Was flown in World War I by the famous Manfred Von Richthofen. The plane's tri-wing design allowed for superior maneuverability which was critical to WWI dogfighting. Due to the triplane's crimson color, Richthofen was dubbed the 'Red Devil' by the WWI French (this nickname was changed to 'Red Baron' after the war).
Manfred von Richthofen praised this aircraft as the best he had flown. It offered excellent performance, yet it was safe and easy to fly. Richthofen's recommendation led to the first provisional order for 400 production aircraft. In all, Germany produced around 3,300 D-VII aircraft in summer and autumn of 1918.