INVASION BALLOON EXERCISES. - When the first invasion landing parties diembark men of Balloon command will be among the earlies troops ashore as part of the Combined Operations force. Operated by two men crews, the balloons will be carried ashore, flown to operational height with a few minutes, and will provide protection on the beaches against dive bombing attacks. The balloons are inflated on the quayside, carried at low altitude to the landing craft, where they are handed over to the two man crews - who see the balloons safely across to the other side. As part of the Beach Flights, t
INVASION BALLOON EXERCISES. - When the first invasion landing parties diembark men of Balloon command will be among the earlies troops ashore as part of the Combined Operations force. Operated by two men crews, the balloons will be carried ashore, flown to operational height with a few minutes, and will provide protection on the beaches against dive bombing attacks. The balloons are inflated on the quayside, carried at low altitude to the landing craft, where they are handed over to the two man crews - who see the balloons safely across to the other side. As part of the Beach Flights, they land with the Beach Group under an Army Commander. Picture (issued 1944) shows - On the beaches. Two men go forward, carrying between them a steel bar and a drum wound with cable. At the other end of the cable is the balloon which is rapidly carried to the best position to protect the beach forces. Carrying the cable drum are [left] Leading Aircraftman John George Pearson, former college servant at Durham University, and [right] Leading Aircraftman Albert Andrew Holden, ex-shop assistant at Norwich Royal Air Force
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Photo credit: © piemags/ww2archive / Alamy / Afripics
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