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#Post#: 9864--------------------------------------------------
Plane of the Week: Fokker D.XXI
By: vonofterdingen Date: February 17, 2020, 1:44 pm
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For most of us, I think, IL-2 Sturmovik is more than a game.
Among other things, it is a history lesson, a cultural exchange,
and a travelogue. This week I thought we should have an
aircraft from a nation that has not appeared in the Plane of the
Week series yet. So here we have the Dutch Fokker D.XXI: an
early war fighter that probably played a more important role for
the Finnish Air Force than it did for the Dutch.
From Wikipedia:
The Fokker D.XXI fighter was designed in 1935 by Dutch
aircraft manufacturer Fokker in response to requirements laid
out by the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force
(Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch
Leger, ML-KNIL).
The D.XXI was designed as an inexpensive, rugged, and compact
fighter aircraft that would possess respectable performance for
its era. Entering operational use in the early years of the
Second World War, it provided yeoman service for both the
Luchtvaartafdeling (Dutch Army Aviation Group) and the Finnish
Air Force. Additionally, a few examples were constructed by the
El Carmolí factory before it fell into rebel hands during the
Spanish Civil War. Following the invasion and occupation of the
Netherlands in May 1940, several captured Dutch D.XXIs were
subsequently placed into service with the Luftwaffe.
The Fokker D.XXI was first used in combat by the Finnish Air
Force during the 1939–1940 Winter War between the Soviet Union
and Finland. Upon the war's outbreak, a total of 41 aircraft
were in Finnish service, all of which being powered by the
Mercury VIII engine. On 1 December 1939, the D.XXI achieved its
first victory with the shooting down of a Soviet Tupolev SB.
Against the aircraft of the Soviet Air Force, the Fokker was
more evenly matched, and its rugged design with a radial engine
and fixed undercarriage made it well suited for Finnish
conditions. The performance of the Finnish D.XXI allegedly won
the admiration of many Soviet pilots.
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As the Winter War continued and newer models of Soviet
fighters appeared, the Fokker D.XXI proved to be increasingly
underpowered and too lightly armed (with only four 7.92 mm/.312
in machine guns) to compete; plans to arm the Fokkers with 20 mm
cannons were dropped and only one fighter was armed as such (two
20 mm cannons and two 7.92 mm/.312 in machine guns). Another
fighter was equipped with retractable landing gear, but due to
less than anticipated performance improvement, was not continued
in the series. The fixed undercarriage lent itself to both
unimproved runways and conversion to skis for winter use, both
of which were advantages in the Finnish theater. A total of 12
D.XXI aircraft were lost during the conflict, six being lost to
accidents rather than enemy action.
The conflict between Finland and the Soviet Union was resumed
in the Continuation War (1941–44), the D.XXI was again a key
element of the Finnish Air Force. During the first air battle,
six Mercury-engined D.XXIs shot down a pair of Soviet Ilyushin
DB-3 bombers. Several Finnish Air Force pilots became fighter
aces with the Fokker D.XXI. The top scoring Fokker ace, Jorma
Sarvanto, obtained 12 5/6 victories with the type; many other
future aces also scored at least one victory with the Fokker.
The highest scoring airframe was FR-110, achieving 10 victories;
this aircraft survived the war and is on display at the Central
Finland Aviation Museum.
Although the order by the ML-KNIL was cancelled, the
Luchtvaartafdeling (Dutch Army Air Force before World War II)
placed an order of 36 aircraft, which were all delivered in time
to participate in the war against the Germans in May 1940. On 10
May 1940, the day that Germany launched its invasion of the
Netherlands, 28 D.XXIs were serviceable and ready for
operations. That first day, six D.XXIs escorted a formation of
Fokker T.V bombers to attack the Meuse bridges to hinder the
German advance which were intercepted by nine German
Messerschmitt Bf 109s; during the ensuing dogfight, one Bf 109
was shot down and two more damaged for the loss of one D.XXI and
two T.Vs. That same day, a flight of D.XXIs intercepted and shot
down 37 out of 55 inbound Junkers Ju 52 troop transports which
had crossed the border during the early morning.
Due to many aircraft becoming unserviceable due to battle
damage after the first day, it was decided to regroup at
Buiksloot, north of Amsterdam, on 11 May. For the following four
days, missions out of Buiksloot were flown by D.XXIs flying in
both solo and small formations to escort friendly units as well
as in the search-and-destroy role. On 11 May, a minimum of two
Bf 109 were recorded as having been downed by D.XXI fighters.
Sorties against the numerically superior German forces continued
until the middle of 14 May, at which point news of the Dutch
capitulation reached Buiksloot, upon which both the remaining
aircraft and the airstrip were destroyed to prevent their use by
the Germans. Out of the original force of 28 D.XXI aircraft,
eight fighters had remained airworthy. The D.XXI, although much
slower and more lightly armed than the Bf 109, performed
surprisingly well in combat due to its manoeuvrability. It was
also one of the few aircraft that could follow a Stuka bomber
into its dive. Nonetheless, the numerical inferiority of the
Luchtvaartafdeling compared to the Luftwaffe resulted in the
destruction of most Dutch D.XXI fighters during the campaign.
Some were captured during and after 15 May, but their fates,
apart from their capture, are unknown.
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In game…
I enjoy early war scenarios and am very fond of Winter War
campaigns. Many years ago this plane was not available, and some
talented skinners did fine Ki-27 hacks as stand ins. I remember
when the Fokker first made it into the game it was my first
experience flying an aircraft with skis, which was a cool new
landing experience (my landing ability is awful, but I try). I
like flying the plane then and now. It is highly maneuverable,
has light controls, and a slow stall speed. But…it is vulnerable
to most enemies of its time due to its armaments. It is woefully
under gunned, so coming up against a BF-109 or even an I-16 is a
harrowing experience. Taking out a Russian plane in one of these
takes a lot of rounds and a lot of patience.
#Post#: 9865--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Fokker D.XXI
By: JG51_Ruski Date: February 17, 2020, 2:15 pm
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Good write up Von,,and you're correct IL-2 is a history
lesson..I have a book Janes Fighting Aircraft of WW II and your
articles are a lot better than what's in the book ..plus we ger
to see it in the game
#Post#: 9870--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Fokker D.XXI
By: Beowolff Date: February 17, 2020, 4:52 pm
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Heck, Von... are you peeping over my shoulder and making note of
ALL the planes I love? ??? :-\ :D ;D ;D ;D
This is a GREAT looking plane and I love it. Super good article
on this 'kingly' looking (to me anyway) fighter that could have
been SO much more if it had been given the chance and the timing
had been right.
S! :)
Beo
#Post#: 9873--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Fokker D.XXI
By: larsresult Date: February 18, 2020, 5:52 am
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Like you Von I have a poor landing rate. This tough little
fighter can take a rough landing as well as a carrier plane
which is stressed for such events. It can handle the early war
opponents like the 109D or I152 but suffers from later models.
Success with such an aircraft is very satisfying when it
happens.
#Post#: 9874--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Fokker D.XXI
By: E69_Haukka Date: February 18, 2020, 6:54 am
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Thank you for this research work you do every week. The choice
of airplanes that you are presenting is very correct. I loved
the article about U-2 (Polikarpov Po-2), perhaps because before
reading it I had already started my own research about this
plane, with the idea of adapting an offline mission to fly it
with my E69 mates in the 4.14.1m. In this sense, your post has
been a sign!
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I have repeatedly read that some pilots have difficulties at the
time of landing. I can help you with that. Tell me the plane
with which you have problems, and I will make a small tutorial
so you can leave it on the runway without problems. The landing
is the most critical part of the flight, but with practice it
can be done safely. Anyway, this gives me an idea of something
we can do later. Let me sharpen the pencil. Sorry for the off
topic.
S!
#Post#: 9882--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Fokker D.XXI
By: vonofterdingen Date: February 18, 2020, 3:26 pm
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I accept your kind offer, Haukka. I have many favorite planes in
the game, but if I had to pick just one I think it would be the
P-39. I know, odd choice, but so be it. I have a lot of trouble
landing it; so much, in fact, that I usually end the mission
prior to landing so that I can keep my stats. I like to blame
the tricycle gear but I suppose that is just excuse-making.
Could you give some hints/tips on landing the Cobra/Kobrushka?
#Post#: 9892--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Fokker D.XXI
By: E69_Haukka Date: February 19, 2020, 9:12 am
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Yes, Von, shortly I will give you simple instructions to land
your P-39 well and finish the mission without damage and parked.
I will look for another place to maintain order, so as not to
spoil this conversation.
Salute!
#Post#: 9911--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Fokker D.XXI
By: vonofterdingen Date: February 19, 2020, 2:35 pm
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I saw your post Haukka. Can't wait to try it out!
#Post#: 9931--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Fokker D.XXI
By: E69_Haukka Date: February 20, 2020, 12:33 pm
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[quote author=vonofterdingen link=topic=1453.msg9911#msg9911
date=1582144527]
I saw your post Haukka. Can't wait to try it out!
[/quote]
;) [font=Verdana]Good flights![/font]
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