Photo: SA-kuva (Finnish Armed Forces photograph, Wartime Photograph Archive). Photographer L. Johnsson.

Engine failure during take-off. Photo: SA-kuva (Finnish Armed Forces photograph, Wartime Photograph Archive). Photographer Borg.

Photo: SA-kuva (Finnish Armed Forces photograph, Wartime Photograph Archive). Photographer Lassi Hämäläinen.

With FK-78 (Fokker C.X). Photo: SA-kuva (Finnish Armed Forces photograph, Wartime Photograph Archive).

The wreckage of this former Finnish Air Force Fokker C.X, served as a mould for the construction of the C.X replica for the Dutch National Military Museum at Soesterberg. The plane was built by a group of elderly, former Fokker employees. At the moment of the photo they had their own room in the VTOC school. The wreck of FK-113 went to the CRASH museum at Aalsmeerderbrug.

The Finnish Air Force ordered four C.Xs and a manufacturing licence on May 18th 1936. The Finnish C.X was equipped with Bristol Pegasus radial engine. Fokker delivered aircraft in January 1937. The State Aircraft Factory delivered 35 Fokker C.Xs 1938-1943. The Fokker C.X was used as reconnaissance and photo-reconnaissance aircraft as well as as bomber, dive bomber, observation aircraft and transport aircraft in war. (Aviationmuseums.fi) Photo: SA-kuva (Finnish Armed Forces photograph, Wartime Photograph Archive). Photographer L. Johnsson.

The Fokker C.X was designed in 1933, for scouting and lighter bomber purposes. The Finnish Air Force was a big customer with 39 frames (the aircraft was also license-built in Finland). the Royal Netherlands Air Force took 20 frames and the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force took 13. The Republican Spanish Air Force seemed to have 2 delivered to them. The Dutch ones were somewhat succesful in their missions, but after the German attack in May 1940, only 2 frames managed to escape to France. Unfortunately I do not know the serial of the aircraft in this photo.

713 first flew on April 2, 1936 and entered service in May 1936. In May 1940 the aircraft was based at Bergen and was the first aircraft to attack Valkenburg on May 10. The aircraft made 4 wartime flights. On May 14, 1940 it made a flight to Ruigenhoek and was set on fire by friendlies. 704 first flew on February 28, 1936 and entered service sometime in 1936. In May 1940 it was parked in hangar 4 at Bergen for revision, when it was destroyed during a bombing. For info on 707 see my other photo.

707 first flew on March 6, 1936 and entered service sometime in 1936. In May 1940 it was parked in hangar 4 at Bergen for revision, when it was destroyed during a bombing.

709 made its first flight on March 6, 1936. In May 1940 it was parked in hangar 4 at Bergen for revision, when it was destroyed during a bombing. 705 had its first flight on February 28, 1936 at was also stationed at Bergen. It made a couple of wartime flights and on May 14, 1940 it was flown to France and abandoned at Dunkirk.

A small batch of Fokker C.X reconnaissance aircraft were delivered to the NEI army air force, headquartered at Andir, near Bandung. The third aircraft in the row is FCX-454. Photo by: Leiden University Libraries

A Bristol Mercury-powered Fokker C.X reconnaissance bomber at a Finnish forward airfield in Russia. In winter, it was easier to use frozen Viiksjärvi (Vikshozero) lake than the runway on the shore. This location is not to be confused with Viiksjärvi near Rovaniemi, or other Lakes Vikshozero in Karelia. Photo by: L Johnsson / SA-kuva

Replica still under construction

A batch of twelve new C.X (C.10) reconnaissance bombers near the Fokker facility at Schiphol. Propellers are still missing on the left row. The right row are 716, 710, 704, 706, 707 and 715. These planes are listed as delivered between 22 February and 9 April 1936. The Lufthansa Ju 52 in the background appears to be D-AXUT Lothar von Richthofen, and the DH.86 Express seems to be G-ADEB. Photo from: Amsterdam City Archives

Bodo Sandberg taking the oath. Sandberg flew the Fokker C.V, C.X, T.V and G.I. He escaped to England during the occupation of Holland and ended the war flying P-40s in New Guinea. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

The C.X reconnaissance biplane saw combat in Dutch and Finnish service during WWII. 710 is flying in formation with 705 and 714 here. The city below is Assen (not Amersfoort). Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection