The Fokker D XXI was conceived in
answer to specifications by the KNIL (Koninklijk
Nederlands Indisch Leger) or the Royal Dutch
Indies Army. The initial production order
however was placed by the Finnish government
which acquired a manufacturing license for the D
XXI.
The Royal Dutch Air Force (Luchtvaartafdeling)
ordered 36 D XXI's with the 825 hp Bristol
Mercury VII nine cylinder radial engine and
armed it with four wing-mounted 7,9 mm
FN-Browning M.36 guns.
When the Germans invaded the
Netherlands in May 1940, 28 Fokker D XXI were
ready for combat, they were divided in 3 groups:
'1JaVa' at De Kooy AFB (11 Fokkers), '2JaVa' on
Schiphol (now the National Airport) (9 Fokkers)
and the '1st Afdeling van de Jachtgroep
Veldleger' at Ypenburg AFB. (8 Fokkers).
Although the Fokker D XXI was slower, and had
much lighter arms, it was a very good fighter
against the German fighters, mainly because it
could turn tighter and it could climb faster
than most German fighters.
No Fokker D XXI have been
preserved, for the Paul Verhoeven Movie "Soldier
of Orange" that tells the story of a group of
students that fled to England after Germany
invaded The Netherlands. a Harvard was rebuilt
to act as a Fokker D XXI (see photo above)
