{"product_id":"9781399643443","title":"Bloody April","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFrom acclaimed military historian Peter Hart, discover a story of heroism and sacrifice in the skies over Arras, 1917\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReaders say:\u003cbr\u003e'A must for any military history or aviation buff. Excellent' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e'A truly worthy account of the sacrifices made by the brave men of the RFC' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e'An exciting and emotional journey'   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ \u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAs the Allies embarked upon the Battle of Arras - a British offensive on the Western Front in April 1917 - they desperately needed accurate aerial reconnaissance photographs. But by this point in the First World War, pilots from the Royal Flying Club were flying obsolete planes.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe new German \u003ci\u003eAlbatros \u003c\/i\u003efighters massively outclassed them in every respect: speed, armament, ability to withstand punishment and manoeuvrability. Many of the RFC's pilots were straight out of flying school; as they took to the air, they were sitting targets for the experienced German aces. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOver the course of the air support operation that became known as 'Bloody April' the RFC suffered casualties of over a third. The average life expectancy of a new subaltern on the front line dropped to just eleven days.  And yet they carried on flying, day after day, in the knowledge that - in the eyes of their commanders at least - their own lives meant nothing compared to the photographs they brought back, photographs that could save tens of thousands of soldiers on the ground.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eBloody April\u003c\/i\u003e, military historian Peter Hart tells the vital story of the air war over Arras with eyewitness accounts from the men who were actually there.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hart, Peter","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56897925054850,"sku":"9781399643443","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0936\/6575\/5522\/files\/9781399643443.jpg?v=1788873483","url":"https:\/\/archwaybookshop.co.uk\/products\/9781399643443","provider":"Archway Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}