AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA

Sopwith Triplane


One of the most distinctive aircraft of the First World War, the Sopwith Triplane had an impact far beyond the small number produced (144-148 depending on source). First flown in May 1916, the prototype, N500, was in France by July with A Sqn, No.1 Wing RNAS. However it was to be Spring 1917 before it was to see frontline service with Nos. 1(N), 8(N) and 10(N)Sqns RNAS. Additionally it was used by 9N and 12N in the defence and OTU roles.

The Triplane came as a shock to the German Air Service, so much so that Idflieg immediately ordered German manufacturers to produce their own version of the Triplane - the best known of which were the Fokker Dr.I and Pfalz Dr.I.

Despite its outstanding performance, the Triplane was to have a short stay at the front., with most gone by the end of the summer 1917 - although No.12(N)Sqn held onto theirs until January 1918. The reason for this may be due to the arrival of the Camel, which with its two guns and easier rigging had begun to replace the Triplane in August 1917.

Ex-works finish was either PC10 or PC12 fabric with natural metal cowl and flank panels and varnished ply cockpit deckings. To date the colour is not known for sure if it was PC10 or PC12, but evidence now points to it being the latter, therefore I am in the process of converting my older watercolour and computer profiles to PC12 from the PC10 that they originally have. Later Tripes were in overall PC10/12.

References on the Triplane include Datafile No.22; the Fighting Triplanes by Evan Hadingham; and the Osprey book on Triplane Aces.

18 Triplanes were to see service with the French Naval Air Service - Mike Westrop did an article on them in Cross and Cockade International 36/4.


 


Sopwith Triplane N500

No.1 Wing RNAS
June 1916
Source:


Sopwith Triplane N500
FSL R S Dallas
No.1 Wing RNAS
July 1916
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile

 


Sopwith Triplane N5420

No.1 Wing RNAS
November-December 1916
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile


Sopwith Triplane N5431

No.2 Wing RNAS
March 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile


Sopwith Triplane N5429

No.1(N)Sqn RNAS
Spring 1917
Source: C&C(GB) 15/4

 


Sopwith Triplane N5479

No.1(N)Sqn RNAS
Spring 1917
Source: C&C(GB) 2/1


Sopwith Triplane N5427
Flt/Lt FHM Maynard
No.1(N)Sqn RNAS
Spring 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile


Sopwith Triplane N5387

No.1(N)Sqn RNAS
Spring 1917
Source: C&C(GB)

 


Sopwith Triplane N5429
FSL John R Wilford
No.1(N)Sqn RNAS
September 1917
Source: Richthofen - Beyond the Legend

Sopwith Triplane N5472
Flt/Cdr HV Rowley
No.1(N)Sqn RNAS
October 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile

Sopwith Triplane N5377
FSL MJ Watson
No.1(N)Sqn RNAS
October 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile


Sopwith Triplane N5454
Flt/Lt Richard P Minifie
No.1(N)Sqn RNAS
October 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile

 


Sopwith Triplane N5475

No.1(N)Sqn RNAS
October 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile

Sopwith Triplane

No.1(N)Sqn RNAS
October 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile


Sopwith Triplane N534

No.1(N)Sqn RNAS

Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile

 


Sopwith Triplane N5449

No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
March 1917
Source: Fighter Pilot on the Western Front
REVISED

 


Sopwith Triplane N5439
FSL E D Crundall
No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
March 1917
Source: Conjectural

 


Sopwith Triplane N5464
FSL E D Crundall
No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
Spring 1917
Source: Fighter Pilot on the Western Front

Sopwith Triplane N5450

No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
Spring 1917
Source: Conjectural


Sopwith Triplane N5442

No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
Spring 1917
Source: Conjectural

 


Sopwith Triplane N5467
FSL E B J Walter
No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
April 1917
Source: Conjectural

Sopwith Triplane

No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
Spring 1917
Source: Conjectural


Sopwith Triplane N5464
FSL R R Soar
No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
Spring 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile

 


Sopwith Triplane N5474
FSL E B Roach
No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
April 1917
Source: C&C(GB) 15/4

Sopwith Triplane N5493
F/Cdr R A Little
No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
Spring 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile

Sopwith Triplane N6292
F/Lt R R Soar
No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
Spring 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile


Sopwith Triplane

No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
Spring 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile

 


Sopwith Triplane N5468
FSL CHB Jenner-Parsons
No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
Spring 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile

Sopwith Triplane

No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
Spring 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile


Sopwith Triplane N6290
F/Cdr RJO Compston
No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
Summer 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile



Sopwith Triplane N6301    DUSTY II
FSL R McDonald
No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
Summer 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile

Sopwith Triplane N5482    MAUD
F/Cdr C D Booker
No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
August 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile


Sopwith Triplane N5421

No.8(N)Sqn RNAS

Source: Conjectural



Sopwith Triplane N5493

No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
Summer 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile


Sopwith Triplane N5421

No.8(N)Sqn RNAS
August 1917
Source: Profile Booklet


Sowith Triplane N5459
FSL Oliver LeBoutillier
No.9(N)Sqn RNAS
June 1917
Source: Osprey Triplane Aces

 


Sopwith Triplane N6307
FSL JE Sharman
No.10(N)Sqn RNAS
June 1917
Source:
REVISED 2006

Sopwith Triplane N5376
FSL GE Nash
No.10(N)Sqn RNAS
June 1917
Source: RNAS Serials


Sopwith Triplane N5487
FSL WM Alexander
No.10(N)Sqn RNAS
June 1917
Source: OTF 4/2
REVISED 2006



Sopwith Triplane N5358
FSL Robert Saunders
No.10(N)Sqn RNAS
June 1917
Source: SK Taylor Photo


Sopwith Triplane N533
Flt/Lt Raymond Collishaw
No.10(N)Sqn RNAS
July 1917
Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile

 


Sopwith Triplane N5357
FSL RL Kent
No.10(N)Sqn RNAS
July 1917
Source: RNAS Serials

Sopwith Triplane N6295
Flt/Lt Howard Saint
No.10(N)Sqn RNAS
August 1917
Source: C&C(GB) 10/1

Sopwith Triplane
A Flight
No.10(N)Sqn RNAS
June-July 1917
Source: Conjectural


Sopwith Triplane
C Flight
No.10(N)Sqn RNAS
June-July 1917
Source: Conjectural

 


Sopwith Triplane N5910 - 5912


Source: Sopwith Triplane Datafile

French Triplane

German Triplane