Fokker - The Man and the Aircraft

115 Pages·1961·103.53 MB·English

by  Henri Hegener

FOKKER-THE
MAN
THE AIRCRAFT,
AND
Compiled and Written by
HENRI HEGENER .
Edited by
BRUCE ROBERTSON
Tone Paintings by
W. F. HEPWORTH, M.S.I.A.
Based on Original Drawings by
J. D. CARRICK, FRANK YEOMAN and PAUL R. MATT
Produced by
D. A. RUSSELL, M./.Mech.E.
First Published Summer 1961 by
HARLEYFORD PUBLICATIONS LIMITED
LETCHWORTH, HERTS
©
Artist J. D..Carrick depicts an act of gallantry during the abortive first mail-carrying flight
Published in the
fr?m Australtlf to New .Zealand on May 5th, 1935. When the 'Southern Cross', piloted by
Sir c;har/esKmgsford-Smlth, wasreducedtoflying ontwo engines, Captain (now Sir Gordon) Taylor,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA by AERO PUBLISHERS, INC.
usmg a thermos flask, trans/erred on six occasions, oil from the starboard to the port engine.
LibraryofCongressCardNo. 61-10595
(UnitedStates)
MADE AND PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. BY
AERO PUBLISHERS, INC. 329 AVIATION ROAD FALLBROOK, CALIF.
FO} K R TH D SIGNER
Foreword
In common with a great many people associated with The assistance given by Mr. Charles Froesch, Vice
aviation and, indeed, many who were merely interested lay President, Engineering, Eastern Air Lines and of Mr. and
men-I was very conscious of the igrlificant figure of Mrs. Carter Tiffany, hould be recorded, with thank,
Anthony Fokker, whose name became a byword in aero together with that of Wing-Commander orman Mac
nautical circles in the period 1911 to 1939. Millan, O.B.E., M.e., A.F.e., who, with permission of his
Inevitably, J becameaware ofthe man by the nature of publi her made available some personal recollections of
my vocation as an aviation writer andeditor, and even more Anthony Fokker. J would also express my appreciation of
so by the fact that Fokker and I were frequently thrown the consistent contribution of much valuable material and
together; he as a maker of hjstory, ras a recorder. These information throughout the preparation of tllis book by
meetings occurred over a period oftwenty years from 1919 Mr. H. A. Somberg, the present Chief Public Relations
to 1939,and took place not only in Holland butalso inother Officer ofFokker.
European countries and in thc United States of America. Due to a tragic and ill-advised deci ion, the original
Up to 1939, the year of Fokker's death, I have drawn hi toric Fokker records, (including the years 1910-1919)
upon my personal knowledge ofthe man and his enterpri e; which had survived even the danger of the period 1939
but from then onwards, to bring the storyup to date, rhave 1945, were deliberately destroyed immediately after that
been dependent upon others. Most important of all has war. It was thus not possible, to obtain, amongst other
beentheactiveco-operationofmyfriend Ir. Bruno Stephan, things, the exact figures on many interesting aircraft nor
to whose retentive memory and va t knowledge of Dutch the size ofthe pre-war order, including those for Russia, in
and international aviation affairs [ owe a great deal of the early twenties.
information. ToMr. J. W. F. Backer, General Directorat the Hague,
rhave had extensive conver ations and correspondence of our Department of Civil Aviation, I wi h to express my
with Fr. Wm. Seekatz who held important positions with gratitude for allowing me to examine the complete Official
the Fokker company from the vcry earliest days up to the Papers and Reports of the Van Doorninck Committee. To
1939-1945 War, and who provided a fund of reminiscences Mrs. H. Reinhold, widow of the late Dr. Tom Reinhold, [
never before told. Another personality with whom I had am indebted for the very rare photograph of Fokker' very
long and interc ting talks was Reinhold Platz, the noted first' Spin " and manyother old photographs which appear
designer of okker types over a period of many years. in this book.
rhave been dependent particularly on Bruce Robertson I also gratefully acknowledge the assistance rendered
who not only c ntributed an amount ofinformation on the by the following, who are listed alphabetically; Algemeen
wartime acti itie of Fokker aircraft, but made many Hollands Trustkantoor I V; H. Barto; M. Beeling; H. G.
valuable suggestions throughout the text, whjch he so ably Bender; Miss S. Blaauw, librarian of the Tweede Kamer
edited from the translation by Mrs. L. Skinner from my del' Staten Generaal; P. Bowers; R. Bowyer; J. D. Carley;
Dutch MSS. To this lady al 0 I wish to express my thanks J. R. Carp; R. J. Castendijk; Jacob Cremer; Dien t del'
for her considerable ability and patience in dealing with so Publieke Werken van de Gemeente Am terdam; Douglas
many-to her-' technical terms '. Aircraft Co. Inc; Mrs. Jojo Dullus-de Leuw; K. Gorter,
As a useful source of information [ also mention the Director of the Hogere Burger-school, Haarlem; J. C.
late A. R. Weyl, in England, who was ofGerman origin and Grootenhuis; Justusvan Hattum; Lt.-Col. F. A. van Heyst;
formerly011 thestaffofthe GermanReichswehrMinisterium Headquarters Staff, Historic Division, Leiden; W. e. E.
at Berlin during 1914-1918. Horter; BrunoJablonsky, managingdirectorofJablo Plastics
My very special thanks and great appreciation are due Industries Ltd; e. C. KLipfer, former ecretary of the
to Mr. E. F. Cheesman who prepared the type-by-type Fokker Works; Hans Martin, former director KLM;
review of over 200 Fokker aircraft. That part of the book II'. H. e. van Meerten, Chief De igner of Fokker; eder
has been solely his work. landseKamervan Koophandel voor Duitsland; Prof. Dr. Ir.
For the post-war period r am indebted to M. J. F. A. van del' eut; Wm. M. van eyenhoff; P. Peereboom,
Bowyer, who brought his specialised knowledge of the Director' Haarlems Dagblad '; e. B. Reinhold; Miss S.
world ofaviationinto th.is project. Also onecould nothope van Rhyn, Fokker's privatesecretary; Mrs. G. Shewtchuck,
to give this subject proper treatment without consulting another of Fokker's secretaries; M. J. Slaat ; Mr . M. J..
the European aviation experts on historical matters, Hans van Thienen-de Waal; the late J. E. van Tijen; Messrs
Kofoed of Denmark, Olav Sundgren of Sweden, Andre G.E.A. 'van Till; C. Wydooge; Henry Wynmalen; F.
Pernet of Belgium and in the U.S.A., Jolm J. Sloan of Los Zandvliet, Public Relations KLM.
Angeles. I am also grateful to H. H. Russell for certain
1914-1918 War detail. Bennebroek, Holland, June 1961 HE RI HEGENER
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR PHOTOGRAPHS
The Publishers gratefully acknowledge the following Fokker; Charles Froe ch; Henri Hegener; Imperial War
sources (listed alphabetically) of photographs. Air Force Museum; K.L.M.; Hans Kofoed; Paul Matt; ationaal
" Fokker, The aviaTor, aT The drawillg board"-A self-descripTioll Museum, Wright-Patter on A. F. B., Dayton, Ollio; Luchtvaart Museum; orth American Aviation,Inc; Heinz
E. F. Cheesman; Royal Netherlands Aircraft Factories J. Nowarra; Andre Pernet; H. A. Somberg.
2
3
About This Book
By D. A. R ELL, M./.Mech.E. inevitable self-assurance of the pioneer, and the equal so
called' vanity' of the egotist. On one occasion Fokker is
recorded as having said, after concluding successfully a
designstaff. Fokker's general manager told me that the two
certain business deal-' the real payment is the satisfaction
men worked well together, that they were indeed comple
of winning a fight '. This satisfaction may well be its own
mentary to each other-Platz, as a fir t-cla welder and a
reward-what Fokker called the 'real payment '-but
good 'rule- f-thumb' designer; Fokker a a fir t-class te t
unfortunately he had to talk about it. Men of his type
pilot with an extraordinary flair for basic de ign. In the
invariably talk too much! To that extent, then, Fokker
cour e of my enquiries I also learned that in regard to
was his own enemy, and it could be said that he brought on
the claim that Platz wa 'badly treated 'financially, he
his own head unwarranted and, indeed, unfair criticism.
received from okker at many a year·end a bonu which
As an aircraft constructor, he differed from Ius con
equalled, and sometime excecded, his year's salary!
temporaries. He used lus eyes and ears better than others.
Like manyotherearlyaircraftcon tructors Fokker had
In the 1914-1918 War one of the engineers of Flugzeug
a basic knowledge of aerodynanlics, but in orgaluzing his
meisterei once said that, whilst the various German aircraft
increasing business activitie it eem unlikely that he had
manufacturers were self-satisfied in presenting their crea
much opportunity to develop and extend his theoretical
tions, the Dutchman, Fokker, was an exception. At the
knowledge. It would, therefore, eem probable, if not
Adlershof competitions for fighter aircraft, Fokker would
inevitable, that the various designer who worked with and
study carefully the entries of his competitors and photo
for Fokker right from Ius early day mu t have been re
graph them with his pocket camera. It was then said that
sponsible for the increasing number f de ign , and that
Fokker stole like a magpie. But magpies do not steal, they
Fokker' own offerings consisted of ugge tion for the
collect! This is exactly what Fokker did. He may well
prelinunary layouts and variou improvements indicated by Allother illformal photograph of Fokke( at D(/\'oS with a
Fritz Cremer, rigFhot,kksecrhoaotlHfraiwel'lldema,ll1d91e1a.rly associate with test fIights. That these were sub tantial, and not less than have used the valuable details ofothers, the same as others frielld, George Gleichl11an, ill 1930.
later copied his idea. But in general, the range ofFokker
major contribution to the development of Fokker aircraft effort, and genuine service to mankind 0 richly deserves.'
projects showed too much originality for Fokker to be
o man in the history ofthe development ofthe aero no one would gainsay, and full credit for this work must In the course ofextensive researches into the personal
labelled a copyi t.
plane was so well known for his truly practical pioneering fairly be given to Fokker. history of Fokker, I have had the opportunity, and indeed
By his own associates in the Fokker companies, both
work, Ius skill asa test-pilot, and for the very wide range of From his earliest years, Anthony Fokker knew what the privilege, of examining and reading through the many
Dutch and American, Anthony Fokker was considered
aircraft types produced by his firm, as Anthony Fokker. he wanted to do, and to the end of hi life, he exercised hi personal tributes paid to him, following his death. It was
,in many respects far ahead of his time.' As a constructor,
'0 man in the history ofthe development ofthe aeroplane incredible driving force. At the same time he also retained universally felt that aircraft design-and indeed aviation
he succe fully pioneered the development of autogenous
has so ' caught the headlin s' and attracted to lumself uch much of the' boyishness' which in his general behaviour itself-was the poorer for hi death.
welded teel-tube airframes, and-again successfully-the
a wide variety of ' names '-everything from' genius' to was from time to time somewhat of a handicap in dealing In this book great care has been taken to provide the
so-called full cantilever, thick-wing principle. ( ow used
, egotist' ... plus one or two less kind! These factor, and with men of ' big busine s '. evertheless, he had a con reader with as much information about the man, a about
on many modern aircraft). Finally, he was recognised
indeed many others, were the reasons for the devotion bj siderable ability to organize men and get them to workJor theaircraft. With the largeamountofinformationcompiled
as a first-class test pilot.
tl:e leading Dutch aviation writer, Mr. Henri Hegener him. One never reads oflabour differences or strikes in his by the Author, and those other responsible men who were
Writing in his book, My Flying Life, in January 1937,
over the past three years, to continuous hard work in com factories. Despite his increa ing business ramifications for so many years per onally associated with Fokker; I am
Sir Charles KingsfordSnlith, saidthis ofFokker: ' Anthony
piling and writing the story of Fokker-the man and the there is ample record of his concern for his employees' confident that a complete, fair and true' report' on Fokkvr
Fokker is one ofthe world's aeronautical geniuses-abrupt
2.ircraft. welfare. Howev'er, together with these many excellent himself has been produced.
to the point of rudeness and apt easily to offend-on
ow aged 66 years and living in semi-retirement, Mr. characteristics went a single-mindedne of purpose, the Fokkerhad hi ownevaluation of himself. The follow
closer acquaintance his amazing and lovable personality
Hegener has devoted the whole of his working life to the ing sentences are quoted'*' from Flying Dutchman-
is revealed. He is a man who enjoys life to the
recordingofaviation history. For 25years, hewas editorof , Unlikeagreatmanyde igner ,1actuallyfly myplanes,
utmost.' OfAnthony Fokkernone other than Capt. Eddie
Het Vliegwereld, magazine of the Royal etherland Aero use them a other men use automobiles and yachts. Thi
Rickenbacker wrote in 1931: 'History will accord
Club. So wide has been the field covered by M1'. Hegener's experience I have utilized.... Nothing I have yet done has
Tony Fokker the reward that his confidence, untiring
researches, and so great the contributions by the men ever really satisfied me. No one has yet found as many
consulted both by himselfand myself, that J have written a A11Ihony Fokker with olle of his pet dogs at St. Moritz, flaws in an airplane ofmine as I could fll1d my elf. ... All
special feature-which follows on the next two pages-so Switzerlalldin 1936. my life I have been something of a lone wolf. either in
All illformal pose at
that proper tribute should be paid to these men who have Germany nor America have I been particularly popular
Schwerill. Whell this
o closely co-operated in the compilation of tlus book. photograph was among mycompetitors.... On the otherhand I thjnk mo t
Jn recent years, suggestion has been made that Fokker taken illJlllle, 1915, of my employees either like or admire me. This is true,
AnthonyFokker was
had little to do with the design of many of his aircraft, and especially of those with whom [ worked side by ide for
25 years oldand on
that he attracted to himself much of the credit which was the threshold ofhis years.... I have never found any pleasure in spending.
rightly due to several of his designers, in particular to career as an inter money on myself. Unless the payment come hard, so that
lIatiOl;al figllre ill
Reinhold Platz. Claims have been made that Platz was aviation. 111110other one appreciates it, there is no fun in buying it at all. The
responsible for about 0 designs during Ius working life photographs is fact that I made my money by hard work and fighting gavt'
Fokkerseen wearing
with Fokker, and also that he was badly treated financially me more satisfaction than I ever got latel buying myself
a mOllstache.
by Fokker. These claims are not true. Platz' 'technical' luxuries.... In theend, l uppose itis all vanity.... Artists
abilities wele at no high level. He had received no technical are living for fame, not money, but my own ati faction lie
training. He was essentially a praclical man-indeed in the way [ do a thing, and the fact that I have done it
a craftsman-and in his early days with Fokker he was against odd .... As long as there is somethingnew to fight
undoubted of great a i tance to him. But as aircraft for, I am happy. That in the end is what gives real satis
design advanced, so it became necessary that more techni faction.'
cally qualified men should be appointed t<1 the company' 'By Al7lltollY H. G. Fokker and Bruce GOllld. Henry Holt aud
Company, New York, U.S.A.
4
5
eif
About the men who assjsted the author this Book
Mr. Henri Hegenerand f first met He first met Anthony Fokker in 1919,
early in 1957, when we discussed in and as related in thi book, wa in con-
general terms the format of this book. tant touch, and on many occa ion
He, the leading Dutch aviation writer flying, with Fokker throughout his
with a lifetime experience, was insis lifetime. He knew Reinhold Platz,
tent that without the help ofa number probably the longest-serving of
of men who had been associated with Fokker's designers, and ha consulted
Fokker, justice could not be done to him from time to time during his
the man or to the firm that bore and work on this book.
still bear his name. Mr. B. Stephan, although well
Mr. Hegener claimed that the over 70 years, is still active a an
compilation of the material of such a Industrial Consultant. Inaddition, he
book - ' FOKKER - THE MAN assists the Dutch Courts of Justice as
A D THE AfRCRAFT '-recording a translator consequent on his wide
as it does the life story of Anthony knowledge of a number of European
Fokker,andthehistoryofthedevelop languages.
pAabr:JaVceh:lilHiselllarlildHheegeilslehrerIreasShOalVvIIe,ryallkeIehlel ment of Fokker aircraft over a period Mr. Charles Froesch, who was AAbleDrv,e(:laTlehePArelislihdoelrl,!I0e//I,Kl.aLlk.Mill.g) 1il0l I1.9A58.
riglll, lVilh Ihe Frellch pilol Dllcherellx, of more than 50 years; was a task Fokker's chief maintenance engineer al Schiphol.
be/ore //lakillg ajllmp ill 1922. which no one man could carry out. , in the field' in America in the early Lefl: Mr. Charles Froesch, IIOIV Vice
RigPhllIb:licMrR.elHal.ioAll.sSOafmficbeerrg0,1 IFhoekkpererss.elll With this ragreed. thirties, now occupies the important PresLiidleiellsl,-EUlllgliillleederSiltlagl,esooffEAamse/reimca.Air
Thus it came about that in the following years I sought ome 10,000 miles to meet these men; and to gather from POSition of Vice-President, Engineering, of Eastern Air company commenced in the early thirties, and he now holds
conta t withas many men as were still alive, and who could them' hitherto unpublished photographs and information' lines; the Chairman of the Board of which is 'Eddie' the important position ofChief Public Relations Officer for
provide fIrst hand information about Fokker the man; which woulda sistMr. Hegener incompilingand authoring Rickenbacker, equally as well known as Anthony Fokker. th company.
Fokker the aircrat"t designer and test pilot; and Fokker the this book. Mr. F. W. Seekatz, also well into the seventies, is now All these men gave many hours oftheir time to answer
founder of a bu iness which to-day has an international Everywhere we were met with the greatest courtesy Sale Director for the Heinkel firm at Stuttgart. He had ing a wide and varied range of questions, in addition to
reputation second to none. A mol'::: exciting and interesting and an unlimited willingness to assist us in every way; and the longe t a ociation with Fokker, having joined him in searching through their files for photographs and informa
project I have never embarked on' because ofthese' personal' contacts, rthink we have really 1912. tion a election from which has been incorporated in this
Together with my colleagu~, Mr. E. F. Cheesman, I 'got to know' Fokker, Ihe man, in all his mood and Mr. M. Beeling is still in the employ of Fokker, and is book.
have personally met, talked with, and-much more impor individual characteristic. their official resident representative with the Fairchild There arealso the manycorrespondents throughout the
tant-listened to Messrs. "tephan, Froesch, Seekatz, ot the least ofour pleasures in this project have been Engine & Airplane Corporation, of Hagerstown, Maryland, world, who on hearing of this project, offered photographs
Beeling, and Somberg; each of whom was associated with the many meetings we have had with Mr. Hegener himself, .S.A., who, under licence, build the well-known Friend and items of information. All the e were considered, and
Fokker for many years. We have visited the United State who fully justified his reputation as a most conscientious snip aircraft. inclusion of a number of them has further increased the
of America, Germany, and Holland, altogether travelling and accurate writer on aviation matters. Mr. H. A. Somberg's association with the Fokker value of this book. D. A. RUSSELL.
Left:A1101her/alllOlis BOIIOIII Lefl: Mr.
associale 0/ Fokker M. BeeliJig, 111110
IVho \lias cOllslllled joilled Ihe Fokker
dllrillg Ihe IVrilillg0/ cOlllpallY ill 1923
Ihis book, lVas Herr alld el'ell/llalll' be
F. W. Seekalz, callie Iheir desigller,
A111110111" S sales II'as able 10 cOlllri
mwwge': for //lore bll/e I1Il1chfirsl halld
Ilnlll25years."Chal ill/orlllalioll COII
de Mer" as he lras cemillg IheaClil'ilies
kilo11'11, is seell here oflhefirlllillHollalld.
ill 1915, all all SU RighI: Ali/hOllY alld
1/10101' cl'cle lVilh Slephall, Il'h~ ll'{/S
Fokker" s Ihell his"rigill-halld-llullt"
1V0rkS mallager, frol1llheearly1920's
Herr H. Liebig. 10 1935. III his
RighI: D. A. Rllssell POSilioll as Deplily
lVilh Herr F. W. Direclor, Slephall
Seekal:: - photo Il'as respollsible /01'
takell ill S/III/gar/ Ihemallagemelllofall
lale 1960. Ihe DUlch illlereSIS.
6 7
Fokker-The Man and the Aircreift
CONTENTS PART THREE
Page A Type-by-Type review of 211 Fokker Aircraft
Painting by J. D. Carrick DustCover Page Page Page Page
B.I 178 F.VIIB-3m (MONOSPAR) M.14(E-II) 199 V.II 209
Frontispiece Fokker the Designer 2 B.Il 178 190 M.14 (E-III) 199 V.12 209
Foreword by Henri Hegener 3 B.1Il 178 F.VIIB-3mjM 190 M.15 (E-IV) 199 V.13/1 (D-VI) 209
About this Book by D. A. Russell, M.I.Mech.E. 4 to 5 BB..IIVlie(F.II) 117799 FF..VVIIIIIB-3m-W 119900 M.16E 199 V.13/2 209
M.16Z (Austrian B-1I1) 200 V.17 209
About the men who assisted the Author ofthis book 6 to 7 B1Va (F.IIA) 179 F.IX 191 M.17E 200 V.18 (D-VII) 209
C.l 179 F.IX-M (F.39) 191
Part One Fokker-the Man II to III C.la 180 F.XI 191 M.17K (Austrian B-II) 200 V.19 210
Part Two Fokker-the Aircraft 112 to 177 c.r.-w 180 F.XII 191 M.17ZF (D-II) 200 V.20 210
C.ll 180 F.xlV 191 M.I7ZK (0-11) 200 V.21 210
Part Three Type-by-Type Review 178 to 223 c.m 180 F.XIV-3m 192 M.18E 200 V.22 210
Index 224 C.IV 180 F.XVA; F.XVB 192 M.18.Z.F. (D-I) 201 V.23 210
C.IVA 180 F.XVIIA: F.XVIIB: M.18.Z.K. (D-I) 201 V.24 (D-VIIF) 210
PART ONE C.WB 180 F.xVIlC 192 M.19F (0-111) 201 V.25 210
Chapter Page Chapter Page c.rvc 181 F.XVIII 192 M.19K (0-111) 201 V26/1 211
C.IV-W 181 F.XIX 192 V.26j2(E-V/D-VIII) 211
M.20(D-IV) 201
One Anthony in Adversity 11 Eight Fokker andK.L.M. 79 D.C.1. 181 F.XX 192 V.27 211
M.21 201
Two The Fokker Menace 23 Nine Dutch Doldrums 85 C.V-A 181 F.XXII 192 M.22E(D-V) 202 V.28(D-VIII) 211
C.V-B 181 F.XXIII 192
Three The Creat Conspiracy 35 Ten Mainly Military 90 c.v-c 182 F.XXlV 192 M.22Z 202 V.29 211
SI (TW-4) 202 V.30 212
C.V-D 182 F.25 ("PROMOTER") 193
Four Fame and Fortune 39 Eleven Fokkers at War 96 S.II 202 V.31 212
C.V-E 182 P.I ("PARTNER") 193
Five Spreading Wings 52 Twelve Post War 102 c.v-w 182 F.26 ("PHANTOM") 193 S.IIA 203 V.33 212
S.III 203 V.34 212
C.VI 182 F.27 ("FRIENDSHIP") 193
Six Fokker in America 66 S.IV 203 V.35 212
C.VlI-W 183 F.XXXVI 193
Seven American Misadventure 74 Epilogue 107 c.vrrr 183 F.xXXVII 193 S.IX/I 203 V.36 212
C.VUI-W 183 F.LVI 193 S.IX/2 203 V.37 213
PART TWO C.IX 183 G.I 194 S.II "INSTRUCTOR" 204 V.38(C-I) 213
c.x 183 G.IA 194 S.12"I STRUCTOR" 204 V.39 213
1/72 SCALE THREE-VIEW TONE PAINTINGS C.xl-W 184 G.IB 194 S.13" IVERSAL VAO 213
TRAINER" 204 VAl 213
Page Page Page C.XIV-W 184 Spin I 195 S.14/1 "MACH VA2 213
D.IX (PW-6) 184 Spin II 195
Spin I 112 D.X1lf 130 ex 155 D.x 185 Spin III 195 TRAINER" 204 VA3 214
S.14j2 "MACH VA4(F.I) 214
Spin lf1 Variant 113 C.V-D 131 XO-27 156-7 D.XI (PW-7) 185 1st 1912 Spin Variant 195 TRAINER" 204
VA5(F.II) 214
D.XI1 185 2nd 1912Spin Variant 195 TI 205
M.IOZ (B-lf) 114 F VllA 132-3 FXX 158-9 D.XIII 185 1st 1913 Spin Variant 196 T.lI (FTSeries, USN.) 205 W.I 214
W.2 214
M.14 (£-11) 115 Universal 134 FXXXVI 160-1 D.XIV 185 2nd 1913 Spin Variant Till 205
D.XV 186 (M.I) 196 TIII-W 205 W.3 214
M.20 (D-IV) 116 Super Universal 135 D.XXI 162 D.XVa 186 3rd 1913 Spin Variant 196 TIV 205 WA 214
VI 117 B.III 136 C.XIV-W 163 D.XVI 186 M.I 196 T1Va 205 C-2 and variants 215
F.IO and F.IOA
VA (Dr-I) 118 S.lV 137 TV 164-5 D.XVII 186 M.2 196 TV 206 "TRIMOTORS" 215
D.XXI 186 M.3 197 TVIII-W 206 F.IIA 215
VI3 (D-VI) 119 F V111 138-9 T VJ[I-W 166-7 D.XXIII 187 M.3a 197 TVIII-WjM 206 F.14 and 14A 215
V.24 (D-VllF) 120 TIV 140-1 C.IA 168 F.I 187 MA 197 TVIII-L 206 F.32 216
F.II 187 M.5L(A-II) 197 TIX 206 GA.15 and variants 216
V28 (D-VIII) 121 F VllB-3m 142-3 S.lX 169 F.1Il 187 M.5K (A-III) 197 V.I 207 PW-5 216
V38 (C-I) 122 FI0A 144-5 TIX 170-1 F.III-W 188 M.5K/MG (E-I) 197 V.2 207 PW-6 216
F.lV 188 M.6 198 V.3 207 PW-7 216
V45 (Fll) 123 C-2A 146-7 D.XXlll 172 F.V 188 M.7 (FOKKER B) 198 VA (F.I., later Dr.-I) 207 TW-4 217
FIV(T-2) 124-5 FXll 148-9 S.11 ' Instructor' 173 F.VI (PW-5) 188 M.8 (A-I) 198 V.5 208 Universal 217
F.VII 189 M.9 (K-I) 198 V.6 208 Super-Universal 217
S.II 126 C.VJJ-W 150 S.14 ' Mach Trainer' 174 F.VIIA 189 M.IOE (Austrian B-1) 198 V.7 208 XA-7 217
C.lV 127 FI4 151 XFA-l 175 F.VIIA-3m 189 M.10Z(B-II) 198 V.8 208 XCO-4 217
F.VIIA-3mjM 189 M.II (B-II) 199 V.9 208 XO-27 218
TJ[1 128-9 F32 152-3 F27 (Friendship) 176-7 F.VIIB-3m 190 M.12 and M.13 J99 V.IO 208 XFA-I 218
D.XVI 154
8 9
/
"The Flying Dutchman)) PART ONE
CHAPTER 0 E Anthony In Adversity
Anthony Fokker, the' Flying Dutchman " had one
thing in common with the American pioneers Wilbur and
Orville Wright; a well as being a con tructor and pilot of
aeroplanes, he was also a business man. Tn fact most ofthe
pioneers of the air pos essed uch a trinity, but soon the
picture changed as the various task became specialised; the
de igner took charge ofthe design office, one or more pilot
undertook the test and demonstration flying and the com
mercial side was placed in the hands of a ales manager.
But in the large Fokkerorganisation with its variousdepart
ments headed byexecutives, thatsprungfrom thehobby ofa
Haarlem schoolboy, Fokker himself became the only major
aircraft con tructor in the world to remain a jack-of-all
trades in aeronautics. He did not nece sarily design all his
aeroplanes, but he was the mainspring, the source of ideas
and the man whoseownintuition gaverealitytoconceptions.
That his aircraft enjoyed a reputation for safety, of being
easy to fly and almost foolproof, resulted mainly from his
own experience and skill as a pilot. He had a remarkable
gift in being able to sense a sound design; he could um an
aircraft's capabilities and presage its flying characteristics
and his impre sions were usuallyconfirmed by flight te ting.
A series oftest flight reports by Fokker himselfcould tip the
balance between a failure and a record-breaker. Of the
greatest importance was the part he played in asse sing the
AnthonyFokkerandhissister Kat/wrina, left,{Ireseenhereat
flyingcharacteristicsofthe various new de ign produced by Singapore in /894.
his organi ation, ju tifying hi own words-' 0 one has
yet found as many flaws in an aeroplane ofmine a rcould planter had brought the reward of a family fortune, the
find myself" educational problem was solved by a return to the home
s far a, his business was concerned, he was, until the land. At the beginning of August 1894 the family settled
middle 'thirties, the driving force behind his works; but down in Haarlem, a town on the River Spaarne, in an im
never more so than in Germany during the fou'ryears ofthe po ing re idenee at o. 41 (now o. 65) Kleine Houtweg.
1914-1918 War, and later when etting up, with marked Anthony's school year in Haarlem caused much
success, his factories in Holland and America. He did not parental worry, due to a playful son yearning for the free
allow himselfto bedisturbed byanythingoranybodyand he life he had enjoyed in the colonies. From the time he
displayed boundlessenergy, initiativeand courage; and such entered Primary School until hi premature departure from
a passion for work, that it was written of him, in a British High School, he was continually out ofstep. Due partly to
journal-' how onearth he produces and maintains the high his small build and his apparent frailty, but mainly due to
pressure energy of body and brain which he displays, is one his keen brain and his creative powers, he kept very much to
ofthe marvels of the age.' himself. He found littlesati faction in mixing with other in
Anthony Herman Gerard Fokker was born on April the usual games, but he found an outlet in creative work.
6th, 1890, at Blitar, Kediri, in Java, in what is now knowna Most of his time was pent in the large attic of his home,
Indonesia, formerly partofthe Dutch East Indie . His early wherein he established hi workshop. There he played and
years pent in the paradisiacal environment of his father's experimented with steam engine, an electric train, soldered
coffee plantation had a formative influence on his phy ique with the aid ofa Bunsen burner, and attained great skill in
and his clear mind, and early development showed the carpentry. Perhap hi best pieceofwoodwork wa a canoe,
potentialities of the man ofaction that he was to become. which he builtwhen he was twelve years old; later he fitted it
A a child headmired the agilitywith which the native boys with a mast, sail and outrigger. Thi marked the beginning
climbed trees with their hand and feet and the way they ofhis fame as a yachtsman. He becamedevoted to thesport
used their toes to pick up article, and after practice he and later, as member of the committee of the Rowing and
became equally as agile and dextrous. Schooling on an Sailing Club' Het Spaarne" his skill and daring wa pro
isolated e tate with no local facilities wa a problem that verbial. Old members can still recall the wager whereby
beset Fokker senior and his wife Anna; they had al 0 a Anthony Fokker balanced himsclf on hi bicycle and rode
daughter Katharina, Anthony's senior by a year, to con down a gang-plank from the boathou e to the end of the
Anthony Herman GerardFokker. sider. Since a twenty years' sojourn in the tropics as a jetty, whereupon he dived into the Spaarne!
Born Apri/6th, 1890. Died December 23rd, 1939.
10 11
the windows. Anthony was in his element-and he did not Fokker's unhappy time in the casemates at Naarden
go back to chool. soon came to an end. He was rejected, but not without
For his compulsory m.iljtary service Fokkerwent to the somemalingering. Hewa confrontedbyhisstrictfather,who
9th Company, 2nd Regiment of the Garrison Artillery at no doubt thought, 'What next?' The whole family was
aarden-' a place to hang yourself' he described it to his worried about his future, but not Anthony himself. Even if
mother. On the journey to the old fortress town, the new he was no scholar, he knew what he wanted, and what he
AfterThefaTher'sre recruitswereaccompanied byasergeantwhohada weakness could do. He was well versed in carpentry and metalwork.
TirelllenTfrOIllcojJee for cigar, a he explained in his first letter to his mother For his own amusement he had learned to work the lathe
planTing, The Fokker in thesmithyofJandeBoeron thepicturesque Bakkenesser
falllily reTnmed To from aarden. For his medicalexaminationhewa allotted The illllllaculaTeh
Haarlelll where a cubicle at the end ofa dark corridor, which he regretted, gracht. His last job there was an anchor, that he made for arriredTony when18
AnThony and his because his crooked leg did not show to his best advantage, his sailing boat. His father, however, wanted him to take a years old. AT This
.T1h·iesiTresrchcoOolllinllgll.eHnceerde but he wrote hopefully that on Friday there would be course in automobile engineering at Bingen in Germany; 1TIilIl0ier,ltedro'snbiTnleflsus,enhcies
Theyare,onaspecial another medical examination and that he would strive therefore he put his son on board a Rhine steamer and gave resulTed in his neaT
occasion,wearingThe him his blessing. appearance buT for
tradiTional cosTullle to present himself to his best advantage; this meant to the The resT ofhislife he
ofZeeland. disadvantage of the State ofthe etherlands by simulating Strange as it may seem, the self-assured youngster who becallleanoToriously
f1at-footedness in the way he had learned in Java! had astounded his fellows at Het Spaarne by his daring and indifferem dresser.
ThisphoTograph was
dexterity, who at school excelled in unrulines ,and who had
In theshort time that he was in the army, his inclination Taken during his lasT
to reach for his money, whenever inconvenienced, became conjured himself out of military service, was as shy as a year aT school when
evident. In a further letter, , Dear Mother' it implored weasel and utterly miserable with homesickness when for his Tl/OughTs were
devoted n/Ore To The
,Mychocolate powderis finished and thesugar, too. Please the first time he had to leave the familiar hearth and stand invenTion of The
bring or send me a whole lot-the sooner the better. I on his own feet. [n the family circle this had been seriously ,puncTure-proof
have none left. I reallydo not waste it, butthecupshereare considered and it was arranged that a schoolfriend (later Tvrsec'hooThlasnTudTiOes.his
His years at the High School in the Jacobynen traat of terribly large and the bread is spread terribly thin and dry. the geologist Dr. Thomas Reinhold) should accompany
Haarlem, and later at Zylvest, were not hi happiest years. Hclp from on("'s batman is worth gold. It is a first essential him to Germany. 'Ifit had not been for him, I don't think
In the middle ofhi fourth year he left the High School. He to remain good friends with him, because if you get such a I could have left my home', Fokker confessed in his auto
biography, , I do not remember ever having been so dis
invented a so-called punctureless motor-tyre which, in his fellow against you, then you are finished. If I fail the
belief, would disrupt the world's rubber market. With a medical, I have promised him twenty-five florins. At first couraged. The further we went, the marc hopcless [ felt.'
choolmate, Fritz Cremer, son of J. F. Cremer (later the sight that seems a lot, don't you think, but don't forget From his few lettershomeofthe years 1910-1912which
Dutch Ambassador in Wa hington), who lived in a large what one gains by it. He i fir t batman and assistant to the have been preserved, and from what his parents have said,
country house at Santpoort, he attempted to put the idea doctor, and therefore it would not be wise to send him off it appears that the facts of this venture, which decided his
into practice, with the help of their respective father who with a mere tip.' future career, differ somewhat from the account in his
autobiography. Fokker senior had been misled by a
had both become very enthusiastic. During an interview
with his headmaster, Mr. Brongersma, to ask for leave of AnThony,inTeresTedinboaTingallhislife,sailshis'EquilibrisT beautifully coloured prospectu of a a-called motor-car fore, he wrote home: 'As it will be wasting good money 1
absence in connection with urgent busine s as an inventor, on The Spaame, 1908. course. His on said so in a letter to his mother from shall wait here for your reply and then see something ofthe
the grey-haired pedagogue could only an weI' the boy's Bingen, dated July 30th, 1910. '[n the afternoon we' had a surrounding country in the cheape t po ible way and then
orationby noddingsignificantly. ' So you ofall people want look at the drivers' school, a small square garage with two gohome by boat; that is the onlythingto do as Icannotvery
to take leave', said the headmaster, knowing full well that car, a four-cylinder rattletrap and a one-cylinderjob. The \\ell wait until October.' Whether or not he did go back
Fokker was a failure at school. To which he retorted' I am rest, a pile ofold iron, cars that are ten years old-or older, home eems rather unlikely in view ofthe fact that there are
not learning anyway, and [ can do no good here'. To this which cannot be driven and without tyres. All that is in the letters to his parent dated in October which still talk of
prospectus is eyewash to such a degree that I was flabber coming home.
the headmaster could not but agree! His actual school
reports, confirmed by Mr. K.Gorter,the presentheadmaster, gasted byit. There was one lathe, about the size ofa treadle His aeronautical aspirations had not been recently
showthat hescraped through with five outoften throughout sewing machine, and a smithy was non-existent.' acquired, they were of fairly long standing. In hi work
hisschool yearsof 1903-1908. In the first year he wascondi Havingovercomehishomesicknes ,andstandingon his room under the roofofhis home at the Kleine Houtweg, he
tionally moved to a higher form, with two re-examinations own feet, even if partially supported by Tom Reinhold, it had shown a great interest in flying matter, byexperiment
and a task in Frcnch. In thesecond form hestayed two years appeared that he quickly transformed himself. He becamc ing with model aeroplanes. Already, in those day, he gave
and after the third chool year he onlyjust scraped through quite the experienced traveller and acted resolutely and expression to an urge of wanting to fly. His father had
to spend thc remainder of hi time in the fourth form which energetically. He wrote a little later-' Tomorrow we go to re isted this energetically, at lea t to theextent ofrefu ing to
he left late in 1908. have a look at Wiesbaden and in the afternoon to Rudes buy him an aeroplane, but the changed plan of tudie , from
His invention came to naught. A lawyerengaged by his heim.' Just like that! Of the worthlcss course he wrote: a motoringschool to a flying course, was, however, accepted
,I talked to a tudent recently qualified and a ked him what with resignation.
father to protect their interests, finally produced, together
with an extensive account, evidence ofa French patent that he had learned and knew, and what was required for the At the school the pupils had built their own aeroplane.
annulled their claim. everthele the two boys, Fokker Reichsdiplom (Government certificate), from which it The fir t was too heavy. Then a lighter machine followed,
appeared thata to the practical side, Thavealready reached for which a baker, who wanted to fly, purchased the engine.
and Cremer, had great fun out of the tests on the Cremer
that; the theory is not much. The whole prospectus is A certain Bruno Buechner, who pa ed himself off as an
Peugeot, fitted with the new tyres, on a tretch of road
between Haarlem and Amsterdam, that ran for ome twelve humbug and it means throwing money away to stay. The al'ialeur and for that reason alone was treated by the pupils
miles alongside a railway line. Roaring along the road at repair jobs are not done at the school and driving only is with awe and respect, wa to make the first tentative flights.
night, they timed the run to corre pond with the Paris taught.' But, he had discovered something better. t a At this time, however, a study-trip was made by the school
chauffeur' school at Zahlbach, near Mainz, there wasalso to theaeronauticalexhibition held in Pari in thesecond half
Expressand the trial developed intoa nightly race. Afterthe
a course for aircraft construction and flying. This di covery of October. In a letter home Anthony asked on October
first two or three runs, the engine crew recognised the
was the sensation of his young life. It was ju t what he 12th, whether he could join them, stating that two of the
challenge with a whistle and set to, stoking up; passengers,
wanted. But that course did not start until October; there- engineer-instructors were going on behalfofthe school and
attracted by the noise ofthe snortingPeugeot, cheered from
13
12
not, ifI should not come home, but go to Paris at my own had heard that the Zeppelin shed at Baden-Baden was name of his associate, no longer mis-spelt, as the owner of
expen e.' currentlyunoccupiedand could be used asana semblyshop. the machine.
In an earlier letter Anthony said that Buechner, who Itwas there that thefirst' Spin' wasassembled. This proto About his stay at Gon enheim Anthony wrote in April
would do the test flying, had learned to fly in France, but type ofall Fokker ,which rested on asomewhatcomplicated 1911 to his mother' ... Weare living, thethreeofu , in the
apparently the man had never really flown, though he did combination ofboth wheel and bamboo skid undercarriage, Krimm where at last I am living cheaply once more, but for
have an accident during training. Hi debut as a test pilot had neither rudder nor aileron -so that when taxiing the that reason itis also rather bad. The only advantage is that
was an unfortunate day for the school. He started, but he machine would go in all directions but the required one. it isclose to the airfield and in the middleofthe fir woods so
did ilOt leave the ground! Furthermore, he neither stopped After that a rudder was added. At the end of 1910, hop thatit is healthy. The soup tastes ofoil and there is spinach
nor turned beforesmashingthe machineat the far end ofthe were ventured with this aircraft, but the ensation of that to eat every day'. After having said that the aeroplane was
field. The school manager who came running up, panting in itself cau ed the young designer to nearly faint with completed on Saturday, he mentioned the first hop into the
heavily, could do nothing but shout' terrible!', in between exaltation. air when hi po terior went everal times through the seat of
gasps for breath, and then bur t into tears. Fokker started Anthony spent the Chri tmas holiday at home. While the contraption and then continues proudly: ' The 'plane is
snivelling too, which the manager thought was for the pilot there, very di turbing news reached him about his precious frightfully table and the steering isverysensitive.' He called
whom okker has assisted so faithfully, but AnthoilY shed aircraft. He had su pected that a mishap would occur if ita record thatthi machine wa completed in ixwe ks,and,
tears because his hope offlying had apparently gone up in ever heletthe retired officerhavea free hand at the controls. burning with pride, he ended: 'My construction which was
smoke, and hi enthusia tic letter home were made point All his wits had been needed to invent excuses about further built last, was flown first, and this i therefore a per onal
less. Buechner-to do the man ju tice- oon became an adjustments being necessary to prevent von Dallln from success and te tifie to my capacity as a constructor.'
excellent pilot who made a name for him elf. The school, flying. Jealous for the safety of the coveted machine, he Mother no doubt smiled with motherly pride.
however, did not survive the disaster. The baker sawed his quite forgot that it was only partly his, and while he made In the early part of May the first turns were made and
engine out ofthe wreckage and took it to another e tablish a seriesoftest hops across the field, von Daum had been left some days later there followed a series ofcomplete circles;
ment, and as for the young Dutchman-he boldly planned on the field standing di con olately with his hand in his on May 12th the first pas engel' flight was made with von
to build an aeroplane himself. pockets. But when Fokker spoke ofgoing home for Christ DaUln. So the latter did after all get something for his
This wasa monoplane ofquite original conceptionwith mas, von Daum artfully di played a great consideration for moneyI
wingsofpronounceddihedral givingthe machinea relatively his feelings and hastened hi departure. 0 sooner was Then on May 16th, 1911, came the day ofthe flight for
high centre of gravity, but bestowing a large mea ure of Fokker on the train than von Daum was sitting in the the certificate. The official representatives of the Deutsche
lateral tability, and consequentlyitcould be managed with aeroplane, warming up the engine. He opened up to take Luflschiffer\'erband(GermanAeronautical Association)were
out any form of lateral control. The theory, quite brilliant off-and crashed. To Fokker at Haarlem came a telegram Oberleutnant Selasinsky, Pre ident of the Mainzer Aero
The' invenror' and Fritz Cremer, right, showing the springs
for that time, was based on the tests Fokker had made from to theeffectthat von Daum wasunhurt, but thatthemachine Club, and Heyne,the a sessor. There were many spectators.
used in the' puncture-proof tyre' experil1lellls. As will be
seen, there was no (inflatable)'tyre'. hi attic at home: tests that to his family and neighbours had met with a mishap. Fokker performed the pre cribed examination requirements
seemed a senseless game of throwing paper, cardboard or His parents had the greatest trouble in restraining their of five figures-of-eight, flying and landing with turned-off
that there was an opportunity for the pupil to go with them celluloid models of wings out of the attic window, and son from returning at once to Germany, to find out the engine within a measured distance from a previously indi
on an educational trip under their tuition. But the journey watching their behaviourduring their descent, which, ifthey extent of the damage to the machine he worshipped. The cated point. One report spoke of perfect turns. uccess!
cost 150 marksand that he could not payout ofhis monthly were favourable, would glide on to end in a neighbour's cau e of the accident appeared to be rather absurd, as an The coveted certificate was his. After that followed another
allowance. In requesting hi father to subsidi e the trip, he garden. engineer from the Zeppelin works told him later. When flight with von Daum.
carefully added' It i definitely an educational trip and not In his fascinating autobiography' Flying Dutchman " taxiing across the field, von DaUln had met a tree, the only Although Fokker had intended from the beginning to
for pleasure,although it will be,ofcourse, very pleasant.. .'. written in co-operation with Bruce Gould, which was pub oneonthe field-and yet he could not avoid it! Theaircraft build an aeroplane without any kind of lateral control, he
Further on in the letter he speaks about hi plan to go to lished in 1931 inAmerica, with aPenguineditioninEngland, was beyond repair. had-careful and sen ible lad that he was-for his fir t tests
Haarlem from. Paris for a few days-' to sort out a few and of which De Vliegende Hollander, together with the Using Fokker's plans, and with his co-operation, an fitted a pair ofailerons,just to besure. Adetail he no doubt
things and to take omethings back with me.' He asked for French, German, Swedish, Bulgarian and Russian editions improved' Spin' was then built in the work hops of the forgot to mention in his book, or perhaps purposelyomitted
a reply by return, if possible, by wire. are translations, Fokker mentions as his first aircraft, the boat-builder Jacob Goedecker, at ieder-Walluf on the out ofshame for fear of being denounced for his mi guided
Another letter to his mother followed-undated. There universally known, and often depicted, 'Spin' or Spider Rhine. Goedecker also cherished idea offlying. Jt was on ideas. That this Spin No.2 was the machine used for the
wasstilltalkofthetrip to the' Ville Lumierc 'and ofcoming with which he made demonstrations in Holland. However, this machine that Fokkertaught himselfto fly at the Grosser flying certificate flight is proved by photographs which
home...' This latter,' he wrote, ' will take some doing, no this matter was re-investigated by the writer some ten years Sand at Gonsenheim on the left bank of the Rhine. The various Dutch new papers publi hed when they reported
doubt, becau e of the 150 Marks. If father doe not want ago, after thediscoveryofsomeinterestingold photographs, paper Flugsport, then not so well-informed, gave report of the success of the young man from Haarlem, in May 1911.
to pay, tell him that I am prepared to pay for it, or for and it became clear that this' Spin' could not possibly have , the aeroplane of the Dutch aviator von Dacem " which The Spin universally acknowledged-and mentioned by
part of it. 1 would like to come home for a few days for been Fokker o. 1 and that by the summer of 1911 the had arrived at the airfield ofGonsenheim. In the next i ue, Fokker himselfin his book as o. I-did not then exist.
all sorts ofdomestic matters, as you will understand. rcan Fokker aircraft family consisted of three separate aircraft. the name Fokker appeared for the first time, and also. the Reports about the construction of that machine are first
then take my belongings with me in a suitcase and as pa Therefore it is not correct to say-as has been generally
senger's luggage there should be little difficulty wi~h the accepted-that the first ' Spin' machine was modified in
customs.' Immediatelyafter that, came the reallysurprising stages.
information: ' Sending money is not immediately necessary, An associate in the construction ofthe first two models
as I still have enough cash myself. Do speak for me. I am and a fellow pupil of the fated aircraft course at Zahlbach,
Durillg tlte SUII/mer
cominghomeinanycase,even ifI have to pay for it myself.' was thefifty-year-old Oberleutnant von Daum, who had oj 1911 Fokker, ill
The end ofthe letter is comically dramatic: ' If my coming faith in the enthusiastic assertions and explanations of the the rear seat, oftell
flew tlte '5Iurll1
home is absolutely undesirable for the peace, then will you young man from Haarlem. It was this officer who supplied
vogel' built by Goe
personally let me know this quickly, in which case I shall the money for the engine, whereas Fokker's contribution deckeI'. Note the
return from Paris with the others to Mainz. Write back as was his knowledge, his hands, and 1,500Marks. A factory wing-warpingcontrol
systell/.
soon as possibleorwire to: Fokker, Fliegerhalle, Dotzheim in Frankfurt made the steel-tube frames for the wings from
Wiesbaden. Put all right, ifeverything i in order, both for rough drawings, a local carpenter made the wooden long
the journey and coming home; put halfif nothing will be erons for the fuselage, and the small metal parts were made
paid for, and I can follow my plan of coming home: put by the designer and his helpers in a workshop. Von Daum
14 15
Theaircrafldepicled
As I/tiS pholograph
ill Ihis rare pholo
shows, Ihe aircrafi
graphisIheSpill o.
buillbyIhe siudellls,
1 (Spider)-Ihe very
illcludiug Fokker, al
Ihe DOlzheim-Wies firsl Dill' buill by
Fokker and von
badell /fyillg school
DaUlII al Baden-Dos
ill19/0, wasvirllwlly
ill 1910. 11 had a
a copy of Ihe COII
50 h.p. Argusengine
lemporary Farmal)
Iype. Brullo Buech bUIdue10Iheabsellce
ofanylaleralcOlllrol
lieI', who claimed 10 only shorl, slraighl
bea pilol, crashedil
,hops' were al-
before leaving Ihe
lempledwilh il.
groulld!
young hero made his preparation and took his seat in the new Goedecker Sturmvogel, a Taube monoplane with a
found in the Mainzer Anzeiger ofJune 12th, 1911, in which thirty feet. With a cut, bleeding face, which looked worse aircraft. 'He has attired himselfin a sweater which looks 70 h.p. Argus engine. On instructions from his employer,
this report appears: ' The Dutch aviator Fokkerwill not use than it was, he wormed himself out of the wreckage and as if he has had the trung for the last twenty-five year " he took part in the local four-day manoeuvre with this
Lt. von DaUln's machine any more, for he is having a new cursed: ' Take the damned aeroplane and fly to hell with it. wrote the young reporter Robert Peereboom in his father's machine, carrying Leutnant Salomon ofa Pioneer Battalion
aeroplane built in the workshops of Goedecker at Nieder I've had enough!' Fokker did his best to look sorry. The newspaper, the Haarlems Dagblad. A flight ofnearlyseven as observer. Supf, in his Fluggeschichle recalling this early
Walluf.' Fokker himself mentions this in a letter home, aeroplane was wrecked, but the engine was not. He made a minutes was rewarded with a bouquet and a shouldering by application of air reconnaissance reported: 'Pilot of the
dated July, 2nd 1911, in v;hich he writes: ' ... I am at proposition to buyhis friend out ofthe agreement for 1,200 enthusiastic Boy Scouts. He was asked to do anotherflight, ~ircraftwas Fokker. Heexecuted the in tructionsowell that
ieder-Walluf with Tom Reinhold working on my new Mark and what was still useable on the machine-the and in spite ofprotesting that the engine' is rebellious, and Jacob Goedecker received the Crown Order, 4th Class.'
'plane. But things are not going according to plan. I have engine--was to be taken over for that sum. That was done. does not pull enough', he risked a further flight of four In his me sages home over thi period, Fokker did not
to wait for aluminium castings which are delaying thing .' Thus, the third Spin creation had trus same 50 h.p. Argus minutes, after which he announced firmly: ' Gentlemen, the mention the narrow escape he had on one of the recon
Heends:' ow I must finish, theyare waiting for medown engine, butotherwise itwasanimproved editionofthe 0.2 demonstration is ended'. nai sance flights. Flying over the Taunu , he suddenly felt
stairs. One wing is almost ready and has to be fabric smashed by von Daum. o. 3 was lighter and had a dif On Friday, he made local history by a flight over Haar a shaking movement in the tail of the plane. Turning his
covered. Tuesday or Wednesday I shall collect the middle ferent cabaneconstruction. The pilot no longersat immedi lemitself, soaring over the grey, 262-feet-high, 15th-century head round he noticed to his horror that the fabric of the
ection. Reinhold is making the wheels.' Inthe sameepistle ately behind the engine, tuck between two vertical struts, church tower of St. Bavo. Again a take-off was made horizontal tail unit, which at that time wa not sewn to the
there isa touchjngnotefrom the' thankful son' tohis' dear but farther back; the tail skid was no longer under the tail diagonally across the wretched field. ear the road, which ribs and framework,but laced with string onto the tail, was
tenderly caring mother '-' Is father annoyed over that but under a long vertical leg of wruch the rubber spring sensiblyhad againbeenclosed for traffic, the airmanhad not partly torn away. If the cloth had come adrift further, he
money matter? If[earn much, I hall let you have an extra action was fixed just behind the pilot's back. Also No.3 did reached sufficient speed, but-and to repeat again the would have lost control. Fortunately, the front part ofthe
note too.' Apparently his mother had sent him money not have ailerons. flowery prose of the Dagblad-' With a courageous sweep lacing held and although a loose piece fluttered in the slip-
without her husband's knowledge. After nearly becomingthe victimof a bankrupt impre he ran towards the west,fluttered around ina few circles like tream, he managed to makea perfectemergency landing.
When first negotiating with von DaUln, it had been sario, who wanted to engage him for a tour of Germany, a half-dead fly, then shot vigorously along the length ofthe A representative of Goedecker in Berlin, seeing the
agreed that the man who paid for the engine would become Fokker put his Spin on a train to the etherlands for the Kleverlaan and cJimbed into the sky steeply shooting.... ' youngDutchman fly at Gon enheim, enticed him away with
the owner of the aeroplane as soon as the builder had ob demonstrationsat Haarlem. The youthful airmancould not Such is journalism! Then he circled the cathedral while flattery. Whyin heaven's nameshouldsuchanaccomplished
tained his flying certificate. That had now happened. have imagined in his wildestdream, that eight years later people ran outside to watch, pressed their noses against the airman languish in the obscurity ofthe provinces-why not
Therefore von DaUln wanted to start practising for his afterhavingproduced 7,600aeroplanes-hewas to tran port windows, or climbed to the roof. It was on this great day move to 10hannisthal, Berlin, the Mecca of aviation?
certificate. But his young associate, having received an invi within a few weeks six train-loads of aircraft, a total of that the local MemberofParliament, Fr. Lieftinck,spoketo Fokker was all for it, but there weredifficulties, ofwhjch he
tation to come and demonstrate to his home-town ofHaar 350railway wagons with 200 Fokker aeroplanes, plus spare HermanFokkerSnr., words thatareproofofthe lowesteem made mention in a lengthy letter to rus father; an epistle
lem, in connection with Queen Wilhelmina's birthday cele parts, from Germany to Holland. inwhich hissonhad hitherto beenheld: ' Well, Fokker, who put to paper in not very good Dutch. The gist of this
brations, pleaded with his partner to abandon this unholy His re-appearance at his own town was the greatest would have thought that your son would ever fly as high as letterwasanexplanationofhowheand Goedecker,although
intention for the moment. Money was to be earned at glory ofrus stormy life and his richest experience. It was a that?' Fokker senior must have swallowed hard! For on good terms socially, could not agree on business matters
Haarlemand hewasfearful lest von Daum shouldsmash the remarkable triumph for the youth that he still was; once Anthony it was an unforgettable day, because for once rus because each put the interest of their re pective aircraft
aircraft. The Oberleutnant would not hear of it. He was thought to be a failure, he vindicated himself brilliantly, father did notadmonish him but, on the contrary, presented first. Goedecker was too enthralled with de igns ofhis own
going to fly, not later, not some other time, but there and placing hjmself with the pioneers of the aeroplane, in one him that evening with ills owngold watch. On the Sunday, and was blinded to the superiority of Fokker' own designs
then. Consequently von Daum flew. He made a passable of his own design. hemadefurtherflights ofelevenandsixminutesrespectively, -at leastthatwas Fokker' view. In piteofhisdependence
tart, so that Fokker feared thatafter all he might fly weIl Theepicofthe' flying man' wa hown to the publicof buthethankedheavenwhenitwasall over. Healso thanked onthe Goedecker works, he resolved to make the break and
and then he would have to share the joys offlying with his Haarlem from afield bordered by roads. Forflyingpurposes the Haarlem police for closingthe road, for otherwise, as he blandly announced in his letter that he wanted to go to
fifty-year-old friend for some time, and perhap even lose it was most unsuitable, being only about 300 feet long by putit, he might have made africassee ofthe public. Berlin with Cremer that same evening, which-and here
his aeroplane later. 100 feet wide, lying obliquely to the prevailing wind. Along A difficult time with ljttle or no fund followed. His came the sting in the letter-would mean money. To
Although plans for a new improved aeroplane were one side were a row of flagpoles on which he feared he first customer in bu iness was his old schoolfriend Fritz mollify his parents on that score, he explained that ill out
progressing, he did not posse s a econd engine. But, un would impale his frail craft. He presented his difficulties to Cremer, who appeared unexpectedly in Mainz. He wanted look needed broadening and he hopefully asked their
expectedly, the chance ofan engine ofhi own fell into his thecommittee, buttheonlyconcessiontheycould make, was both to be taught to fly and to buy an aeroplane. Fokker's approval to his new venture. The vicissitudes of com
lap-almost literally! The Oberleutnant had been flying to remove the flagpoles. Towards nightfall he made a test business contact with Goedecker led to him flying mercial life were already affecting him as he disentangled
again, but at the crucial moment before landing, he had flight la ting only a few minutes, to en ure all was well for Goedecker's aeroplanes and working for him as a flying himselffinanciallyfrom the Goedeckerconcernand planned
suddenlyforgotteneverytrung. Hecrasheddown from about the official di play next day, the Queen's birthday. The instructor. In August he made the first trial flight with the his newventure inBerlin. Heexplained that hi head wa in
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