Balloon Pics

Me-109 Jagdflieger · 18 July 2009, 11:27 AM

Great set of photos, thank you for posting them
Jonathan

Ritterton · 23 July 2009, 10:30 PM

If I have this right, that is how to translate this one...I am on a different computer so I don't have my various resources on this one. What I like is that this came here nearly 92 years to the day! So, I will do some recon on this one and post it to share.

This is a printed photo on a linen type card - thus the lines in the scan of the image.

R

Varese2002 · 25 July 2009, 10:59 PM

Another special balloon picture, thanks for showing this rare one of the Königliche bayerische Feldluftschiffer-Abteilung Nr.4. Bayern units were more or less seperate from the German (Prussian Army).

I miss in this picture the lines which held the balloon to the ground (therefore the ine German word Fesselballon was used

) and the great many people to launch the balloon. Probably there is an explanation for it, but I could not make it out.

Have you already progressed with the difficult German handwriting ?

Cheers

Kees

Ritterton · 26 July 2009, 09:31 AM

Kees -

No such luck due to many competing needs for my time. But I will say I got myself organized with the originals and that was a much needed first step.

For years I have taught courses on German genealogy and unfortunately I still have not mastered the art of interpreting German handwriting. Printed works, yes that is much much easier than the hand writting. Sometimes I get lucky with it. We shall see.

As to Bavaria, Bayern, I always use the comparison that it is to Germany what Texas is to the United States. Which if you are from Texas, everyone knows it shortly after meeting you and Texas is unique within the nation. If that needs further explanation just let me know!

It's a neat card because it is an identifiable balloon regiment. Looking after a few others on ebay, but we'll see if I end up with any.

Ritterton · 1 August 2009, 06:50 PM

Here is one I picked up on ebay for a really good price. Seems someone was riding his bike, saw this action and snapped a picture. Great shot, but again no identification or info on the back. So - another German fesselballon in action!

Ritterton · 17 August 2009, 09:28 PM

Hey folks - here is a RPPC image of a U.S. Navy Caquot I picked up along the Oregon Coast. Nice one.

Also picked up two non-aviation related photos - one is a sad story about a signal corps squadron where on the back it is noted that nearly all of those pictured were killed. The card appears to be of British soldiers. I will just post a link, rather than post the card image here. http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...alCorpsRsz.jpg
The back has the tragic note at the top: http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...alCorpsRsz.jpg

The second is of a group of Americans in France... nice group shot and the back of the card is a note from the soldier to his sister in West Virginia.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...nFranceRsz.jpg

Back
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...anceRvsRsz.jpg

Also found two Keystone View Company fesselballoon images. So got really lucky I felt for just browsing.

R

Ritterton · 5 September 2009, 02:38 PM

Here is a great example of the US Army observation balloons - caquot version. I have also enhanced the zoom image of the gondola with its passengers.

R

Ritterton · 18 September 2009, 09:38 PM

Received this one in the mail today - another great find. I liked the fact that this was a winter scene and that the Caquot has that broad stripe around it. No date or data identifying where or which unit.

The card does have "French Observation Balloon W.S. 109" written across the bottom.

Here is a crop of the balloon.

Varese2002 · 18 September 2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ritterton

Hey folks - here is a RPPC image of a U.S. Navy Caquot I picked up along the Oregon Coast. Nice one.

Also picked up two non-aviation related photos - one is a sad story about a signal corps squadron where on the back it is noted that nearly all of those pictured were killed. The card appears to be of British soldiers. I will just post a link, rather than post the card image here. http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...alCorpsRsz.jpg
The back has the tragic note at the top: http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...alCorpsRsz.jpg

The second is of a group of Americans in France... nice group shot and the back of the card is a note from the soldier to his sister in West Virginia.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...nFranceRsz.jpg

Back
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...anceRvsRsz.jpg

Also found two Keystone View Company fesselballoon images. So got really lucky I felt for just browsing.

R

N.Moser was a photographer active in the New York area during the first decades of the 20th Century. His work included many photographs of U.S. Navy subjects. More of his pictures can be seen here, a small selection surely of the thousands he may have shot as a professional photograph.

About the interesting card with the British soldiers, I could not read their fate as I did not get a view of the back of the card. Further I was wondering what these men were, a special unit, much flags ?

Thanks for viewing your interesting pictures.

Cheers

Kees

Ritterton · 19 September 2009, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varese2002

.... About the interesting card with the British soldiers, I could not read their fate as I did not get a view of the back of the card. Further I was wondering what these men were, a special unit, much flags ?

Kees -

Thanks for the info on Moser. Very much appreciated.

Here is the link for the back (above) and the discussion on this card is at:

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/of...-uniforms.html

BUT - the note says "Nearly all of these are killed."

Truly a tragic and somber annotation.

Thanks for the info Kees. Always appreciated!

R