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Klaas Willem Jonker
(Wilko)
† April 30, 2018

On Monday 30 April 2018, Wilko Jonker died after a long illness at the age of 58. He leaves behind a wife and two children. The Dutch military aviation and plastic modeling were his hobby and on this website he shared all the knowledge he has collected over the years. His hobby has been able to distract him from the persistent disease in his body until the last week of his life. The contacts with other hobbyists were a major support for him.

This website will be maintained by different people for as long as possible, so that other enthusiasts can continue to benefit from extensive content.

Fokker D.III

Published: Friday, 12 November 2010 08:01 | Print | | Hits: 12338

History

The Fokker D.III, Fokker designation M-19, was a direct development of the Fokker D.I, (Fokker designation M-17) and the Fokker D.II, (Fokker designation M.18).
These aircraft were designed by the chief designer Martin Kreuzer. Kreuzer was killed in a crash in june 1916 after a test flight with a Fokker D.I. He was succeeded by Reinhold Platz.

An explanation of the German designation at that time: First the name of the factory, than the type and type number, separated by a dot. So the official designation is in fact Fokker D.III; so naming like Fokker D-3, D-III etcetera are, from a historical point of view, incorrect.

The Fokker M.19 was in fact a modified Fokker D.II, equipped with an Oberursel U.3 engine, rated 160 hp and a wing area of 20 m2 . The Fokker D.I and Fokker D.II had a wing area of 22 m2 and 18 m2 respectively.

Initial the D.III was not equipped with ailerons. These early type D.III were designated M.19F (Flächenverwindung). Later the M.19 was modified with ailerons, which improved its manageability. This improved version was designated M.19K (Klappenverwindung). Most of the Fokkers D.III buyilt were of this latter type.

The Fokker D.III had a much better performance than it predecessors.
In September 1916 the well known German pilot Boelcke received a Fokker D.III. Initially he was very satisfied with the aircraft. He triumphed six times with the machine.
He noted soon that the aircraft was more sluggish than the Sopwith and much slower than the Nieuport Scout.
This caused him to replaced the aircraft with the faster Albatros D.I.

The D.III was withdrawn from the front and only used at home defence.
Several sources state that the Oberursel engine was an unreliable engine. Frits Gerdessen is not sure about this and states that merely the availability of this engine was a problem because of production capacity.

 

Technical information
Dimensions:
Length: 6,3 m Wingspan: 9,05 m
Height: 2,25 m Wing area: 20 m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 452 kg Max. start weight: 710 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 160 km/u Climbing speed: - m/min
Cruising speed: - km/u    
Range: 220 km Service ceiling: 4725 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: 1 Oberursel U.3 van 160 pk
Crew: One aviator
Armament: Twee 7,9 mm Spandau LMG 08/15 mitrailleurs

 


Summer 1917 the Netherlands were able to buy aircraft in Germany. It happened to be the Fokker D.III. An example of the M.19K, was tested at Adlershof, Berlin by Versteegh and Duinker.
The aircraft was adapted and an order of ten aircraft was done. These were delivered in October 19 117 at air base Soesterberg. It was the 2nd Fokker-type entering LVA service.

The first Fokker aircraft in Dutch military service was the Fokker A.I (M.8) A20/16, interned September 8, 1916.

The armament of two MG 08, 7,9 mm machine guns was not added.(via F. Gerdessen; MG = MG 08; see: Fokker Flugzeugwerke in Deutschland 1912-1921, by Peter M. Grosz & Dr. Volker Koos.)

Fokker D.III 1619/16 op Soesterberg.
Fokker D.III 1619/16 at Soesterberg.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Fokker D.III van de LVA.
Fokker D.III of the LVA.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Fokker D.III van de LVA.
Fokker D.III of the LVA.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Motor Fokker D.III 1619/16 op Soesterberg.
Engine Fokker D.III 1619/16 at Soesterberg.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Fokker D.III 379/16, met oranje bollen, aankomst op Soesterberg,
Fokker D.III 379/16, with orange markings at Soesterberg.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII en een Fokker D.III op Soesterberg met oranje bollen.
Rumpler C.VIII and a Fokker D.III at Soesterberg.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Fokker D.III F203 met oranje bollen op Schiphol.
Fokker D.III F203 at Schiphol.  Note the (red?) painted front of the fuselage).
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Fokker D.III F203 op Schiphol met in de cockpit vliegtuigmaker Dirk van Rijn.
Fokker D.III F203 at Schiphol with mechanic Dirk van Rijn in the cockpit.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

 


(Possbible)
Serial		 Werknr. Bestellnr. Date in service Date out of service Notes
F200 350/16 700 01-10-1917 1921 This was the prototype.
Sent from Schwerin on September 28, 1917; Taken over at Adlershof and revised at Schwerin.
F201 379/16 666 01-10-1917 1921 Sent from Schwerin on September 28, 1917; Taken over at Adlershof and revised at Schwerin
F202 1607/16 994 01-10-1917 1921 Sent from Schwerin on September 28, 1917; Taken over at Adlershof and revised at Schwerin
F203 1619/16 1007 01-10-1917 1921 Sent from Schwerin on September 28, 1917; Taken over at Adlershof and revised at Schwerin
F204 2965/16 1335 01-10-1917 1921 Taken over at Grossenhain
F205 2983/16 1353 01-10-1917 1921 Taken over at Grossenhain
F206 3022/16 1392 01-10-1917 1921 Taken over at Grossenhain
F207 3024/16 1394 01-10-1917 1921 Taken over at Grossenhain
F207 3026/16 1396 01-10-1917 1921 Taken over at Grossenhain
F208 3028/16 1398 01-10-1917 1921 Taken over at Grossenhain
F209 2965/16 1335 01-10-1917 1921 Taken over at Grossenhain

 


Scale 1/72

  • HR Models
    • Kit 720XX: a resin model of a Fokker D.III late (with ailerons)
    • Kit 72014: a resin model of a Fokker D.III, early.
    • Kit 72066: a resin model of a Fokker DIII Ailerons

Modelling add-on

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Decals

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Scale 1/48

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    • Kit --: --

Modelling add-on

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    • Set --: --

Decals

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    • Set --: --

 


The aircraft had the Orange Dutch markings applied on a white rectangle. It was painted overall turquoise blue with a brownish varnish applied over it.
Compare this with photos of the original aircraft.

Scheme Colour name FS number WEM Humbrol XtraColor Vallejo Model Color Vallejo Model Air
Standard #1 Overall Turquoise Blue ~5299          

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

Fokker-DIII
Colour scheme Fokker D.III LVA.

 


Literature.

Militaire Luchtvaart in Nederlandsch-Indië in beeld. Deel 1 Hugo Hooftman Pag. 56 - 61 1978 Uitgever: Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel
Fokker, Bouwer aan de wereldluchtvaart Thijs Postma Pag. 59 1979 Uitgever: Unieboek b.v., Houten
De Nederlandse Vliegtuigen: Alle vliegtuigen ooit in Nederland ontworpen en gebouwd Theo Wesselink & Thijs Postma Pag. 29 1982 Uitgever: Romen Luchtvaart, Haarlem
40 Jaar luchtvaart in Indië Gerard Casius & Thijs Postma Pag. 22 - 25 1986 Uitgeverij De Alk, Alkmaar
Camouflage en Kentekens J.Greuter e.a.   1997 Bonneville – Bergen (NH)

 

Websites.

Special thanks to mr F. Gerdessen for procuiding me with all kinds of additional information about the Fokker D.III.