The appearance of the Dutch prototype Fokker G.I at the 1936 Paris Salon caused a sensation. The concept of a large twin-engined fighter with devastating armament (8 x 7.9mm machine guns plus bombload of 400kg (880 lbs)) caused it to be called 'Le Faucheur' (the Grim Reaper).
Republican Spain was the first to order this machine (12 examples called G.Ib) followed by the home LVA with an order for 36. An embargo was placed on the Spanish machines and was confiscated on 10 May 1940.
When Germany attacked the Netherlands on 13 May 1940, the 23 combat-ready LVA G.Ia's plus the confiscated G.Ib's fought round the clock until virtually all were destroyed.
Source: Fighting Aircraft of World War II
Published by Salamander Books.
