Anthony Fokker - Definition and Overview

Anton Herman Gerard 'Anthony' Fokker (April 6, 1890 - December 23, 1939), was born in Kediri (Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia) and became a Dutch aircraft manufacturer.

After constructing his first airplane at age 20 in Germany (the Spin (Spider)), he gained fame during World War I by building planes for Germany. Due to the treaty of Versailles, the Germans could no longer build aircraft or even aircraft engines in Germany after the war. Therefore he moved to the Netherlands to start his own Fokker aircraft company in 1919. His focus shifted from military to civil aircraft. He moved to the United States and later assumed American citizenship.

His nickname was The Flying Dutchman.