ANSWER 1: “Following the lead given by Richthofen in the colouring of his machines, the pilots of “B” flight, who were all Canadians had painted their triplanes a dead black and had christened them with appropriate names. Its personnel on June 24, 1917, was as follows: Flight Lieutenant Raymond Collishaw flying “Black Maria,” with twenty-three victories; Flight Sub-Lieutenant Ellis Reid, of Toronto, flying “Black Roger,” with eighteen victories; Flight Sub-Lieutenant J. E. Sharman, of Winnipeg, flying “Black Death,” with eleven victories; Flight Sub-Lieutenant J.E. Nash, of Hamilton, flying “Black Sheep,” with eight victories; and Flight Sub-Lieutenant M. Alexander of Toronto, flying “Black Prince,” with six victories. This flight of five young Canadians, all in their early twenties, was one of the most formidable fighting units on the Western Front with a total of sixty-six German planes to their credit. On the same part of the front was Jagdstaffel 11 commanded by Baron Richthofen, and almost daily they met patrols of the brilliantly coloured Albatrosses, many of the best German pilots falling in battle under their deadly guns. Collinshaw’s machines became as well known to the Germans as Richthofen’s to the British.”

Source:

Canada’s Fighting Airmen,

pg. 76-77 (Drew)