Fokker D.VII from the Deutsches Museum to the Nationaal Militair Museum, Soesterberg, The Netherlands
On 27 September 2025 there was a 'friends day' at the Nationaal Militair Museum (NMM) at Soesterberg. During this meeting there was a presentation about the Fokker D.VII in service with the Dutch LVA and MLD. After that there was a great briefing by Andreas Hempfer, Dennis Mitschke and Charlotte Holzer about the Fokker D.VII that was at the Deutsches Museum. During this briefing it was made clear how the process had gone that led to bringing this Fokker D.VII to the NMM.
A lot of work has been done by Dennis Mitschke in determining what is under the current paint. When the aircraft was repainted in 1980, a part of a serial and a Dutch roundel was found on the right side of the fuselage when old layers of paint were removed. Unfortunately, this was not recorded properly, only one photo was made. With modern technics, Dennis found evidence of Dutch roundels on the upperwing.
Charlotte Holzer did a lot on recording all serials and numbers found on various parts of the fuselage and other plates attached to it. A lot of these has 'D-28' markings, but these are all on parts that can easily be removed from the fuselage.
If it was the D-20, then it was 'legal' war booty. The D-20 was put out of service in March 1937 and probably sold as scrap.
If it was the D-28, then it was illegal because it was destined to be a museum piece and thus heritage. And taking this in wartime was not allowed by the The Hague convention of 1907.
After the presentations it was possible to take a look at the Fokker D.VII that will be on display in the Nationaal Militair Museum, at least for the next five years. The other Fokker D-VII '266' is currently in the depot of the NMM.
Take a look at the photo's I made during this visit.
