Dodging Bullets as a WWI balloonist (a balloonist's story)

[jamesmhebert]

"It was not as glamorous a job as that of fighter pilots, but the men who manned tethered observation balloons in World War I had their share of thrills..."

Googling this evening turned this fascinating 9-page story of Birge Clark, a WWI balloonist. I wasn't sure I could share the file here... but the link is a public one, and here it is. I found it a pretty neat read (the article is part of a newsletter published by Stanford University in summer 1986. Birge, later an architect, had ties to the school and area).

http://histsoc.stanford.edu/pdfST/ST10no3_4.pdf

[Madboyo]

Interesting read. Thanks for posting.

[Attila57]

Really interesting read. Yhx

Attilio

[flyingryno]

Very interesting. I saved it and I'm reading it. Thanks

[gully_raker]

Yes thanks for that link as its always great to read first hand accounts from those who were involved!

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Some really interesting information here, especially the reasons for the ceiling being what it was. i often wondered what made it such and such a height.
Rob.

[Bluedevil]

Very informative . Thanks for posting!

[Hunter]

Interesting perspective on an aspect of the war and this technology. Until now, I had only Frank Luke's frame of reference regarding observation balloons! Very eye opening and intrigueing. Thank you so much for posting.