Balloons are Historic Aviation??

Within seconds, my PC quit.

New one today, so can say that – of course – it was Google’s 12th Birthday!

= Tim

USS Nevada BB-36 1 March 1919 with kite balloon (for gunnery spotting via telephone wire).

The US Army assigned its first aircraft to the Signal Corps… which had been using tethered balloons for troop spotting & gunnery control since the American Civil War (1861-1865).

By gawd I think he’s got it!

Could this be an early attempt at a flying boat?

It’s only on Google classic and not on iGoogle.

Not finding it on any google, I want to have some fun.

There was a class of RN vessel called a Kite Balloon Ship, the balloon being used for observation of enemy shipping, U Boats, and aerial activity.
According to Wiki, the phrase ‘the balloon is going up’ stems from these as the raising of the balloon was usually followed by enemy activity.

Or of course it could the Women’s Auxiliary Balloon Corps on a day out!

Evening chumpy. Shouldn’t the caption be:

“One of Britain’s least successful submarine craft – or the balloon’s going up so dive, dive, dive!”

Oh well, maybe I should just go back to obscure aeroplane threads!

Hmmm perhaps you should stick to obscure aeroplane stuff. Though you could be on to something with the Submarine bit, perhaps used for spotting lurking U-Boats in coastal waters?

Evening chumpy. Shouldn’t the caption be:

“One of Britain’s least successful submarine craft – or the balloon’s going up so dive, dive, dive!”

Oh well, maybe I should just go back to obscure aeroplane threads!

Okay then balloon fans can anyone supply any info as to what the Royal Navy used this gas-bag for?

Scan of a 1916 vintage press photo, caption reads ‘ A little known craft of the British Navy, our picture shows the balloon ship with an inflated balloon in the stern ready for immediate ascent’

There is a name on the bow of the ship, very hard to read something like MEDSOE / WEDSOE or similar?

Cheers, Chumpy.

PS As for the Google thing, thought I was still p****ed when I turned on the PC first thing this morning!

Balloon Command? Is THAT it?? Just great.

For those who can’t get it , it’s just like herding sheep. I would love to keep it as a doodler.

= Tim

And don’t forget that unmanned, un-tethered, balloons were used offensively by both the Japanese and the Brits in WW2.
Resmoroh

Indeed Tim – there is not much written here on RAF Balloon Command.

Seems to have been overlooked by more illustrious or is that precocious siblings.

I recall that they were also responsible for downing of many German aircraft.

Tim
Clever? Intensely frustrating, I’d say! What’s it all about?

Are you two seeing something I’m not?! just got the usuall Google homepage here!:confused:

No. That’s magnificent. Virtual surrealism. Let’s have more of the same!

Google? Can you expand on that Tim?