The Fokker fighters are among the most famous German aircraft in the First World War. The Serie A were the first aircraft built by Fokker. Only with the development of the breaker gear for the machine guns could the first real fighter aircraft under the type designation E be manufactured.
Development and construction:
In 1912, Dutchman Anthony Fokker built his first aircraft. It was a monoplane designed for 2 people. The first demonstration was held in the UK, as Fokker hoped to convince the British military of his plane. However, they rejected it and described the plane only as bad. As a result, Fokker turned to the military leadership in the German Reich to introduce this his M.5 monoplane.
Hopking for orders, especially from the military, Fokker built the M.8 monoplane. This was a copy of the French Morane-Saulnier H, the construction of which Fokker looked at an exhibition and later bought a used model to build it.
The Fokker A.I corresponded to the M.8 with only minor modifications. With the outbreak of war Fokker received larger orders from the German military, which now classified his monoplane as Fokker A.II. These were also sent to the k.u.k. Airborne troops delivered.
However, a serious problem with this type of aircraft was the unreliable engine, which is why German pilots had to make an emergency landing now and then.
A great progress in the development of German fighter pilots was made on 18 April 1915. On this day, the French pilot Roland Garros had to make an emergency landing behind the German lines and his Morane-Saulnier-L fell into the hands of the Germans undamaged. This machine had a fixed machine gun over the engine which could be operated by the pilot. The propellers also had ball deflectors that allowed to shoot while the engine was running. As a result, Fokker immediately received the order to inspect the aircraft and also to produce a ball deflector for the German aircraft. However, since the German machine guns used steel shell projectiles, Fokker decided against the ball deflectors and resorted to a 1913 patented invention of Franz Schneider, in which the machine gun was linked to the engine and the engine stopped briefly with each shot. As a prototype Fokker used an A.III, which he equipped with this new technology. When the results were more than satisfactory, his company received the order to build fighter aircraft with the new armament and the new classification as Type E.
Technical specifications:
| Designation: | Fokker A.I |
| Country: | German Empire |
| Typ: | Reconnaissance plane |
| Length: | 7,2 meters |
| Span: | 9,52 meters |
| Height: | 2,75 meters |
| Mass: | 363 kg empty |
| Crew: | Max. 2 |
| Engine: | Oberursel U.I with 100PS |
| Maximum speed: | 135 km/h |
| Reach: | unknown |
| Armament: | none |
| Designation: | Fokker A.II |
| Country: | German Empire |
| Typ: | Reconnaissance plane |
| Length: | 7,24 meters |
| Span: | 9,55 meters |
| Height: | 2,9 meters |
| Mass: | 366 kg empty |
| Crew: | Max. 2 |
| Engine: | Oberursel U.0 with 80PS |
| Maximum speed: | 129 km/h |
| Reach: | unknown |
| Armament: | none |
| Designation: | Fokker A.III |
| Country: | German Empire |
| Typ: | Reconnaissance plane |
| Length: | 6,76 meters |
| Span: | 8,53 meters |
| Height: | 2,9 meters |
| Mass: | 358 kg empty |
| Crew: | Max. 2 |
| Engine: | Oberursel U.0 with 80 PS |
| Maximum speed: | 132 km/h |
| Reach: | 400 kilometers |
| Armament: | none |
Fighter aircraft Fokker E I-IV:
The type E.I was only a Fokker A.III equipped with the fixed machine gun. However, since this design was not designed for such weight, Fokker was working on an upgraded aircraft shortly after delivering the first models.
Technical specifications:
| Designation: | Fokker E.I |
| Country: | German Empire |
| Typ: | Fighter plane |
| Length: | 6,75 meters |
| Span: | 8,53 meters |
| Height: | 3,12 meters |
| Mass: | 500 kg empty |
| Crew: | Max. 1 |
| Engine: | Oberursel U.0 with 80 PS |
| Maximum speed: | 130 km/h |
| Reach: | 200 kilometers |
| Armament: | 1 x 7,92 mm Spandau machine gun with synchromesh through the propeller circuit |
Fokker E.I with rigid machine gun
Due to the weak Oberursel U.0 engine with 80 hp of the E.I aircraft was almost simultaneously the type E.II manufactured with a 100-hp Oberursel U I 9-cylinder rotary engine. However, as these more powerful engines were not available in sufficient numbers, not all aircraft could be equipped with this. Tests with other engines from other manufacturers could not be completed satisfactorily.
Technical specifications:
| Designation: | Fokker E.II |
| Country: | German Empire |
| Typ: | Fighter plane |
| Length: | 7,1 Meter |
| Span: | 8 Meter |
| Height: | 2,6 Meter |
| Mass: | 500 kg empty |
| Crew: | Max. 1 |
| Engine: | 100PS Oberursel U I 9-cylinder rotary engine |
| Maximum speed: | 140 km/h |
| Reach: | 200 kilometers |
| Armament: | 1 x 7,92 mm Spandau machine gun with synchromesh through the propeller circuit, some already with 2 machine guns |
The biggest difference between the E.III and the E.II type was the now larger span and the larger gas tank for a longer range of the aircraft.
Technical specifications:
| Designation: | Fokker E.III |
| Country: | German Empire |
| Typ: | Fighter plane |
| Length: | 7,3 meters |
| Span: | 9,52 meters |
| Height: | 2,79 meters |
| Mass: | 400 kg empty |
| Crew: | Max. 1 |
| Engine: | 100PS Oberursel U I 9-cylinder rotary engine |
| Maximum speed: | 140 km/h |
| Reach: | 220 kilometers |
| Armament: | 1 - 2 x 7,92 mm Spandau machine gun with synchromesh through the propeller circuit |
Fokker E.III
Fokker E.III
The type E.IV was delivered from September 1915. The first machines had a revised synchromesh gearbox, which was not fully developed yet and the older model was replaced. Also, the two machine guns were mounted at an angle of 15 degrees, which was also quickly reversed.
Technical specifications:
| Designation: | Fokker E.IV |
| Country: | German Empire |
| Typ: | Fighter plane |
| Length: | 7,5 meters |
| Span: | 10 meters |
| Height: | 2,70 meters |
| Mass: | 460 kg empty |
| Crew: | Max. 1 |
| Engine: | Oberursel U.III with 160PS |
| Maximum speed: | 160 km/h |
| Reach: | 240 kilometers |
| Armament: | 2 - 3 x 7,92 mm Spandau machine gun with synchromesh through the propeller circuit |
Use in the First World War:
From June 1915 the first Fokker E.1 fighters were used during the war. Until October, the other E types followed.
Initially, the aircraft were only used defensively, because the breaker gear was classified as a secret weapon and the enemy was not allowed to fall into the hands. Only when the first fighter squadrons were set up in the autumn of 1915 and the increasingly offensive and successful against the enemy aircraft were used, the Fokker aircraft could play their technical lead. During this time, the losses of Allied aircraft and pilots were particularly high. They called themselves Fokker feed because they could not counter the German machines with anything equivalent.
Only with the exchange of Allied biplanes which also had an interrupter transmission, the German lead went out.
From the summer of 1916, the Fokker monoplanes were gradually removed from the Western Front and served in the other theaters of war until 1917.
You can find the right literature here:
Fokker Dr I Aces of World War 1 (Aircraft of the Aces)
Fokker Dr I Aces of World War 1 (Aircraft of the Aces) Paperback – Bargain Price, August 25, 2001
Undoubtedly the most famous fighter type to see service on either side during World War 1, the Fokker Dr I was a revelation when it entered service on the western front in 1917. Manfred von Richthofens JG 1 circus was the first Jasta to completely re-equip with the new fighter, and in the skilled hands of its numerous aces the Dr I proved a formidable opponent. The Dr I remained in service on the Western Front until replaced by the superior Fokker D VII in May 1918. Just weeks prior to that, however, Germanys leading ace, the great Red Baron, had been killed at the controls of a Dr I.
Friedrichshafen Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes (Great War Aviation) (Volume 21)
Friedrichshafen Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes (Great War Aviation) (Volume 21) Paperback – February 16, 2016
This book describes and illustrates the development of Friedrichshafen aircraft of WWI with text, 540 photos, 18 in color, 37 color profiles, production quantities and serial numbers of aircraft, and aircraft dimensions and performance specifications. In addition, there are 26 official SVK drawings and 11 aircraft are illustrated in scale drawings to 1/48 (4) or 1/72 (7) scales. The book has 312 pages and is of interest to aviation historians, enthusiasts, and modelers alike.
German and Austro-Hungarian Aircraft Manufacturers 1908-1918
German and Austro-Hungarian Aircraft Manufacturers 1908-1918 Paperback – December 15, 2010
Much has been written about the British aircraft of the First World War, but little has surfaced about the aircraft of the Axis powers, Germany and Austria. Here, Terry C. Treadwell tells the story of the aircraft from companies such as Fokker, builder of the famous triplane, as fl own by Baron von Richthofen's Flying Circus, AEG, Albatros, Junkers and Hansa. From reconnaissance aircraft to state-of-the-art bombers that could reach London, this is the definitive guide to aircraft of the Axis powers during the First World War. The aircraft are explained in detail and a history of each company is provided, making this an excellent source book for aircraft enthusiasts, model makers and those interested in the air war over the trenches of France and Belgium, as well as further afield in the Italian campaign.
The Zeppelin in Combat: A History of the German Naval Airship Division
The Zeppelin in Combat: A History of the German Naval Airship Division Hardcover – January 9, 1997
The standard reference now revised and expanded. Dr. Robinson has opened up his vast photo archives to enhance this new edition of his classic work. Much of the new photographic material is published here for the first time.
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