Editing Fokker D.VII (section)

===World War I===
[[File:Herman Goering 1918 Jasta 11.jpg|thumb|Hermann Göring, commander of [[Jagdgeschwader 1 (World War I)|''Jagdgeschwader'' 1]], beside his Fokker D.VII 5125/18. He holds a walking stick previously owned by [[Manfred von Richthofen]]]]
[[File:Photograph Q63153.jpg|thumb|Ernst Udet beside his D.VII, nicknamed "Lo"]]

[[File:Fd72.jpg|thumb|Fokker D.VII of ''Jasta'' 66]]
When the Fokker D.VII entered squadron service with ''Jasta'' 10 in early May 1918, Allied pilots at first underestimated the new fighter because of its squarish, ungainly appearance. However, their experiences in combat quickly forced them to revise their view. The type quickly proved to have many important advantages over the Albatros and [[Pfalz Flugzeugwerke|Pfalz]] scouts. Unlike the Albatros scouts, the D.VII could dive without any fear of structural failure. The D.VII was also noted for its high manoeuvrability and ability to climb, its remarkably docile stall and reluctance to spin. It could "hang on its prop" without stalling for brief periods of time, spraying enemy aircraft from below with machine gun fire. These handling characteristics contrasted with contemporary scouts such as the [[Sopwith Camel|Camel]] and [[SPAD S.XIII|SPAD]], which stalled sharply and spun vigorously.

Several aircraft suffered rib failures and fabric shedding on the upper wing. Heat from the engine sometimes ignited [[phosphorus]] ammunition until additional cooling louvers were installed on the metal sides of the engine cowling panels and fuel tanks sometimes broke at the seams. Aircraft built by the Fokker factory at Schwerin were noted for their lower standard of workmanship and materials. Despite faults, the D.VII proved to be a remarkably successful design, leading to the familiar aphorism that it could turn a mediocre pilot into a good one and a good pilot into an ace.

Richthofen died days before the D.VII began to reach the ''Jagdstaffeln'' and never flew it in combat. Other pilots, including [[Erich Löwenhardt]] and [[Hermann Göring]], quickly racked up victories and generally lauded the design. Aircraft availability was limited at first, but by July there were 407 in service. Larger numbers became available by August, by which point D.VIIs had achieved 565 victories. The D.VII eventually equipped 46 ''Jagdstaffeln''. When the war ended in November, 775 D.VII aircraft were in service.