|
Air Force
 |
FOKKER D.VII
Source: War Trophies
Acquired: 1919, 1920
Type: Single-seat fighter
Engine: Mercedes D.III or BMW-IIIa (160-185 hp)
- Dimensions
- Length: 6.95 m
- Wing Span: 8.9 m
- Height: 2.85 m
Max Speed: 200 km/h
Range:
Maximum Ceiling: 6400 m
Known Serial Numbers: 4, 16
Notes
- #4
- Original serial no. 8595/18
- Two D.VIIs were abandoned by the Germans at Spilve in 1919. The
Latvians assessed them for airworthiness or fitness for repair in December of that year..
The first one , with Bestellnummer 8595/18 (OAW), they found was airworthy and ready for use.
It was powered by a 160 hp Mercedes engine, serial no. 45187.
- 1919, December 24. The first of the DVIIs is flown, by V.Jakubovs (flight
lasting about 50 minutes). Further flights took place on January 2, 5 and
10, 1920 for the testing of propellers.
- January 5, 1920 - J.Prieditis flies the D.VII
- June 8, 1920 - The aircraft is flown from Spilve to Rezekne to take part
in the battles vs the Bolsheviks in Latgale. En route, the aircraft crashes
approximately 10 km from Rezekne.
- July 20, 1921 - Aircraft is involved in a crash during a forced landing. Undergoes repairs and is returned to service.
- 1921 - this aircraft is assigned to the flight school.
- August 21, 1923 - this aircraft is involved in a ground accident, colliding with Halberstadt C.V #19. The Fokker
was not repaired and eventually written off.
- #16
- Believed to be the second of the Spilve D.VIIs, this one had a fire-damaged
engine and fuselage and was deemed to be beyond repair. Amazingly, this
aircraft was eventually resurrected as Fokker D.VII #16. It is also possible that
Fokker #16 was a different aircraft entirely, acquired from unknown sources.
- 1922 - appears on the roster of the Flying School.
- 1923 - Karlis Kleins passes his flight test in Fokker #16.
- 1924 (early) - on the roster of the fighter squadron.
- February 25, 1924 - fatal crash at Spilve (kapt. Bitte). Aircraft destroyed.
- Margeris Kenins purchased a 180-hp BMW engine from the Aviation Regiment.
This engine was reported to have been salvaged from a crashed D.VII
Sources
- Brannon, D.Edgar Fokker D.VII in Action
- Bruvelis, Edvins Latvijas Aviacijas Vesture
- Humberstone, Richard Latvian Air Force 1918-1940
- Irbitis, Karlis Of Struggle and Flight
- Lamberton, W.M. Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War
- Sparnota Latvija
- Windsock Datafile Special - Fokker D.VII Anthology V.III
Profiles courtesy of Arvo Vercamer
Additional research provided by Moshe Bukhman.
|
|
LATVIANAVIATION.COM contents copyright © 2018 Gunārs Zūlis and heirs. All Rights Reserved. Contributors of individual materials retain all rights to their collections and creative works. LATVIANAVIATION.COM is a LATVIANS.COM project.
Design and hosting by [Clear-and-Simple] · Chicago · New York |