| Place | Europe: Belgium, Flanders, West-Vlaanderen, Ypres |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM04807.001 |
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Aircraft component |
| Physical description | Rope, Wicker, Wood |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | c 1915-1917 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Basket from a British observation balloon
Description
Damaged wicker and wood observation balloon basket.
History / Summary
Crushed on hitting the ground, the basket is from a British balloon shot down on fire by a German aircraft near Ypres, Belgium, in January 1918. The balloon, tethered to the ground, had been spotting for Australian artillery. These "captive" balloons were important for providing a stable platform for an observer who was connected to the ground by telephone.