<article><hdr>Ground shot of a Fokker D.VIII</hdr><body>
<hi style=afpcap>The United States has always attempted to implement an unwritten policy to 'buy American', although this has not always been possible resulting in some overseas products being used. Amongst those which were purchased after World War Two were some Fokker biplanes which General Billy Mitchell was able to procure for the Army. The Army acquired a number of surrendered Fokker D.VIIs in 1919 which were impressed into service. These were shipped to the USA for evaluation, with the Army being sufficiently impressed that they purchased an additional number from Fokker.</hi>
