Sopwith Doghouse

The Sopwith Doghouse was a fighter aircraft developed by Sopwith for use by the Royal Flying Circus in World War I. Introduced in 1917, it soon became the mainstay of the RFC, having been flown by some of the most illustrious aviators of the time, including Snoopy and Lord Flasheart.

Characteristics
As its name might suggest, the Sopwith Doghouse was a larger version of the accommodations typically provided for dogs by humans. Somehow, the engineers at Sopwith were able to fit this simple and rugged beast with an engine that enabled it to fly without such necessities as wings or visible controls. Though reasonably fast and maneuverable, its best feature was the ability to endure copious amounts of machine gun bullets and still remain airborne -- or at least get its pilot to the ground without grievous bodily harm.

History
Built to meet an Air Ministry decree for a capable interim fighter, the Doghouse first saw service in the spring of 1917, in the newly-constituted No. 6 Squadron, RFC. By the summer of that year, pilots such as Snoopy and the indomitable Lord Flasheart had taken to the aircraft like spotted dick jokes to a twelve-year-old. The Doghouse saw extensive service through the end of the war, however, in the last months, it began to be supplanted by Sopwith's successor aircraft, the Swipe.

Appearances

 * Blackadder Goes Forth (indrect mention)
 * "Peanuts" by Charles M. Schultz