Role of the war balloon (From Gazette Series)

Role of the war balloon

A BALLOON enthusiast from Wotton-under-Edge has a new book - Balloons at War - out.

This is John Christopher's fourth book about balloons. He has been flying balloons professionally for 15 years.

He said: "When I'm not hanging over the Cotswolds in an oversized laundry basket, I'm busy writing about the subject."

The book covers more than 200 years of military ballooning.

Conceived as a weapon of war from its inception, the balloon has served military masters since before 1800.

As an aerial observation platform, a means of escaping from a besieged city, or to carry bombs, propaganda or even agents deep behind enemy lines.

They were utilised first in the Napoleonic era, then in the US Civil War, during the Siege of Paris, as well as policing the empires of the late nineteenth century including during the Boer War in South Africa, and 'calling the shots' as part of the stalemate of trench warfare in the First World War.

Then there were British and Japanese balloon bombs of the Second World War, plus the balloon barrage defending British cities and the onslaught of the V1 vengeance weapons or 'Doodlebugs'.

The balloon also has a darker and more secretive side, and this book examines the many clandestine operations devised for them during the various conflicts of the 20th century, including the Cold War era.

Even today, apparently, the balloon is playing its part in defending against, and maybe even working for, the forces of terrorism.

Balloons at War is published by Tempus Publishing, based in Brimscombe, near Stroud, and some of the material came from a surprisingly local source.

Mr Christopher said: "As a result of being interviewed by Sue Cooke for Radio Four's Making History programme, I was in contact with several former balloon operators, which was great, but I also wanted the viewpoint of some of the civilians who handled the barrage balloons which defended British cities and shipping during the Second World War."

He added: "The story of these men and women teams is largely unknown - I wondered how they viewed the 'silver sentinels'."

While Mr Christopher was showing a copy of Boo Boo the Barrage Balloon, a wartime children's book, to children at Blue Coat Primary School in Wotton, one of the mothers recognised the story.

It turned out she had a copy of the book - her mother had given it to her after a visit to Bristol when, as a child of eight, Sally March had been terrified by the barrage balloons there.

Mrs March said: "In the book, the balloons were made to look like elephants, but this didn't work for me - I was still frightened!"

Mr Christopher said: "I would love to hear from anyone else with wartime balloon stories to tell."

He can be contacted via Tempus Publishing on 01453 883300.

Balloons at War is softback, with more than 120 photographs and diagrams is priced at £19.99