A large number of ex-German military aircraft were brought to Canada in 1919 as part of a war trophy collection acquired by the Dominion Archivist for Canada, LCol Arthur Doughty (later Sir Arthur) for the Canadian government. Included among these were a at least 28 Fokker D.VII fighters (two further aircraft had been written off while in England). Unfortunately only one of the remaining aircraft is known to have survived, that being Fokker D.Vll 6810/ 18 (Alb.) now at Knowlton, Quebec, in the Knowlton Museum of the Bronte County Historical Society. Six aircraft were also donated to Canadian universities but none of these survived intact. Additional aircraft were offered to a variety of 1 technical schools but few details are available for these aircraft. The complete known list of these (30) aircraft is presented here with serial numbers and notes on their fate. Apart from those aircraft donated to universities, where further details of their fate are not known, it seems almost certain they were among those ordered destroyed at Camp Borden, apparently in 1921.
Seven Fokker D.VIIs were delivered at Leaside Aerodrome in August 1919 and at least three were assembled and flown (including #10349/18). The remainder were probably used for spares. Unfortunately the OAW-built D.VIIs did not have their serials painted on them and while these aircraft can be seen in photographs, they cannot be specifically identified, as to which were assembled and flown. It seems likely the above list may still be incomplete for the following reasons. The foundation of the list is the (incomplete) shipping record of the Canadian War Trophies Board with only the occasional other record being found. Even so, at least nine Fokker D.VIIs above are recorded as being in Canada without a shipping record. Two Fokkers, likely D.VIIs, of unrecorded serials, were listed as being shipped on the SS War Peridat on July 7, 1919. The wings of another Fokker were also noted as being shipped from Dieppe on May 23, 1919, on the SS Venusia. Similarly the list of Fokker's dispersed to Canadian universities and technical schools is also incomplete and / or contains some inaccuracies. Kestrel Publicaions
Fokker DVII Summary - Kestrel Publications
Known Squadron Assignments:
Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Venusia May 5, 1919. Placed in storage:Known Squadron Assignments:
No shipping details but arrived in Canada. Coded "RK" from Jasta 63. Delivered to LeasideKnown Squadron Assignments:
No shipping details. Placed in storage: undercarriage not fitted and noted as slightly damagedKnown Squadron Assignments:
Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Venusia May 23, 1919. Placed in storage:Known Squadron Assignments:
Written-off in an accident shortly after delivery from No. 2 ASD at Biggin Hill, England.Known Squadron Assignments:
No shipping record from overseas or Camp Borden. Placed in storage at Camp Borden:Known Squadron Assignments:
Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Venusia May 5, 1919. Placed in storage:Known Squadron Assignments:
Likely with No.1 (Fighter) Squadron, CAF, Shoreham. Shipped to Canada via SS Perklat JuneKnown Squadron Assignments:
Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Venusia May 23, 1919. Placed in storage:Known Squadron Assignments:
No shipping record from overseas. To University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, from Camp Borden,Known Squadron Assignments:
6846/18 (Alb.). Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Venusia May 5, 1919. Placed in storage:Known Squadron Assignments:
Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Montezuma July 10,1919. Noted as being fittedKnown Squadron Assignments:
Fokker built. One of several aircraft on strength with No. 1 Squadron, CAF Shoreham. Held over fromKnown Squadron Assignments:
Fokker built. No shipping details; assembled at No. 2 ASD, France for CAF; fate unknownKnown Squadron Assignments:
Fokker built. No shipping details; assembled at No. 2 ASD, France for CAF; fate unknownKnown Squadron Assignments:
Fokker built. No shipping details; assembled at No. 2 ASD, France for CAF; fate unknownKnown Squadron Assignments:
Fokker built. Shipped to Canada via SS Montezuma July 10,1919. Noted as being fitted with MercedesKnown Squadron Assignments:
Damaged on arrival in England in March 1919. Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SSKnown Squadron Assignments:
Flown to Hounslow, England from No. 2 ASD France by Lt. Griffiths on 26 February 1919. Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SS Venusia May 23, 1919. Assembled and displayed at "War Trophy Building" Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, August 1919; fate unknownKnown Squadron Assignments:
Flown to Hounslow, England from No. 2 ASD France by Capt. Carruthers on 23 February 1919. On strength with 1 Canadian Fighter Squadron in Shoreham, England. Involved in a fatal crash when being flown by Major A.D. Carer of No. 2 (Day Bomber) Squadron. On 22 May 1919, he took off on flight and crashed in a field shortly afterward. The airframe was demolished.Known Squadron Assignments:
No shipping details; assembled at No. 2 ASD, France for CAF; fate unknownKnown Squadron Assignments:
Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Venusia May 23, 1919. Placed in storage: undercarriage not fitted and noted as being slightly damaged by shipping; fate unknownKnown Squadron Assignments:
Flown to Hounslow, England from No. 2 ASD France by Maj Foot on 28 February 1919. Shipped to Canada from Chingford, UK via SS Venusia May 23, 1919. Placed in storage: undercarriage not fitted and noted as being slightly damaged by shipping; fate unknownKnown Squadron Assignments:
Flown to Hounslow, England from No. 2 ASD France by Maj McLea on 23 February 1919. One of several aircraft on strength with No. 1 Squadron, CAF Shoreham. No shipping record from overseas. Noted as being fitted with Mercedes engine #45105. Placed in storage: undercarriage not fitted and noted as being slightly damaged by shipping. Shipped to University of Calgary from Camp Borden May 12,1920. Displayed there July 6-8,1920. Later disassembled and its parts were dispersed.Known Squadron Assignments:
Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SS Venusia May 23, 1919. Noted as being fitted with Mercedes engine #32746. Noted as being on loan to BBAL; fate unknownKnown Squadron Assignments:
Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SS Venusia May 23, 1919. Noted as being fitted with Mercedes engine #45648. Noted as being on loan to BBAL; fate unknownKnown Squadron Assignments:
Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SS Venusia May 23, 1919. Noted as being fitted with Mercedes engine #42527. Noted as being on loan to BBAL. Shipped to McGill University, Montreal, from Camp Borden May 14,1920. University has no record.; fate unknownKnown Squadron Assignments:
Surrendered to American Expeditionary Force at the factory without any German markings applied. Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SS Venusia May 23, 1919. Noted as being fitted with Mercedes engine #37176. Noted as being on loan to BBAL; fate unknown but likely scrapped at Camp Borden.Known Squadron Assignments:
Fokker-built. Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SS Venusia May 23, 1919. Noted as being fittedKnown Squadron Assignments:
Fokker-built. Shipped to Canada from Dieppe via SS Venusia May 23, 1919. Noted as being fitted