Fokker E.II
The Fokker E.II was the second version of the German Fokker Eindecker single‑seat fighter in World War I. It used the same basic airframe as the E.I, but powered by a 75 kW (100 hp) Oberursel U.I rotary engine, a close copy of the French Gnôme Monosoupape. Unlike the E.I, whose gun was bolted on, the E.II’s weapon system was integrated into the airframe.
The E.II had a shorter wingspan to gain speed, but its handling and climbing performance were not as good as the E.I. It also carried more fuel—90 litres—to feed the U.I engine, which burned fuel at about 54 litres per hour (the E.I used 37 L/h). The heavier engine required a somewhat longer rear fuselage and a larger, raised nose cowling, along with extra structural work to support the raised upper deck.
Fokker demonstrated the E.II on 13 June 1915 to German commanders, including Crown Prince Wilhelm, and again on 23–24 June at Douai for the German Sixth Army. During these demonstrations, Fokker reportedly could not find an enemy to engage.
Production and service: 49 E.II aircraft were built. By December 1915, 45 had been delivered to the Western Front. Production then switched to the next model, the Fokker E.III, which used the same 75 kW U.I engine. Some E.IIs completed later were finished as E.IIIs, and some E.IIs sent back for repairs were upgraded to E.III specifications.
In short, the E.II was a speed-focused upgrade with a bigger engine, but it was quickly superseded by the E.III.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 08:48 (CET).