The Sopwith Triplane first saw service over France in 1916. Sopwith Triplanes were only used by the Royal Naval Air Service. This aircraft was ‘Black Maria’ flown by Flight Sub-Lieutenant Raymond Collishaw of the Black Flight (“B” Flight of No. 10 (Naval) Squadron). The Sopwith Triplane only saw service for a short period but it was so manoeuvrable that it inspired the German designer Fokker to design his own triplane, one of which was to be flown by the famous ‘Red Baron’ Manfred von Richthofen.