Fokker aircraft (1919-1945): books - history and models

Anthony Fokker : The Flying Dutchman Who Shaped American Aviation

Fokker stumbled into aviation as a young stunt pilot in Germany in 1910. A combination of industrial espionage, luck and deception then propelled him to become Germany's leading aircraft manufacturer during World War I, making him a multimillionaire by his mid-20s.
When the German Revolution swept the country in 1918 and 1919, Fokker went to the United States. He set up business in New York and New Jersey in 1921, and shortly thereafter became the world's largest aircraft manufacturer. The U.S. Army and Navy acquired his machines, and his factories equipped carriers such as Pan American and TWA at the dawn of commercial air transport.

Yet despite his success, his empire collapsed in the late 1920s after a series of ill-conceived business decisions and personal dramas.
In 1927, aviator Richard Byrd solicited a Fokker three-engine plane to be the first to fly non-stop across the Atlantic. The plane was damaged on a test flight and Charles Lindbergh beat him to it. Lindbergh's solo adventure in the Spirit of St. Louis earned him - and cost Fokker - a lasting place in the history books.
Dierikx traces Fokker's life and achievements using previously undiscovered records and primary sources.

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Fokker D.XXI Aces of World War 2 (Osprey)

The Fokker D.XXI, a Dutch fighter, saw limited action after the German invasion of the Netherlands on 10 May 1940, with most of the 28 aircraft destroyed on the ground. Those that survived did inflict losses on the Luftwaffe.

The aircraft gained lasting fame in Finland during the Winter War of 1939-40. Operating in harsh conditions against much larger Soviet forces, Finnish D.XXIs achieved remarkable success. The type produced the first "ace in a single mission" of World War II when 1Lt Jorma Sarvanto shot down six Ilyushin DB-3 bombers on 6 January 1940.

During the early Continuation War of 1941, surviving Finnish D.XXIs flew home defense and coastal patrols. Later, they were reassigned to reconnaissance duties, which they carried out until the end of hostilities in September 1944.

Contents: Origins - Into Service - Winter War - War in the West - Obsolescence - Appendices

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Fokker T.8-W

NEW

The Fokker T.8-W was a twin-engine torpedo bomber and reconnaissance floatplane designed for the Dutch Naval Aviation Service (MLD) at their request. It was intended for both coastal defense in the Netherlands and service in the Dutch East Indies.
Designed in 1937, the T.8-W marked Fokker's shift to a new construction method. Unlike previous Fokker aircraft, which featured a metal frame with an aluminum front and linen-covered rear, the T.8-W had a fully aluminum front fuselage, while the central fuselage and wings were made of wood, and the rear was still linen-covered. This design marked the transition to all-metal Fokkers. A total of 36 units were built and served with the MLD.

This book details the development, technology, and operational history of these Fokker seaplanes.

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