87
●
(AVIATION)
U.S. Air Force album depicting “high altitude balloons” manufactured by the Firestone Tire and
Rubber Co., with 94 photographs, many of them cool images of this very large, unusually-shaped
aircraft; also includes scenes of airmen preparing and inflating the vessel, close ups of parts, group
portraits of men in uniform, and scenes of the guys enjoying leisure activities at the base; with a
few family snapshots. Silver prints, 7
3
/
4
x9
1
/
2
inches (19.7x24.1 cm.), and smaller, several with
notations on recto or handwritten captions. Oblong folio, red stiff wrappers. 1942-1944
[600/900]
This large balloon, which was tethered with metal cables, was used to defend against low-level aircraft
attack by damaging the approaching aircraft (which collided with the cables), or at least making the
attacker’s approach more difficult. Some versions of the aircraft carried small explosive charges that would
be pulled up against the aircraft to ensure its destruction.
The balloon looks a bit like a sea creature out of a Disney cartoon.With its fins (wings?) and soft round
shape, this particular design had none of the hallmarks associated with its cousin, the blimp.
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