Balloons on the Western Front

Speaker: Vernon Creek: Observation Balloons on the Western Front: an ‘Overview’.
Balloon

Many men could claim to be the unsung heroes of the Great War, but those flying observation balloons have a strong claim for that honour.

At 5,000-6,000ft in the air, with only an inch of wicker basket between them and the ground, they were much in demand for reconnaissance missions, and could direct heavy artillery at enemy targets unreachable by any other means.

This talk will describe the role of kite balloons on the Western Front, using images and first-hand accounts.

Event organiser: Thames Valley branch
26 November 2026 20:00 to 26 November 2026 22:00
Berkshire Sports and Social Club, Sonning Lane, Reading, RG4 6ST
Branch contacts
Barbara Taylor
(Branch Chairman)
Email Barbara Taylor

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Battle of the Sambre 4th November 1918

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29 October 2026

Engineering in the Loos Salient 1914-18

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