Russan Fokkers C.IV (Bis)

Russian Fokkers 2

In 1923, the Soviet Union purchased sixty Fokker C.IV reconnaissance aircraft from the Netherlands, which were delivered at the end of the year. Their construction numbers were 2301 through 2360. These C.IVs were designated C.IV Prima in Russia.

A second order of fifty aircraft followed in 1924. The construction numbers were 4519 and 4524 through 4575 (three aircraft from this series were not delivered, including 4530, which went to the US). These aircraft were designated C.IV Bis.

The Bis differed from the Prima in many respects and was in fact an upgrade that addressed customer complaints.

Examples:

The wing fuel tanks, which were prone to leaks in Prima, had been redesigned for the Bis;
The Bis had a larger rudder and was therefore more controllable than the Prima;
The Prima had one longeron along the hull, the Bis had three. This was to prevent the annoying flapping of the canvas covering;
The Bis was more heavily armed and could carry a fifth machine gun that fired through a hatch in the floor to the rear;
The Bis was equipped with bomb racks under the wing;
The tailskid was redesigned and reinforced.

While the Prima was primarily intended as a reconnaissance aircraft, the Bis could be deployed as an attack aircraft. The C.IV Bis was stationed in Moscow, Smolensk, Vitebsk, and Dretun. The latter two locations are in present-day Belarus.

Most of the photos come from Gennady Petrov's vast archive in Moscow. Some are from the Russian State Archives (RGVA). They were first published in 2020 by Andrei Averin in the Russian modeling magazine M-Hobby.

Rene Demets has made a translation of part 2 of “A Dutch Ultimatum” that is about the C.IV Bis.

Click on the photo to enlarge the photo

01

C.IV Bis under construction at Fokker in Amsterdam-Noord, autumn 1924.
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02

The Fokkers have arrived! Unloading a Fokker C.IV Bis on a train station platform. The aircraft were transported overseas to Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) in November and December 1924, cleared customs there, and then loaded onto a train for their final destination in Russia. From the collection of G.F. Petrov.
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03

Fokker C.IV Bis at an airfield. Construction number 4573 is just visible under the tailplanes. The aircraft is not yet marked, and the armament has yet to be installed. The three longerons under the linen covering of the fuselage were characteristic of the C.IV Bis. The earlier C.IV Prima had only one. From the collection of G.F. Petrov.
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04

Ready for takeoff. Fokker C.IV Bis c/n 4532. Smolensk Air Base. The C.IV Bis could be equipped with an additional machine gun, which could fire diagonally rearward through a hatch in the floor. The "tow" seen here peeking out from the floor is undoubtedly related to this. From the collection of G.F. Petrov.
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05

The same aircraft, now without a crew, but with a mechanic. C.IV Bis c/n 4532. Smolensk Air Base. From the collection of G.F. Petrov.
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07

Three mechanics are working here on the Liberty engine of a C.IV. From the collection of G.F. Petrov.
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08

Life at the airport. It looks like laundry has been hung on a clothesline here, but the "laundry" is probably the mechanics' cleaning rags. The aircraft on the left appears to be secured to a wing strut with a cable. From the collection of G.F. Petrov.
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11

An accident involving C.IV Bis c/n 4547, tail number 1. The pilot was Commander S.G. Ovsyannikov. As a participant in a rally, he flew with observer S.A. Shumovsky from Smolensk to Bryansk and back on June 12, 1925. Landing in Smolensk that evening near the hangars, he failed to notice the parked Fokker C.IV Bis (c/n 4550, tail number 5, left in the photo) and crashed into it. The red stars on the wing are outlined with a white border. From the mid-1920s, such stars were used on various aircraft types. Before that, the stars were not outlined, making them often difficult to see in black-and-white photographs.
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12

Fokker C.IV Bis c/n 4550, tail number 5. This is the aircraft that was in the way when S.G. Ovsjannikov landed there (see previous photo). June 12, 1925, Smolensk air base.
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13

This is the same C.IV Bis c/n 4550, five years after the collision with SG Ovsjannikov. The aluminum nose covering is now painted the same color as the fuselage. The pilot was Gerasim Ignatiev. August 18, 1930, Smolensk air base.
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14

Once again, the C.IV Bis c/n 4550. By order 198/39 of August 26, 1927, the paint scheme became less frivolous. The tail number is still 5 (this number, as can be seen here, was not only on the rudder but also on the elevators), but the multi-colored squadron emblem has disappeared.
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15

Fokker C.IV Bis c/n 4531. Tail number 4. Pilot G.D. Volkov. Overturned on August 11, 1926. Dretoen Air Base.
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16

The same.
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17

the same
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18

This C.IV Prima, c/n 2310, tail number 2, crashed into the grounds of the "Savetskaya Belaroes" military hospital after its engine stalled. Dretun Air Base, July 18, 1927.
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19

Pilots pose in front of a Fokker C.IV Prima, which, after an upgrade, has become a C.IV Bis. From the collection of G.F. Petrov.
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20

Fokker C.IV Bis c/n 4565 at the airfield of the air force test center. The chassis failed during testing of a 'Heine' propeller – the landing gear was the aircraft's weak point. Summer 1929.
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20.1

Fokker C.IV Bis c/n 4565 at the NOA airfield, the air force's research institute. The chassis was damaged during testing of a Heine propeller.
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20.2

the same
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21

Fokker C.IV Bis c/n 4567, tail number 2. Pilot N.M. Medvedev. Smolensk Air Base. This accident occurred on March 12, 1930.
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22

Ditto. Here we see that the plane was equipped with skis, even though it's already thawing heavily. Tail number 2 is on the rudder and also on the elevator.
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23

Fokker C.IV Bis c/n 4569. Pilot Viktor Cherenkov. Smolensk air base, summer 1930. The bomb racks are clearly visible.
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24

Same aircraft, same date. Here we see that a 3 was painted on the rudder. It's also clearly visible that the entire fuselage is painted in a single, solid color (army green).
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25

Fokker C.IV Bis c/n 4546 with tail number 3. The pilot was Fjedor Sabourov. Smolensk air base. This accident occurred on August 18, 1930. One of the two Lewis machine guns on the gun ring has been replaced by a photo machine gun.
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26

An accident involving a Fokker C.IV Bis c/n 4549, which was serving as a target tug with a squadron of the air force's artillery school. Pilot N.V. Lantoesjko, Sevastopol Air Base. Summer 1930.
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27

Life at the airfield wasn't all accidents: another group photo with a Fokker C.IV as a background.
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27.1

Fokker C.IV Bis c/n 4540. On November 29, 1929, during a flight from Dauria to Hailar (Mongolia), this aircraft suffered engine failure and had to make an emergency landing. It rolled over, destroying the nose. Pilot: G.K. Kish.
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28

One of the last C.IV Bis on the shooting range as a target. 1937
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30

The same plane, but now from behind.
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31

A 37mm shell tore a hole in the upper wing of a Fokker C.IV Bis. 1937.
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32

Fokker C.IVs 'in the ranks of the Red Army Air Force'. From the collection of G.F. Petrov.
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