Barrage balloon winch unit, c 1939.

Made:
1939 in England
manufacturer:
Unattributed

Model of Barrage Balloon, with mobile winch, hydrogen trailer and ground equipment, on base, scale 1:25

Model of Barrage Balloon with mobile winch, hydrogen trailer and ground equipment, on base, scale 1:25 Barrage balloons were used to protect land-based targets from low-flying aircraft. This forced the enemy aircraft to fly at heights of over 5000 feet where they could be attacked by anti-aircraft guns and fighter aircraft. The balloons, approximately 20,000 feet in capacity, were divided internally into two compartments by a fabric diaphragm, the lower compartment being the air space. As they ascended, the hydrogen in the upper compartment expanded, depressing the diaphragm.

Details

Category:
Aeronautics
Object Number:
1940-9
type:
balloons, hot-air balloons and barrage balloons
credit:
Eldridge, A.