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Klaas Willem Jonker
(Wilko)
† April 30, 2018

On Monday 30 April 2018, Wilko Jonker died after a long illness at the age of 58. He leaves behind a wife and two children. The Dutch military aviation and plastic modeling were his hobby and on this website he shared all the knowledge he has collected over the years. His hobby has been able to distract him from the persistent disease in his body until the last week of his life. The contacts with other hobbyists were a major support for him.

This website will be maintained by different people for as long as possible, so that other enthusiasts can continue to benefit from extensive content.

Rumpler C.VIII

Published: Wednesday, 22 June 2011 07:38 | Print | | Hits: 9436
Page 2 of 6

During the summer of 1917 lt Duinker and Lt. Versteegh were travelling through Germany, looking for aircraft for the LVA.
Besides the fact that they had the opportunity to test the Fokker D.III, at Rumpler-Werke at Johannistal forty Rumpler C-VIII scouts were ordered. In March 1918 this aircraft was tested thoroughly by Versteegh, than the order was definite and the factory could start building the aircraft.
November 1918 because of possibility of sabotage it was forbidden to use the Rumplers.

May 1919 there was an air show at Copenhagen and two aircraft R4558 and R462 flew to Denmark. The R462, caught fire on the outward journey and crashed. The crew, lt Duinker and Perk, was unfortunately killed.
Some time later another Rumpler caught fire during an exercise near Ede. At the end of November 1919 Rumpler R452 caught fire during a flight above air base Soesterberg and crashed, killing the crew, lt. Land and lt. Van Dijk.
The result was that it was ordered not to fly with the Rumplers. A committee of the Government searched for the cause of these accidents. March 1921 a report stated that the engine used, was unreliable and might caught fire spontaneous.
Concluded was that the aircraft was in use in Germany and also thoroughly tested when it was bought. All Rumplers were written off during 1920 and some were used for taxiing exercises and these were re-registered R1, R2, etc.

Rumpler C.VIII, crashed at Soesterberg. This has to be Rumpler R418, which crash on October 4, 1918 after a collision with a mast. Lt  A.N.S.W.L. Coblijn (pupil) was severely wounded. Instructor was Lt. J.C.G. Duinker.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII serial R454 on its nose on the Sint Pietersberg (Maastricht) May 7, 1919. Crew sgt.maj. vl. W. van der Drift and lt.observer Van Driel.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
A Rumpler C.VIII visiting naval air station De Kooy.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII: observers cockpit with machine gun.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII R456 at Soesterberg. From left to right  Lt. Mulder, Lt. De Ruijter van Steveninck and Lt. J.T.H. van Weeren.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII and a Fokker D.III at Soesterberg.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII at Soesterberg. The generator under the fuselage is clearly visible.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII at Soesterberg.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII at the ELTA in 1919.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
One of the first Rumplers C.VIII at Soesterberg, possibly May 1918.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII taxi trainer serial 450.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
One of the first Rumplers C.VIII at Soesterberg, possibly May 1918.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII serial 471
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII with crew.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]