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Using hot air balloons as a form of aerial barrage dates back to World War I, when France, Germany, Italy, and the UK employed them to defend against enemy aircraft.
Following the war, the British continued to develop and refine the technology, establishing the Balloon Command in 1938 to protect cities, ports, and key industrial areas from potential air attacks.
By the outbreak of World War II, barrage balloons had become an integral part of Britain's air defense strategy, forcing enemy bombers to fly at higher altitudes and making them more vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire.
By mid-1940, the British had deployed a total of 1,400 barrage balloons as part of their air defense strategy.
A significant portion of these balloons, approximately one-third, were stationed over London to protect the city from German dive bomber attacks.
Barrage balloons were designed to be partially filled with pure hydrogen in their upper section.
The lower part of the balloon was intentionally left empty, allowing it to be filled with atmospheric air once the balloon reached its designated altitude.
Barrage balloons were an effective means of forcing enemy aircraft to fly at higher altitudes, typically above 5,000 feet.
This increased altitude made the aircraft more vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire from the ground.
Low-flying dive bombers were especially at risk when pulling up after completing their dive, as they presented an easier target for anti-aircraft gunners.
The British made two significant advancements in barrage balloon technology during World War II.
The first was the "Double Parachute Link," a system that would explosively release a portion of the cable if an enemy aircraft became entangled, using the combined weight and drag of the parachutes to bring down the snagged plane.
The second innovation was the "Double Parachute/Ripping" mechanism, designed to safely deflate and bring down a balloon that had accidentally broken free from its mooring, preventing it from posing a hazard to friendly aircraft or civilians.
By 1944, the British had significantly increased their barrage balloon deployment, with close to 3,000 balloons in operation.
These balloons were particularly effective against the German V-1 flying bombs, which typically flew at altitudes of 2,000 feet or lower.
Official records indicate that barrage balloons were responsible for the destruction of 231 V-1s during the course of the war, despite the fact that these flying bombs were equipped with wire-cutters on their wings to counter the balloon cables.
In 1942, Canadian and American forces collaborated to defend the vital locks and shipping channel at Sault Ste. Marie, located along their shared border in the Great Lakes region, against potential enemy air raids.
As part of their defensive strategy, they deployed barrage balloons to protect these sensitive areas.
However, during severe storms in August and October of that year, some of the balloons broke free from their moorings.
The trailing cables from these loose balloons caused short-circuits in power lines, leading to localized disruptions in mining and manufacturing operations, particularly in the production of metals.
During the Allied advance in Europe, particularly in the assault on Aachen, Germany in 1944, barrage balloons served a crucial role in identifying the boundary between friendly and enemy troops.
The British 2nd Tactical Air Force deployed these balloons along the American First Army sector's front line, also known as the "bomb line."
This visual demarcation helped Allied aircraft distinguish between friendly and hostile positions, ensuring more accurate bombing of enemy targets while minimizing the risk of friendly fire incidents.
Following WW2, the military found a new purpose for surplus barrage balloons in nuclear weapons testing.
These balloons were used to carry nuclear devices to desired altitudes for atmospheric tests, enabling controlled detonations at heights that exceeded the limitations of conventional testing towers.
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