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→Operational history: Gerben sonderman and 3 Ja V.A. flew the Fokker G.I, not the D.XXI |
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Throughout 1940 and 1941, the Finnish State Aircraft Factory set about reconditioning the aircraft that had been used in the [[Winter War]] for continued service; an additional 50 D.XXIs were ordered in 1941, which were powered by the [[Pratt & Whitney R-1535 Twin Wasp Junior]] engine, acquired via Sweden.<ref name = "Kamphuis 9">Kamphuis 1966, p. 9.</ref> These can be identified by their longer cockpit glazing, smooth cowl, and large ventral air intake under the cowl. The two fuselage-mounted machine guns on these D.XXIs were relocated in the wings and the vertical tail surface was increased in size to offset the new engine. Owing to the increased loaded weight, the R-1535-powered D.XXI had a slightly reduced performance and was not as maneuverable as the Mercury-powered versions.<ref name = "Kamphuis 9"/> In 1944, five additional Finnish D.XXIs were assembled from spares.<ref name = "Kamphuis 10">Kamphuis 1966, p. 10.</ref>
The [[Denmark|Danish]] government ordered a pair of D.XXI fighters along with arrangements for its own manufacturing license.<ref name = "Kamphuis 6"/> The Danish D.XXI fighters were powered by a 645 h.p. Bristol Mercury VI-S radial and carried a [[Madsen 20 mm cannon]] under each wing. Ten aircraft were completed by the Royal Army Aircraft Factory in [[Copenhagen]] prior to the [[German invasion of Denmark (1940)|German invasion of Denmark]] in April 1940.<ref name = "Kamphuis 6"/> The [[Second Spanish Republic]] also acquired a manufacturing license for the D.XXI. Reportedly, a total of 50 fuselages were manufactured on the Spanish production line; however, the Spanish plant in which the fighter was being produced was overrun by [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|Nationalist forces]] before any of the Spanish-built aircraft were completed. Some sources say that a single Spanish D.XXI managed to escape capture after the production facility was captured.<ref name = "Kamphuis 6"/>
==Design==
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[[File:Fokker D.XXI.jpg|thumb|left|Pair of Finnish Air Force Fokker D.XXI in flight]]
[[File:Finse Fokker D.XXI met skis 2161 026390.jpg|thumb|right|Finnish D.XXI equipped with skis.]]
Although the order by the ML-KNIL was cancelled, the ''[[Royal Netherlands Air Force|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 [[Battle of the Netherlands|war against the Germans]] in May 1940.<ref name = "Kamphuis 10"/> 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 [[Battle of Sedan (1940)|Meuse bridges]] to hinder the German advance; they were intercepted by nine German [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]]s, and during the ensuing [[dog fight|dogfight]], one Bf 109 was shot down and two more damaged for the loss of one D.XXI and two T.Vs.<ref name = "Kamphuis 10"/> That same day, a flight of D.XXIs intercepted and shot down 37 out of 55 inbound [[Junkers Ju 52]]
[[File:Finse Fokker D.XXI (D.21) met intrekbaar onderstel 2161 026392.jpg|thumb|right|Damaged D.XXI in 1943.]]
Due to many aircraft becoming unserviceable as a result of 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.<ref name = "Kamphuis 10"/> On 11 May, at least two Bf 109s were recorded as having been shot down by D.XXI fighters.<ref name = "Kamphuis 10"/> 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.<ref name = "Kamphuis 12">Kamphuis 1966, p. 12.</ref> 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 ''[[Junkers Ju 87|Stuka]]'' bomber into its dive. Nonetheless, the numerical superiority of the ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' led to the destruction of most ''Luchtvaartafdeling'' D.XXI fighters during the campaign. Some were captured during and after 15 May, but their later fates are unknown.<ref>Bonné, Frans. [http://www.xs4all.nl/~fbonne/warbirds/ww2htmls/fokkdxxi.html "Fokker D.XXI."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213223009/http://www.xs4all.nl/~fbonne/warbirds/ww2htmls/fokkdxxi.html |date=2007-12-13 }} ''WW2 Warbirds''. Retrieved; 20 June 2010.</ref>
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==Aircraft on display==
[[File:Fokker D.XXI 229 herbouw IMG 2002.jpg|thumb|The flyable replica of the Fokker D.XXI at vliegveld Hoogeveen]]
In 2022 a flyable replica was completed at [[Vliegveld Hoogeveen]] by veteran aircraft restorer Jack van Egmond. A number of original parts was used and the plane was built according to original Fokker build specifications as Jack van Egmond is in possession of 397 out of 416 Fokker blueprints. It made its first flight on 23 May 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1063523271211403 |title=First Flight Fokker D.21 229 (PH-XXI)</ref>▼
▲In 2022, a flyable replica was completed at
==Specifications (D.XXI – Finland – Mercury)==
[[File:Fokker D.XXI 3-view line drawing.svg|right|350px]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=<!-- reference --><ref name=Heinonen>{{cite book|last=Heinonen|first=Timo|title=Thulinista Hornetiin : 75 vuotta Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneita|year=1992|publisher=Keski-Suomen Ilmailumuseo|location=Tikkakoski|isbn=951-95688-2-4}}</ref><ref name=Raunio>{{cite book|last=Raunio|first=Jukka|title=Lentäjän Näkökulma II.|year=1993|publisher=Jukka Raunio|location=Forssa|isbn=951-96866-0-6}}</ref>
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