100 Years Ago April 1917

[L-4Pilot]

The United States entered WW I.

From the Life Archives
First Lieut. Eddie Rickenbacker, 94th Aero Squadron, American ace w. 26 kills, standing up in cockpit of his French made Spad plane, during WWI.
Location:
Rembercourt, France
Date taken:
October 18, 1918
Photographer:
Gideon J. Eikleberry

[Mossie]

April 1917 also known as 'Bloody April' due to very high losses by the Allied Squadrons.


Sorry I was wrong, that should have been April 16 not 17 !!

[Richard W.]

I love the details on the Spad.

What a brute of an aircraft.

[Dave Hadfield]

I thought Bloody April was in 1917.

The Albatross 2-gun fighters were superior to the single-gun DH-2 and Pup, and the SE-5 and the Camel had not come into service yet. That imbalance, plus the battle of Arras requiring the strategy of Offense on the part of Trenchard, plus poor flight training in England, resulted in high Allied casualties.

And of course there was no American input yet, except for volunteers in foreign services.

[Mossie]

I thought Bloody April was in 1917.

The Albatross 2-gun fighters were superior to the single-gun DH-2 and Pup, and the SE-5 and the Camel had not come into service yet. That imbalance, plus the battle of Arras requiring the strategy of Offense on the part of Trenchard, plus poor flight training in England, resulted in high Allied casualties.

And of course there was no American input yet, except for volunteers in foreign services.

Yes, I was wrong. Bloody April was 1917. Aircraft like the Spad and others helped to even the score.