Editing Battle of Vimy Ridge (section)

===Air operations===
{{see also|Royal Flying Corps|Luftstreitkräfte}}

[[File:RFC aircraft with aerial reconnaissance camera.jpg|thumb|Observer of the Royal Flying Corps in a photographic reconnaissance aircraft, showing the camera|alt=a military member is seated in the observer's cockpit of a Royal Flying Corps plane. The emblem of the Royal Flying Corps is prominently displayed on the side of the aircraft. The military member is seen adjusting a camera mounted to the side of the fuselage, positioned just behind the wing.]]
The RFC launched a determined effort to gain air superiority over the battlefield in support of the spring offensive. The Canadians considered activities such as artillery observation and photography of opposing trench systems, troop movements and gun emplacements essential to continue their offensive.{{sfn|Barris|2007|p=49}} The Royal Flying Corps deployed 25 squadrons totalling 365 aircraft along the Arras sector, outnumbering the {{lang|de|[[Luftstreitkräfte]]}} (Imperial German Air Service) by 2-to-1.{{sfn|Barris|2007|p=49}} Byng was given use of [[No. 2 Squadron RAF|No. 2 Squadron]], [[No. 208 Squadron RAF|No. 8 (Naval) Squadron]], [[No. 25 Squadron RAF|No. 25 Squadron]], [[No. 40 Squadron RAF|No. 40 Squadron]] and [[No. 43 Squadron RAF|No. 43 Squadron]], with No. 16 Squadron permanently attached to the Canadian Corps and employed exclusively for reconnaissance and artillery-observation.{{sfn|Turner|2005|p=43}}

Aerial reconnaissance was often a hazardous task because of the necessity of flying at slow speeds and low altitudes. The task was made more dangerous with the arrival of German air reinforcements, including the highly experienced and well-equipped [[Jasta 11]] which led to a sharp increase in RFC losses. Although significantly outnumbering the Germans, the RFC lost 131 aircraft during the first week of April ([[Bloody April]]).{{sfn|Turner|2005|p=43}} Despite the losses suffered by the RFC, the {{lang|de|Luftstreitkräfte}} failed to prevent the British from carrying out its priority, air support of the army during the Battle of Arras with up-to-date aerial photographs and other reconnaissance information.{{sfn|Barris|2007|p=49}}