WWI - Military observation balloon shot down by German plane
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WWI - Military observation balloon shot down by German plane
Hot time for a " sausage". A British observation balloon is shot down by enemy planes during the First World War. The occupants of its basket have jumped to hopeful safety with their balloons, called acorns because of their shape when unfolded and hanging over the edge of the basket. Date: 1932
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Media ID 14408854
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Attacked Balloon Blowing Burning Combustion Corps Destroyed Escape Observation Parachute Parachuting Sausage Combusting
EDITORS COMMENTS
Hot Time for a 'Sausage': A Dramatic Escape from the Skies of World War I This evocative image captures the intensity and danger of aerial combat during the First World War, as a British military observation balloon is brought down by German fighter planes. The balloon, with its distinctive 'acorn' shape when unfolded and hanging over the edge of the basket, is a poignant symbol of the vulnerability of Allied forces in the face of enemy air power. The date on this photograph is 1932, yet the scene is one that played out countless times during the Great War. The acrid smoke of the burning balloon and the explosive force of the combustion fill the sky, as the occupants of the basket make their desperate bid for survival. With parachutes deployed, they plummet towards the earth, their hearts pounding with the adrenaline of a near-death experience. The term 'sausage' was a colloquialism used by British soldiers to refer to the observation balloons due to their distinctive shape. These balloons were an essential tool for reconnaissance, providing valuable intelligence to troops on the ground. However, their large size and stationary nature made them an easy target for enemy planes. This photograph is a stark reminder of the bravery and determination of the men and women who served in the military observation corps during World War I. Despite the constant threat of attack, they continued to risk their lives to gather vital information for their comrades on the ground. The image also underscores the technological advancements of the time, with the use of both balloons and fighter planes as weapons of war.
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