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Tester Complete with Container |
This device was used for testing Barrage Balloon fabric. I wonder if anyone out there can tell us more about this piece of kit? |
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A Balloon Fabric Tester |
It consists of a gauge with handles on either side. How you would use it intrigues me but I am sure someone has the answer in BBRClub! |
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View of Balloon Fabric Testing Kit |
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This is an airgraph sent by Reg Davies of 980 squadron to his brother in the UK |
The troops would fill out a blank airgraph and the censor would approve it and then it would be photographed by a special camera. |
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This is a Airgraph sent to the UK by Reg Davies balloon operator of 980 Barrage Balloon Squadron to his mother in Newport Wales |
They were then normally flown back to Britain for printing and distribution. |
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D-Day Balloons Protecting the Invasion Ships |
Seaborne Balloons were used to protect ships from air attack. Generally these were smaller than landbased Barrage Balloons and crewed by RAF and Naval personnel. |
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Balloon Barrage at RAF Cardington |
This is a well known and famous photograph showing Balloons in flight from the winch vehicles below. |
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This photograph was kindly loaned by Ida Pearsonof Northants and shows Balloon Site 18 based at Widnes in WWII |
Anyone able to name the people in the photograph at all? |
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This is a copy of a painting by the Grace Kingston of Cardington in 1938 |
This shows in incredible detail the Balloons with their winch vehicles and the crews practicing the "let up!" and "haul down!" technique. |
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