Fokker G-1 jachtkruiser – Deel 2
When the Fokker G-1 book Part 1 was introduced in August 2011 work on the second part on its operational career was progressing well and the second part was expected to be published after a year. However, because of a constant stream of new data and pictures it was delayed several times.
Finally, on Friday 15 March 2013 the new title was officially released by a small celebration held at the MLM museum at Soesterberg.
This second part is the final and concluding work of some 13 years of intensive research by the people from the Fokker G-1 Foundation. Where Part 1 gave the history of its development and early flight testing and the further development as export versions and the design already of a successor, this part gives details on its operational use before and during the war. It was operational at the Dutch LVA, but after the capitulation of the Netherlands captured G-1’s as well as G-1’s completed by Fokker under German supervision became also operational at the Luftwaffe.
This second part is divided in the following chapters:
1. Flying the G-1 with also an overview of contemporary types from other countries
2. Operational introduction and use by the Dutch air force
3. Start of the war and G-1 operations during the 5-days war with Germany
4. Capitulation and capture of G-1’s still left
5. The G-1 in Luftwaffe service
The individual fate of all G-1’s is given in a separate annex.
Although from new documents and personal interviews much new information was discovered, lots of issues on the G-1 still remain unclear. Especially on Luftwaffe use, there still remain a lot of questions to be answered and the authors are so frank to admit these data gaps rather than ‘making things right’.
This means a lot of questions will remain unanswered, most likely forever!
The book is amply illustrated by photographs, maps, aircraft colour profiles and drawings. Illustrator Jan Broos had made for Part 1 very detailed and clear technical line drawings. For this part he has made a number of very realistic battle scenes as coloured pen drawings and you really must see them to believe how good they are!
Most of the photographs are from private sources, rather than from official side like Fokker and that means they are published here for the first time. About the photographs of the G-1 in German markings I can be very short: there are not just a few but dozens. Also here most are from private source and never published before
With this release of Part 2 the history of the G-1 is laid down as accurately as possible and the authors should be really praised for their painstaking work over the many years. It also is for the first time the Luftwaffe use is fully described as far as this was possible. The Luftwaffe never used it as a fighter, but instead it was used for combat training and liaison work.
The G-1 has always been a legendary aircraft type and from this part 2 we learn that during the German attack many G-1’s were destroyed on the ground. However, the G-1’s that managed to take off made their presence definitely known to the Luftwaffe and most starts resulted in the damage or destruction of a Luftwaffe plane!
For people interested in this unorthodox aircraft both parts now give most answers and both must be regarded as the major reference works on the G-1!
Book rating: Excellent; HIGHLY recommended!!
Book details:
Title: Fokker G-1 jachtkruiser Deel 2
Authors: Frits Gerdessen, Karel Kalkman, Cor Oostveen and Willem Vredeling
Type/size: Hardcover A4 size on glossy paper with 256 pages
ISBN no.: 978-90-8616-121-8
Language: Dutch with an English summary. All captions of photos and drawings are bi- lingual
Publisher: Lanasta, Slenerbrink 206, 7812 HJ Emmen, the Netherlands (www.lanasta.nl)
Price: Euro 37.95 excluding P&P
Where to buy: directly at www.lanasta.nl or in specialized aviation bookshops
With special thanks to Jantinus Mulder from publisher Lanasta for providing a free review copy of this book.
Nico Braas
