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British observation balloon from 1908, typical of pre-WWI observation balloons. An observation balloon is a type of balloon that is employed as an aerial platform for gathering intelligence and spotting artillery. The use of observation balloons began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they ...
Caquot kite balloon (in French Caquot Captif) was a type of non-rigid military observation balloon, designed in 1915 by Albert Caquot.The type became widely used by Allied forces in World War I warfare for multiple observation or naval defence uses and later also as a anti-aircraft barrage balloon.
English: French observer aboard observation balloon. Original description: FUR-MUFFLERED AND GLOVED, A FRENCH AËRONAUT PREPARED FOR A LONG STAY IN THE AIR TO OBSERVE THE ENEMY'S OPERATIONS. This photograph was made from a new type of observation balloon which carries two baskets.
The interpreting of aerial images was an important new speciality, essential for accurate mapping. By 1915, air-to-ground radio was in use for reconnaissance pilots. The leader in aeronautics at the outset was France, with its Blériot observation planes, while Germany was more advanced in optics.
However, in 1859 the French went to war against the Austrians, and Godard's observation balloons were used instead by French forces, contributing to a victory for Napoleon III over Franz Joseph. Godard's aerial reconnaissance balloons were again employed by the French in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War and the Siege of Paris.
The French Aerostatic Corps or Company of Aeronauts (French: compagnie d'aérostiers) was the world's first balloon unit, [1] founded in 1794 to use balloons, primarily for reconnaissance. Experimentation
The balloon's silk envelope is roughly spherical and has a diameter of 9.8 metres (32 ft). Its wooden gondola is very small, measuring 1.14 metres (45 in) by 0.75 metres (30 in) and its railing has a height of 1.05 metres (41 in). [2] The balloon envelope is a replica, with the original displayed folded in a glass case nearby. [1]
Escadrille Spa.77 (originally Escadrille N.77) was a French fighter and photo reconnaissance squadron active from 1916 to 1918 during the First World War.They were credited with the destruction of 34 German airplanes and observation balloons, as well as extensive photo intelligence coverage of enemy positions.