Fokker D.VII

Ernst Udet

Luftstreitkrafte Jasta 4, 1918

(Wings of the Great War WW11401)

Engine: One 185 h.p. B.M.W. IIIa inline
Span: 29 ft 2 in
Length: 22 ft 10 in
Height: 9 ft 0 in
Weight: 1,513 lb empty; 1,993 lb loaded
Crew: One
Max Speed: 124 mph at sea level
Service Ceiling: 22,900 ft
Duration: 1 hr 30 min
Armament: Two fixed, forward firing Spandau MG

Notes: Designed by Reinhold Platz to participate in Germany's first single-seat fighter competition, the D.VII prototype (V.11) was first flown in December 1917. Constructed of fabric-covered wire-braced welded steel tubing and powered by an innovative 160 horsepower engine, the D.VII's greatest strength was its maneuverability at high altitudes. D.VII aircrews were equipped with two synchronized 7.92mm machine guns, with which they achieved some remarkable kill-to-loss ratios. By the end of WWI, the Fokker D.VII was regarded as the best German fighter in service, so good, in fact, that one of the Allies' Armistice terms was that all Fokker D.VII's be surrendered.
After rejection by the German Army for being too small, Ernst Udet volunteered as a motorcycle dispatch rider before realising his dream of joining the German Air Service in 1915. Initially an observer, Udet became a pilot achieving 62 victories and commanding Jasta's 4, 11 and 37. His awards included the 'Iron Cross' and 'Blue Max.' This Fokker DVII is from Jasta 4 and wears one of Udet's more colourful schemes. The inscription 'LO!' on the fuselage is in honour of his girlfriend and the 'Du Doch Nicht !!' on the tail roughly translates to 'Surely Not You !!' a taunt to opponents. Ironically, Udet had to make his escape from this plane using one of the newly introduced 'Heinecke' parachutes! After the war Udet became a stunt and race flyer. In 1934 he accepted a role within the recently formed Luftwaffe and was promoted to Generaloberst in 1940. He soon fell from favour being made a scapegoat for various Luftwaffe failures including defeat in the Battle of Britain and Udet felt pressured enough to commit suicide in November 1941.