"Bloody April" is RAF's sad period of 1917 when 40 % of their aircraft were shot down. Piloting outclassed aircraft, the English pilots were engaged in observation and bomb missions and had to defend themselves against the fearsome German Albatros fighter. In april 1917, 20 British aircraft were shot down by Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the "Red Baron". This painting shows him attacking a Sopwith Strutter with his agile Albatros biplane fighter.