User:Mbrickley21/sandbox

Observation balloon.jpg

Observation balloons were a big advantage in the "Great War". They were large, blimp shaped balloons filled with hot hydrogen and a basket dangling below the balloon structure. In the basket, the observer would watch the enemy army and direct artillery fire. The main problem with the observation balloons were that they were an easy target for aircrafts and would often get shot down. The fabric was so thin, the bullets would pass through the balloon and put the observer in a lot of danger. When an aircraft was spotted, the balloon was quickly pulled down using a motorized wrench. When the armies figured out how frequently the balloons were being shot, the observers were given parachutes to jump from the balloons in emergencies. Some observation balloons were also used for scouting at sea during WW1. They would look for enemy ships and for aircrafts. Observation balloons were very important during the "Great War" and are still a big part of the war's history.