Fokker V.4

The Fokker V.4

Fokker V.4 / FI / Dr-I

The V.4 was a modified V.3 and had connecting struts between the wings.
The aircraft was built in mid-1917 and was initially given the Fokker designation FI (the F.1 101/17 through F.1 103/17).
But the aircraft became generally known as the Dr-I (Dreideker-I).

By May 1918, 320 units were built, although another source mentions 600.
The car company (?) Sarotti built the Dr-1 under license as the FI or SP-5. This type had a different rudder.

Many famous German pilots flew a Dr-I, such as Udet, Von Richthofen, Von Gontermann and Boelcke.
Von Richthoven flew a bright red Dr-I and was therefore nicknamed 'the Red Baron'.

He achieved 80 victories, 40 of which were in a Dr-I.

The pilots were not always happy with Fokker:

On October 30, Von Gontermann wanted to test one of the new Dr-Is. He quickly ascended to 700 meters.

There he started performing stunts. After his second loop, he turned downwards into a left turn.

Its upper wing failed, broke off and made the aircraft uncontrollable, causing it to crash.

Von Gontermann was pulled from the wreckage alive. He had sustained serious head wounds from the onboard machine guns.

He died a few hours later at the local dressing station.

Von Gontermann was not the first pilot to die during a test flight of the Dr-I.

Anthony Fokker was accused of shoddy construction of the aircraft and was ordered to improve production.

Source: http://www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl/wiki/index.php/Heinrich_Gontermann

Click on the photo to enlarge the photo

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Following the V.4, larger series were built as the F.1 and Dr.1. Fokker initially intended to designate the V.4 as the F.1. Hence the first issued registration numbers F.1 101/17 through F.1 103/17. However, the German Luftwaffe opted for a standard triplane name, the Dr.1. This photo shows the prototype of the Dr.1, painted in plain white with a 110 hp Le Rhöne or Oberursel engine. Production ended in the spring of 1917, with slightly larger dimensions compared to the V.3. Production ran from mid-1917 to May 1918, with approximately 320 triplanes built. Various engines were used: • the 110 hp Oberursel, • a 110 hp Le Rhône, • a 145 hp Oberursel UR.3, • a 160 hp Goebel and • a Siemens Halske Hs III. Wingspan: 7.20 m, Length: 5.80 m, Height: 2.75 m Speed: 200 km/h, Flight time: 2.5 hours.
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Prototype Dr-I on the Malieveld in The Hague.
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Prototype Dr-I on the Malieveld in The Hague.
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The official handover of the Dr-I to the German army.
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The Dr-I above Schwerin.
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The Dr-I's career was short but intense. Werner Voss flew it for the first time and shot down 22 British aircraft within 21 days. This prompted his purchase of the Dr-I. At least 320 examples were built.
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A Dr-I with a strange marking: “74”.
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The "Richthofen Air Circus." Each pilot had his own markings. The Dr-I wreaked havoc among Allied fighter pilots. Many Dr-Is joined Fighter Squadron No. 1 (with Von Richthoven). This squadron covered the route from Dunkirk, Ypres, Lille, Cambrai (Belgium), and on to Amiens in France.
The "breeder plague"
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Gontermann, pictured here in his Dr. I, specialized in destroying captive balloons. This was extremely dangerous work, as they were well protected by anti-aircraft guns. (The balloons were used for observation to guide artillery fire.)
Heinrich Gontermann
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The wreckage of Von Gontermann's Dr-I. Von Gontermann wasn't the first pilot to die during a test flight of the Dr-I. Anthony Fokker was accused of shoddy construction and was ordered to improve production. Source: http://www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl
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One of the Dr-Is flown by Von Richthofen; the 141/17.
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Once again Von Richthofen's 141/17
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The wreck of a Dr. I belonging to Von Richthoven. This time he escaped unharmed.
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Lothar-Siegfried Freiherr von Richthofen and his brother Manfred in front of a Dr. I. Manfred was known as the "Red Baron."
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Canadian pilot Roy Brown (center, below the cross) is one of many who claim to have shot down Von Richthofen. Here, they are standing near the wreckage of the Dr. I.
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Roy Brown (center) with the machine guns from Von Richthoven's Dr-I.
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Ernst Udet in his Dr-I, which he had named "Lo" after his fiancée's first name,
Ernst Udet
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To overview V-series To Dr-I

The Fokker V.4

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