Civil D.VII’s in The Netherlands

After World War 1, a large number of aircraft came to The Netherlands, and were used by barnstorming and starting airline companies. These aircraft did not always receive civil registrations. Sometimes because they were only used for a short period, or not used at all. Among these were at least six Fokker D.VII’s, of which four were imported in 1920.

The first with engine nr. 33098, was imported on January 24, and was used by the ‘Combinatie Lustoord’ at Mierlo for demonstration flights. The D.VII was destroyed by a crash.

Next was a D.VII with Wnr. 2601 and engine nr. 41500, on May 6. This one was destined for the ‘Eerste Nederlandsche Luchtvaart Onderneming’ (E.N.L.O.). There was a connection with the I.L.V.O. through the pilot Fritz Hettling.

On may 18 another D.VII, with engine nr. 1723, was imported by Fritz Hettling. This one might have been gone to the Dutch East Indies, where a red painted Fokker D.VII was flown by Hettling.

The last imported D.VII, former 8302/18 with engine nr. 12090, came to The Netherlands on July 19. It was imported by ‘Van Berkel’s Patent’, a factory that had build some seaplanes of the Hansa-Brandenburg type for the M.L.D. during World War 1. It was used by the ‘Automobiel Maatschappij in Twenthe’ (A.M.I.T.), which operated from a field near Hengelo.

Besides these, ‘Fokker’s Luchttourisme’ operated the D.VII 7769/18 with Wnr. 3621, and were D.VII’s used by the ‘Eerste Nederlandsche Luchtreederij Amsterdam’ (E.N.L.A.) and the ‘N.V. Internationale Lucht Vervoer Onderneming’ (I.L.V.O.).

And in the thirties, there was the PH-AJW, registered to Fokker. It is possible that this was the former ‘F.600’.

A number of aircraft at an airshow at ‘Ockenburgh’ in 1919. A Fokker D.VII can be seen in the background.