AMERICAN BALLOON CORPS - WWI -
The 50th Infantry Division used balloons for military purposes during WWI. The primary use of these vehicles
was for observation. The following photographs show a balloon over Europe.
The invention and increased use of aircrafts presented a serious challenge to the Balloon corps. The floating
vehicles proved to be too vulnerable. They could not move fast at all and presented a very large, easy to hit
target. However, the military reacted by providing heavy escort to the balloons. The Germans regularly
assigned an ENTIRE Anti-Aircraft REGIMENT to their defense. The business of becoming an ACE by shooting down
balloons was a very risky business.
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