The Fokker D VII originated as the V.11. The V.11 competed with the V.18 which had a fixed vertical stabilizer.
The V.18 was impressive and ordered into full production as the D VII. Fokker built 877 D VII aircraft while
Albatros Werke G.m.b.H. built 1,749 D VII's at both of their plants. At the end of World War II, the Allied Control Commission
required Germany to hand over all Zepplin airships and Fokker D VII aircraft. No other German aircraft were required
to be handed over. Fokker took some of these aircraft back to the Netherlands and set up a factory there. Countries
that bought Fokker D VII's include Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden and the United States.

German fighter pilots in World War 1 were very individual with their paint jobs.This Fokker D VII nr 4523/18 is painted in the colors of Ltn Rudolph Starkwhen flying in Jasta 35b.

After serving with distinction in the 2nd Bavarian Uhlan Regiment, Stark transferred to the German Air Force. Posted to FA(A) 296 on 15 November 1917, he was soon off to Jastaschule II for fighter training. Joining Jasta 34b on 18 January 1918, he scored five confirmed victories in the spring of 1918. On 24 May, he joined Jasta 77b as acting commander and scored his sixth confirmed victory the day after he arrived. On 7 June, he was reassigned to Jasta 35b as Staffelführer where he remained until the end of the war, scoring five more victories flying a Fokker D VII marked with a lilac colored engine cowling and a lilac band on the fuselage.

Victories

Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 23 Mar 1918 1317 Jasta 34 D.H.4 - Barleux
2 24 Mar 1918 1310 Jasta 34 Sopwith Camel - W of Barleux
3 30 Mar 1918 1230 Jasta 34 Sopwith Dolphin - E of Vaire
4 04 Apr 1918 p.m. Jasta 34 R.E.8 - Fouilly
5 04 Apr 1918 p.m. Jasta 34 D.H.4 - S of Hamelet
u/c 19 May 1918 Jasta 34 B.E.2f - Proyart
6 25 May 1918 Jasta 77 R.E.8 - W of Gentelles
u/c 28 May 1918 Jasta 77 R.E.8 - Gentelles Wood
u/c 01 Jun 1918 Jasta 77 S.E.5a - Soyecourt
7 01 Jul 1918 1007 Jasta 35 R.E.8 - NW of Arras
u/c 09 Aug 1918 Jasta 35 Two-seater Corbie
8 12 Sep 1918 Jasta 35 AWFK 8 - Hermies
9 13 Sep 1918 1005 Jasta 35 D.H.4 - Recourt
10 15 Sep 1918 1905 Jasta 35 Sopwith Dolphin - Cagnicourt
u/c 15 Sep 1918 1910 Jasta 35 Sopwith Camel
11 09 Nov 1918 1455 Jasta 35 S.E.5a - E of Bavai Wood