had conquered the area where the license construction took place.

The D.XXIs of the LVA fought fearsome air battles with the German fighters during the German invasion of the Netherlands on 10 May 1940.
D.XXIs were also lost, both in the air and in ground attacks.
Seven D.XXIs fell into German hands, an unknown number of which served with the Luftwaffe.

The armament of the LVA Machines eventually consisted of four Browning FN 7.9 mm machine guns, two in each wing.
In Denmark and Finland other armament systems have also been tested or applied.

In 1988, Fokker, in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Air Force, built a beautiful D.XXI replica, which can be admired in the NMM in Soesterberg.
In Hoogeveen at ATN, a flying replica of a D.XXI. (https://www.fokkerd21.comand https://fb.watch/guwzjqCRWJ/ )

There are sections of the D.XXI in The Netherlands (with some videos), In German service, in Finland (with some videos) and in Denmark/Sweden.

Click on the photo to enlarge the photo

The D.XXI in Dutch service

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FOKKER D.XXI 1936 The D.XXI fighter, which was completed in 1936, would be the last Fokker fighter aircraft to be built in series. Between the two World Wars the D.VII, DX, D.XI, D.XII, D.XIII (and the different D.XIV), the D.XVI and D.XVII were developed and sometimes built in larger series. Although of fairly orthodox construction, the D.XXI was ordered by several air forces because of its performance. Originally the prototype was developed according to a specification of the KNIL, an aircraft with a 645 hp Bristol "Mercury" engine, which made its first flight on 27 March '36 near Eindhoven. 36 aircraft of this type were delivered to the Aviation Department, a number of which were used against the attacking Luftwaffe aircraft in the May days. Finland also chose the D.XXI and ordered seven aircraft from Fokker, while the Finnish state factory in Tampere, Valtion Lentokonetehdas, then did the license production. In 1939 35 D.XXIs with Bristol Mercury were built, in 1941 there were 50 units and in 1944 another 5, all equipped with the 1050 hp Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp Junior engine. One aircraft was developed as a trial with a retractable undercarriage, but never built in series. Denmark followed with an order for three machines and a license agreement for construction in the state factory in Klovermarket. At the outbreak of war, Squadron No. 2 was equipped with D.XXIs. It is a little known fact that Republican Spain had obtained the license to build this type. Production of fuselages had begun in a factory in Catolania when the civil war came to an end. During the May days of 1940, D.XXIs of the 1st, 2nd and 5th Fighter Divisions fought valiantly against the numerically superior Luftwaffe. The Finnish D.XXI was used extensively in the Winter War with Russia (30 November 1939 – 13 March 1940) in Squadrons HLeLv 32, 24 and TLeLv 12.
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The prototype with registration FD-322 and cn 5416 at Welschap airfield, the landing gear is not yet fitted with the aerodynamic wheel covers.
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The D.XXI probably at Welschap-Eindhoven airfield. On the left is Emil Meinecke, a Fokker pilot. The cockpit is still open, the engine is already running and the fighter will take off soon. The wheel blocks are also still attached. The Czech pilot Karel Mares is probably in that cockpit. He was also very busy with the piloting of the Fokker G.1.
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The prototype of the D.XXI here on March 27, 1936 ready for the first flight from Welschap.
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The prototype of the D.XXI the FD-322 during the trials at Soesterberg. It was also tested at Welschap-Eindhoven airfield.
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Here is the prototype of the D.XXI, which received a great deal of interest from the Dutch East Indies. So an Indian registration was already assigned, namely FD-322 of the LA.KNIL. Eventually the LVA took delivery of all D.XXI fighters themselves. The need in Europe was considerably greater given the increasing German aggression. The war in Europe started earlier, so they never flew in the Dutch East Indies.
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The prototype FD-322 in flight, now with the aerodynamic wheel fairings.
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Fokker test pilot Emil Meinecke for the FD-322.
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Latvia had interest in the D.XXI, here a Latvian trade delegation for a D.XXI, 3rd from left is Lieutenant pilot Leegstra of the LVA.
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From LVA D.XXI 212 met cn 5485.
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The Fokker D.XXI 212 of the LVA (Aviation Department) at Soesterberg airfield.
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Flightline from LVA 215 cn 5488 to 214 cn 5487 to 213 cn 5486 to 212 cn 5485.
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The LVA 213 with cn 5486.
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The 214 of the LVA at Soesterberg airport.
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The LVA 215 with cn 5488 in front of a hangar in Soesterberg, with the orange triangle with black border introduced in October 1939, instead of the round cockade.
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May 10, 1940, the remains of the 216 with cn 5489, crashed after an air battle near Leiden.
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The LVA 217 with cn 5490 is being prepared for a flight.
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The 217 of the LVA, flown by Sgt-pilot B. de Geus. On October 7, 1939, the plane is already in the orange mobilization uniform.
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The LVA 220 with c/n 5493 where the aiming sight for the cockpit is clearly visible. In the meantime already mustered with the mobilization colors. The 220 was during the May days of 1940 for repairs at Fokker Amsterdam Noord. The Bristol Mercury VIII engine had number 418292 and was 90% ready. In any case, the fighter was still at Fokker on May 17, 1940, as was reported in the Repair List of Fokkerfabriek Amsterdam by Capt. Kruijff Van Dorssen. It is therefore very possible that this 220 ended up in the hands of the Luftwaffe.
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Two German soldiers in front of the 222 with cn 5495 which was destroyed near Monster on 10 May 1940.
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A serious accident at Soesterberg with the 227 of the LVA. The box already has the orange markings.
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The 223 with cn 5496 was shot down on May 10, 1940 at Wassenaarse Slag.
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The 227 of LVA, which would later have another accident.
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The 227 with cn 5500 was also destroyed on May 10, 1940, here at Ypenburg airfield.
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The damaged 228 with cn 5501 at Ockenburg airfield in early May 1940.
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Nose position of the 229 with cn 5502 that was shot down on May 10, 1940 near Ouderkerk aan de IJssel.
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Once again the 229.
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Remains of the LVA D.XXI 229 with cn 5502 can be viewed in the CRASH museum in the Fort near Aalsmeer in Aalsmeerderbrug.
CRASH air war and resistance museum '40-'45
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The Bristol Mercury engine of the 229 in the CRASH museum.
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The LVA 230 with cn 5503.
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The LVA 233 with cn 5506.
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The 237 with cn 5510 and the 241 with cn 5514 in formation.
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An LVA D.XXI with the orange mobilization markings and in front of it the German small car Hanomag, partly made of wood. An extremely small car with 2nd Lnt. Pilot Govert Steen of the LVA in it. The car was a familiar sight on Soesterberg. Steen will play an important role in the Dutch defense in the air during the May days of 1940. On May 5, 1941, he will fly a Fokker T.VIII/W from the Minarvahaven in Amsterdam to England with 5 other fellow refugees.
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The 245 with cn 5518 after an emergency landing on May 10, 1940 in Zwaagdijk.
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Remains of a D.XXI at Schiphol, May 1940.
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A number of D.XXI remains at Schiphol after the German fighting during their invasion of the Netherlands on May 10, 1940.
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The 246 with cn 5519 at Soesterberg during the swearing-in of a number of LVA soldiers.
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The Bristol Mercury engine of the D.XXI.
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Three D.XXIs at De Kooy airfield in March 1940.
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Queen Wilhelmina visits the Fokker factory in Amsterdam-Noord and admires the D.XXI. To the right of the queen (with umbrella) Mr. Vattier Kraane, then president commissioner of the Fokker factory. In the foreground on the left Mr. Van Tijen member of the Fokker board and to his right the Belgian King Leopold III.
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Wing production of the D.XXI in Amsterdam-Noord.
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D.XXI hull construction in Amsterdam-Noord.
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Welding the D.XXI hulls in Amsterdam-Noord.
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Final assembly of the D.XXI in Amsterdam-Noord.
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Construction of the D.XXI hulls in Amsterdam-Noord.
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Linen covering around the D.XXI steel tube hull in Amsterdam-Noord.
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The replica of the D.XXI in 1988 in the Fokker company school at Schiphol-Oost. This D.XXI is completely built and in principle airworthy. Because this replica was not built under the supervision of the aviation authorities, the airworthiness is not official.
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The D.XXI replica on the platform of the Fokker factory at Schiphol-Oost, next to a Fokker built F-16. The camouflage pattern is the official one, as applied to the LVA D.XXIs in 1938/39.
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The replica D.XXI on display at the Military Aviation Museum, Camp Zeist in Soesterberg.
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The D.XI plays a major role in the above video.

The Fokker D.XXI in German service

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D.XXI confiscated by the Germans with Luftwaffe crosses.
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D.XXI confiscated by the Germans in Luftwaffe livery. The LVA camouflage pattern has been retained.
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Luftwaffe D.XXI in a hangar.
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Luftwaffe D.XXI with illegible registration.
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The Fokker D.XXI in Finnish service

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The Fokker built FR-76 with cn 5438 for the Finnish Air Force. The Finnish swastika has nothing to do with the German swastika. See pop-up.
The Finnish swastika
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A 20 mm Oerlikon machine gun under the wing of the Finnish FR-76 with cn 5438.
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October 1937. Shipment to Finland of the Fokker built FR-77 with cn 5439 and the FR-78 with cn 5440.
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The Finnish FR-80 built by Fokker with cn 5442.
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The Finnish FR-82 built by Fokker with cn 5444.
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Finnish D.XXI in the Fokker stand at the “Aviation Fair Helsinki” in 1938.
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D.XXI cockpit.
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A D.XXI destined for Finland at the AVIA exhibition in the Houtrusthallen in The Hague in 1937.
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Unique color photograph of these license-built D.XXIs in Finland at Valtion Lentokonetehdas (State aircraft factory) in Tampere, Finland. In front, the D.XXI with registration FR-108 and cn series III 9. At the rear, the FR-90 with cn series II 8.
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The FR-92, license Finland, with cn series II 10, with a Bristol Mercury engine. Of the 90 D.XXI's built under license in Finland, 35 had a Bristol Mercury engine, the other 55 a Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp.
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The FR-92, licensed Finland, with cn series II 10 is being prepared for a flight.
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The FR-98, licensed Finland, with cn series III 2.
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The FR-108, licensed Finland, with cn series III 9.
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The FR-110 at the Finnish Aviation Museum.
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The FR-116, licensed Finland, with cn series III 18 in the Finnish snow.
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The FR-103, licensed Finland, with cn series III 20.
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Mechanics maintain the FR-125, license Finland, with cn series IV 8.
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Crash of the FR-132, licensed Finland, with cn series IV 15 equipped with a P&W Twin Wasp.
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The FR-133, licensed Finland, with cn series IV 16.
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Six licensed Finns in this small hangar with the FR-134 with cn series IV 17 in the foreground.
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The FR-143, licensed Finland, with cn series IV 26.
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The FR-148, licensed in Finland, with cn series IV 31, with “snowshoes”, a special landing gear for take-offs and landings in the snow.
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The FR-150, licensed Finland, with cn series IV 33.
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The FR-157, licensed Finland, with cn series IV 40.
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The FR-160, licensed Finland with cn series IV 43.
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The FR-167, licensed by Finland with cn series IV 50. This is the only D.XXI built with retractable landing gear.
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The Fokker D.XXI in Danish and Swedish service

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This J-41 with cn 5480 is a D.XXI built by Fokker, intended for the Danish Air Force.
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The Danish J-41 was equipped with a 20 mm Madsen cannon under the wings.
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The Danish J-42 with cn 5481 was also built at Fokker.
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D.XXI for the Danish Air Force.
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These are the remains of the Danish D.XXI after the war operations in Denmark in 1940. Registration J-49 and cn 109 after This is one of the 10 D.XXI's built under license at the “Konglige Danske Orlogsvaerftet” factory in Copenhagen, Denmark. All Danish license D.XXI's had Bristol Mercury engines.
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D.XXI registration J-50 cn 110, license Denmark.
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A license built Danish D.XXI in Vaerløse, April 1940.
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The 20 mm Madsen gun under the Danish J-42 with cn 5481.
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The Fokker D.XXI

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The Fokker D.XXI in German service

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The Fokker D.XXI in Finnish service

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