“Monoplan de chasse allemand”
Fokker E.III 196/16 (serial no. 488) was the first machine of this type to fall almost undamaged into the hands of the French. The plane was captured on April 10, 1916, at Courmelois. Photo: Reinhard Zankl
Text: Jan Bobek
Fokker's Eindeckers, also known as monoplanes, were not revolutionary in their design. However, by mid-1915, they had surpassed their rivals by incorporating a machine gun with synchronized firing through the propeller arc. Understandably, the Allied forces were keenly interested in obtaining an undamaged Fokker E for examination.
When the legendary French aviator Roland Garros of Escadrille MS 26 was captured on April 18, 1915, the Germans discovered a machine gun, installed on his Morane Saulnier G fighter, designed to fire through the propeller arc, alongside metal wedges on the propeller blades. These wedges (in most cases) deflected projectiles to the side if the blades were hit by fire. The German Idflieg promptly decided it was necessary to equip their own aircraft with a similar device. To their surprise, they found that Anthony Fokker had already developed a superior technical solution, which was relatively advanced. Contrary to the legend that the synchronization device was designed within 48 hours, Fokker's team had been working on this solution for approximately six months. Fokker based his design on a patent by Swiss engineer Franz Schneider, which was published in full in Flugsport magazine in September 1914.
The British secured an undamaged Fokker E.III two days before the French. The machine 210/16 (serial no. 509) landed on April 8, 1916, at the airfield near Renescure. In this picture, it already bears British insignia. All other photographs in this article depict machine 196/16 (serial no. 488). Photo: L'Argonnaute
Fokker's new fighter monoplanes entered service with the E designation for Eindecker mit MG, meaning a monoplane equipped with a machine gun. The Fokker A.III and E.I entered combat service from the summer of 1915. Their mission was to engage enemy aircraft penetrating German territory and to provide escort for their own multi-seat machines. Occasionally, the “Fokkerpilots”, as their pilots were known, targeted observation balloons as well. However, they had to be cautious not to be forced to land in enemy territory. The Fokker Eindecker, inspired by the Morane Saulnier G, did not introduce revolutionary features in terms of manoeuvrability, rate of climb, or speed. Its primary advantage laid in the synchronization device, it was thus crucial to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.
The Eindeckers' combat tactics and efficiency proved to be a nasty surprise for their enemies. Aircraft losses on the side of the Entente were increasing significantly, while the tactics employed by the Fokker pilots were gradually evolving. This period became known as the “Fokker Scourge.” In January 1916, the RFC command had to issue an order directing that reconnaissance machineswere to be escorted by three other aircraft in close formation to enhance defences. The order explicitly stated that the reason for this measure was the presence of Fokkers operating in groups of three and four aircraft.
Immediately after the emergency landing, monoplane 196/16 (registration No. 488) garnered considerable interest from French soldiers. Photo: L'Argonnaute
Photo: L'Argonnaute
The technical design of the rear-view mirror mounting is noteworthy in this photo. Photo: L'Argonnaute
The British had several synchronization systems at their disposal: the Vickers-Challenger, Scarff-Dibrovski, Sopwith-Kauper, Ross, and Arsaid. Similarly, the French could utilize the Alkan system. However, a challenge arose as these devices were originally designed for the relatively heavy Vickers-Maxim type machine guns equipped with belt-fed magazines. The Royal Flying Corps and the French Air Service, on the other hand, favored the lighter Lewis machine guns with drum magazines.
The Germans managed to keep the secrets of their Fokkers well-guarded for quite a long time, until April 1916. However, everything changed in a matter of days. Firstly, one undamaged machine fell into the hands of the RFC on April 8. This occurred due to an inexperienced pilot who was flying a brand new E.III 210/16 (c. n. 509) to his unit. Accidentally flying to the enemy side of the front, over surprised Australian soldiers and flawlessly landed at a British airfield. Subsequent comparative tests with the Morane Bullet revealed the Fokker to be inferior to its opponent in all parameters, and the myth of this German bogeyman began to dissipate. Today, this aircraft is on display at the Science Museum in London.
Immediately after landing and capturing the pilot, French soldiers obscured the markings on the upper surfaces of the Fokker with branches. In this photo, and the next one, this can be seen on the left wing. Photo: L'Argonnaute
In this photo, the marking 196/16 (serial no. 488) can be seen on the left side of the fuselage. Although this was a new machine when it fell into French hands, the marking on the right side of the fuselage has been partially removed. Photo: L'Argonnaute
According to some authors, the German airman in question should have been Gefr. Johann (Hans) Hvüres from FFA 5 or from the Bavarian aviation unit FFA 5b. However, no aviator by this name is listed in the casualty summary in the contemporary press. This is likely a mistake, as a pilot with a similar name, Uffz. Hans Hviires, was killed on April 26, 1916, along with his observer Lt. Georg Jesko von Puttkamer. Their aircraft, an LVG C from FA 5, was attacked by a Nieuport 16 flown by test pilot and future fighter ace Lt. W. J. C. Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick of No. 1 Aeroplane Depot in Saint-Omer. The German crew was attacked three times in total, and after the machine crashed at Flêtre, the airmen on board showed no signs of life. The identity of the Fokker pilot who flew over the front and smoothly landed at the enemy airfield on April 8, 1916, with 210/16 remains unclear.
The second almost undamaged Fokker E.III fell into the hands of the French Air Service just two days later, on April 10, 1916, under equally strange circumstances. The event also had several eyewitnesses, and there were even two photographers present at the scene of the incident. One of them, Jacques Tournadour d'Albay enjoyed, besides taking his colleagues' portraits in the manner of a professional reporter, to capture events not directly related to his missions within the 11e régiment du génie (Engineer Regiment). Be it the aftermath of a dogfight in April 1916, a machine gun demonstration in the presence of authorities four months later, or even a cooking contest in The Somme during September of the same year, these episodes were thereby the objects of genuine photographic reports.
Transporting the partially dismantled aircraft from the emergency landing site. This is likely machine 196/16 (serial no. 488). Photo: Greg VanWyngarden
Fokker E.III 196/16 (serial no. 488) was apparently photographed on April 10, 1916, during transport from Courmelois to Châlons, where it was displayed to the public the following day. Photo: L'Argonnaute
Gustave Douchy of Esc. N 38 stands in front of a fighter aircraft Spad XIII. He claimed his first victory on April 10, 1916, during a duel with the pilot of Fokker E.III 196/16 (serial no. 488), but his kill was not confirmed. This apprentice blacksmith and former aircraft mechanic achieved his first confirmed victory on May 5, 1916, and by June 1918 had added eight confirmed victories to his account, with a further eight not recognized. Photo: Gallica
On April 10, 1916, while participating in the establishment of a floating bridge across the canal from the Marne to the Aisne, Jacques Tournadour d'Albay witnessed a dogfight opposing a French biplane to a German Fokker, after which he took several pictures of the German Fighter.
“We're going to work. During lunch (on the bank), we're flown over by a French biplane pursuing a "Boche" aircraft. A few minutes later the “Boche” comes back, stutters and lands near Courmelois. The French descends quickly and rolls over. The airman injured his knee. The Fokker's pilot and his aircraft are unharmed. It's a Fokker E.III N° 196/16, propeller type Gnome 2,46m pitch 0,25. I take a few pictures.” Thus he recounts the event on April 10, 1916. Let's also add that the propeller was, in fact, produced by company Garuda, as evident from both the technical report and the photos.
Nieuport 10 (833) of Esc. N 38, crewed by Sgt. Gustave Douchy (pilot) and S/Lt. Francois Roederer (observer), after a failed landing in a field near Courmelois on April 10, 1916. Photo: L'Argonnaute
The original archive photo is credited with the note that the Nieuport crashed near the Fokker E.III serial no. 488. Photo: L'Argonnaute
This photographer's notes clarify the until then unresolved question of where the overturned Nieuport seen near the Fokker in the photos came from. The pilot of the Fokker supposedly was Uffz. Anton Rösler (Rössler) of FFA 22. He had been at the front for a short time, having been assigned to the unit on March 15, 1916, but had already endured three aerial battles and forced one French aircraft to land. His Fokker E.III 196/16 (c.n. 488) was brand new and had left the factory in Schwerin on March 26. On the fateful April 10, just before 11 am, he engaged in a dogfight with a Caudron from Esc. C 28 and was then fired upon by anti-aircraft gunners from the 7e section d'autos-canons de DCA. He was subsequently pursued by a Nieuport 10 of Esc. N 38, crewed by Sgt. Gustave Douchy (pilot) and S/Lt. Francois Roederer (observer). When they saw that the Fokker was landing on French territory, they attempted to land next to it and preventits pilot from setting the valuable aircraft on fire. However, upon landing, they overturned. Although their victory was not verified, Douchy later became a fighter ace with nine confirmed kills.
A series of photographs from Courmelois showing Uffz. Anton Rösler of FFA 22, presumably before marching into captivity at Châlons. Photo: L'Argonnaute
There were enough French soldiers on the scene to prevent Rösler from damaging or even destroying the Fokker. The captured pilot initially refused to talk, but after marching 30 kilometers and enduring 48 hours without food in the prison in Châlons, he began to answer questions at the headquarters of the 2nd Army. Apparently, it was from this statement that the information emerged that his unit was a Fokker Kampfstaffel A, and he took off on a combat flight from an airfield west of Rethel. However, it seems that he deliberately provided incorrect information, as his actual unit was Feldflieger Abteilung 22 in Vouziers. He claimed that he was not shot down but had to land due to an ignition failure. Upon examination of the aircraft, it was found to have several hits in the wing, one hit in the propeller, and the fuel tank had also sustained damage from a projectile. The Fokker was equipped with a 100 hp Oberursel U.I engine.
Aircraft 196/16 was exhibited in Saint-Mémmie on April 11, 1916, then the French authorities transferred it to the air park in Saint-Cyr. During the summer of 1916, it was located at the Pau flight school. It was adorned with French insignia, but during trials at the research facility, it sustained damage due to a malfunction of the synchronization equipment. The subsequent fate of this aircraft remains unknown to me.
In this photo taken on May 30, 1916, a delegation from the Russian Parliament inspects Fokker E.III 196/16 (serial no. 488) at the air park in Villacoublay. Photo: L'Argonnaute
There is no further information available regarding Anton Rösler, again in the case of this pilot, his name cannot be found in the contemporary list of losses, which was yet meticulously maintained. Considering the scarcity of information regarding both pilots, the loss of these two closely guarded military aircraft within two days raises intriguing questions, to say the least.
I would like to express my gratitude to Messrs. Ian Boudoulec, Gregory VanWyngarden, and Reinhard Zankl for their invaluable assistance in the preparation of this article.
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