Fokker D-21 (2nd revised print).
Review
ModelFan

Author: Peter de Jong
Publisher: Lanasta (Walburg Pers)
ISBN: 9789464564006
Hardback
Published: 2024   
Pages: 248
Price: 39,99  euro.

Fokker D.21, Fokker's last single-engine fighter. The Fokker D.21 is the most important Dutch aircraft design from the time of the Second World War. The aircraft, designed by a Jewish engineer who had fled Germany, was not without its limitations and imperfections; but for three small neutral countries - the Netherlands, Denmark and Finland - the D.21 was what came closest to the Spitfire when they were attacked by Hitler's and Stalin's war machines in the frightening days of 1939 and 1940. As a result, there is something tragic about the story of this plane: the tragedy of an unequal battle. But the D.21 didn't always get the short end of the stick. The Dutch aircraft fought fierce air battles against the Luftwaffe. In 1934 it was still a fairly advanced aircraft, but after a few years it became obsolete. It was no match for the Me 109. Nevertheless, 38 Junkers Ju 52 were shot down by the D.21 in the May days of 1940. While the Netherlands was occupied by the Germans, the development and production of the D.21 in Finland continued, and as an old frontline soldier, the D.21 fought in the Continuation War against the Russians until 1944, where in the Finnish battle against the Russian invasion forces, Fokker's last single-engine fighter was even a winner in a bitter winter.  

The D.21 is a not insignificant aircraft, but a bookshelf full has certainly not been written about this Fokker. Meritorious smaller editions deal with the Dutch and Finnish D.21s, often foreign editions, but for a comprehensive story of this aircraft from the first sketches in 1935 up to and including the last flights in 1947, the Dutch reader had to go back to a volume from the Dutch Aircraft Encyclopaedia by Hugo Hooftman, a series that enjoys an almost legendary status among enthusiasts, but which is outdated in text and in images. In 2023, Dutch Profile published a "Profile" by Frits Gerdessen, one of the authors of the three G-1 books.


This book is the first major Dutch-language work that tells the interesting story of the Fokker D.21 in all its international facets. The most prominent experts in four different countries collaborated on it. It contains many new insights and is richly illustrated with hundreds of photographs and drawings, many of which have never been published before.
In 2012 the most comprehensive book about this Fokker will be published so far. Peter de Jong then perfects a book about this type, published in France in 2005. The design is completely revised, beautifully designed and provided with many new facts, information and photos that are also in a more logical order. This makes this book the first large, Dutch-language work that tells the complete story of the Fokker D.21 and all its international facets.
This 2nd revised edition obviously has all the previous information, but time did not stand still, because in 2012 there was no complete D.21 left. Let alone a flying one. But that was outdated last year with the rebuilding of a D.21 by Jack van Egmond in Hoogeveen. That is also the biggest addition that can be found in this second edition. Also, from Finland came a number of new photos. And for those who haven't read or heard it yet in Denmark, they are also building a fly worthy D.21.

The book has no less than 20 chapters and a series of appendices, including the beginning, specifications, design and construction. The pre-war period and of course the war days, in which the combat actions of the D-21 are discussed extensively, if not completely. The same applies, of course, to Denmark and Finland. A piece of Germany, as already indicated the flying D-21 of Jack van Egmond and as appendices technical data, a complete production list and an English summary.

Conclusion
A beautifully designed book with many new facts, information and photos that are also in a more logical order. The first and so far only large, Dutch-language work that tells the complete story of the Fokker D.21 and all its international facets. Very well illustrated with dozens of colour photographs, various drawings and images in colour, and hundreds of very well edited black and white photos and images. Much of the material has never been published.
If the book wasn't on your shelf yet because it was sold out, this is your second chance. The photos have Dutch and English captions and an English summary at the end of the book.
I can't say anything else; Grab that second chance!

Thanks to Lanasta/Walburg for the review copy.