Book Title:
Fokker D.XXI Aces of World War 2 (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces #112)
Author:
Kari Stenman and Peter de Jong
ISBN:
178096062X
Category:
History
Format:
Paperback
Summary:
This entry in the Osprey “Aircraft of the Aces” series covers distinguished pilots of the Dutch Fokker D.XXI, in the Finnish-Soviet “Winter War” as well as the German invasions of Denmark and Holland. (Spoiler alert: the very brief air war between the Luftwaffe and Denmark did not produce any Danish aces with the D. XXI, although a couple of Danish pilots HAD scored victories against the Soviets with this plane, as volunteers with the Finns.)

Many Wings of Glory players are probably already familiar with the Osprey books, a very useful resource for modelers and military historians. Osprey’s books make wonderful introductions to a plethora of common military subjects, and (perhaps even better) represent the most accessible books in English on quite a number of obscure ones. They are illustrated with photographs and high-quality color artwork, and “Fokker D.XXI Aces” is no exception in this regard.

The fighter itself would be a wonderful addition to early-war scenarios in “Wings of Glory” and critical to a good simulation of the Winter War. A fixed-undercarriage, closed-cockpit monoplane with a radial engine, and a late product of legendary designer Anthony Fokker, the sleek D.XXI was representative of the newest generation of fighters in the late 1930’s in every way except its landing gear – and the fixed undercarriage would prove an asset rather than a problem in the arctic conditions of the Winter War, since it was a suitable arrangement for mounting skis on the aircraft. The design and production of the aircraft and its entry into service with the Dutch, Finns and Danes is discussed in the first two chapters, and first-hand accounts by pilots who flew the D.XXI (or flew against it) are interspersed throughout the book.

The book’s Winter War account brings up the interesting point that the famous German “Schwarm” formation (the “finger-four” which replaced the tight, flying-phalanx-like trios beloved of aerobatic fliers between the wars) may have been a Finnish development. Certainly the effective tactics of the Finns as well as a high degree of motivation and “home field advantage” contributed to the excellent performance of their fighters in the Winter War. This fairly brief but intense conflict was, on the ground, a successful defense, and in the air, an interesting foreshadowing of the Battle of Britain, in which strategic bombing didn’t have the effect prewar planners had hope for and in which defending fighters took a heavy toll on the attacking forces. The D. XXI’s performance, however, did not match that of the Soviet I-16, and Lt. Col. Lorentz (the originator of the wingman/”Schwarm” system) forbade fighter-to-fighter dogfights, in favor of the destruction of bombers. Since bombers were frequently unescorted in these early days, this was a reasonably practical decision, until Soviet bombers were re-tasked to direct support of the troops on the front – a situation in which the I-16’s could effectively cover them. Finnish losses were unavoidable,; Llv24 (Lt. Col. Lortentz’s squadron) began the Winter War with 35 D.XXI’s and ended it with 22. However, the squadron claimed 120 victories, 100 of them bombers, and only nine of its losses had been in aerial combat.

Gloster Gladiators arrived on the front, and D.XXI’s continued to serve beside them, until the end of the Winter War. During the lull between the Winter War and the Continuation War, the Finns upgraded to Brewster Buffalos and relegated the D.XXI’s to home defense . It would continue this role during the Continuation War, but the D. XXI’s most distinguished front-line Arctic service was over. Its brief defensive service against the German offensive in the West, however, was still to come. This, too, is covered in detail in this excellent Osprey title. D.XXI’s faced off repeatedly with Bf.110’s over the Netherlands, rather effectively – which should have been an early warning to the Germans that the “Zerstorer” concept was not the air-superiority advantage Goering thought it was.

In this brief review I am shortchanging the Dutch service of this Dutch plane, in favor of my current topic of research, the Finnish Air Force. However, readers may rest assured that they will not be disappointed in the book’s coverage of the plane’s service with the Netherlands, and the illustrations (including color illustrations) of the plane are divided almost equally between the two nations which used the fighter most extensively (with a Danish example included, too).

A great book, overall. Likely to make any “Wings of Glory WW2” player itch to patrol over Lake Ladoga or match maneuverability against firepower by challenging a Bf-110 over Holland. I read this book in its Kindle electronic edition, which is great for taking notes and for ready reference, but really restricts full enjoyment of the illustrations; I would assume any serious modeler would need the paper, not the Kindle, edition.