The Fokker D.III (Fokker designation M.19) was a German single-seat fighter aircraft of World War I. It saw limited frontline service before being withdrawn from combat in December 1916.

Design and development

The M.19 began as an effort to improve the performance of the Fokker D.II (Fokker designation M.17).Gray and Thetford 1962, p. 92. The M.19 featured the Oberursel U.III 14-cylinder, two-row rotary engine, combined with the two-bay wing cellule of the Fokker D.I. The U.III engine, first used in the Fokker E.IV, required a revised fore-and-aft mount and a strengthened fuselage. The prototype M.19 arrived at Adlershof for testing on 20 July 1916. Idflieg issued a production order for 50 aircraft at that time, followed by orders for an additional 60 aircraft in August and 100 in November. The new aircraft was designated D.III by Idflieg.

Operational history

The first seven production aircraft were delivered on 1 September 1916.Leaman 2003, p. 23. On that date, two D.III aircraft were ferried from Armee Flug Park 1 to Jagdstaffel 2 at Bertincourt.VanWyngarden 2007, p. 10. Oswald Boelcke received serial 352/16 and obtained seven victories in it between 2 September and 15 September.VanWyngarden 2006, p. 76.

While the D.III offered better performance than the D.I and D.II, Boelcke nevertheless found the D.III to be too slow.Weyl 1965, p. 171.Lamberton 1960, p. 120 The D.III was plagued by its U.III engine, which wore out quickly and was difficult to manufacture.Weyl 1965, pp. 122-123. Low compression resulted in poor performance at altitudeWeyl 1965, p. 123. and cooling of the rear row of cylinders proved problematic. Moreover, the D.III offered indifferent maneuverability.Weyl 1965, p. 173. On Boelcke's recommendation, the D.III was withdrawn from heavily contested sectors of the Western Front, but it continued to serve in quieter sectors.Weyl 1965, p. 171.

In early October 1916, evaluation of Fokker's M.21 prototype at Adlershof revealed poor construction and workmanship.Leaman 2003, p. 23. In response, Idflieg directed that a production D.III be tested for quality control purposes.Leaman 2003, p. 23. In November 1916, serial 369/16 was disassembled and tested to destruction at Adlershof.Weyl 1965, p. 172. While the wings proved acceptable, the fuselage and tail surfaces failed to meet specifications.Leaman 2003, p. 23.Weyl 1965, p. 172. Idflieg reprimanded Fokker for his firm's substandard construction practices, but permitted D.III production to continue.Leaman 2003, p. 23. The Kogenluft, however, forbade the use of Fokker aircraft for frontline duties.Leaman 2003, p. 23.

Fokker built 210 D.III aircraft at its Schwerin factory before production ceased in the spring of 1917. Late production aircraft replaced the wing-warping system with horn-balanced ailerons on the upper wing. Though unsuitable for frontline service, the D.III continued to serve in home defense units until late 1917.Weyl 1965, p. 171. In October 1917, Germany supplied 10 D.IIIs to the Netherlands.Green and Swanborough 1994, p. 221. These aircraft remained in service with the Luchtvaartafdeling until 1921.

Boelcke's D.III, serial 352/16, survived the war to be displayed at the Zeughaus museum in Berlin. The aircraft was destroyed by an Allied bombing raid in 1943.

Operators

Luftstreitkräfte

Luchtvaartafdeling

Specifications

References

Notes

Bibliography

Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. New York: Smithmark, 1994. .

Lamberton, W.M., and E.F. Cheesman. Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Letchworth: Harleyford, 1960. . Leaman, Paul. Fokker Dr.I Triplane: A World War One Legend. Hersham, Surrey, UK: Classic Publications, 2003. . VanWyngarden, Greg. Early German Aces of World War I (Aircraft of the Aces No. 73). Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2006. . VanWyngarden, Greg. Jagdstaffel 2 Boelcke: Von Richthofen's Mentor (Aviation Elite Units No. 26). Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2007. . Weyl, A.R. Fokker: The Creative Years. London: Putnam, 1965. . Woodman, Harry. Spandau Guns (Windsock Mini Datafile No.10). Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1997. .