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Article Title: Fort Omaha Balloon School: Its Role in World War I
Full Citation: Inez Whitehead, "Fort Omaha Balloon School: Its Role in World War I," Nebraska History 69 (1988): 2-10.
URL of article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/NH1988BalloonSchool.pdf
Date: 7/30/2013
Article Summary: The captive balloon, used as an observation post, gave its World War I handlers a unique position among veterans. Fort Omaha became the nation's center for war balloon training, home to the Fort Omaha Balloon School.
Cataloging Information:
Names: Henry B Hersey, Craig S Herbert, Charles L Hayward, Frank Goodall, Earle Reynolds, Dorothy Devereux Dustin, Milton Darling, Mrs Luther Kountze, Daniel Carlquist, Charles Brown, Alvin A Underhill, Brige M Clark, Ralph S Dodd, George C Carroll, Harlow P Neibling, H A Toulmin, Charles DeForrest Chandler, John A Paegelow, Jacob W S Wuest, Frank Kennedy, Leo Stevens, Oscar Westover, Orvil Anderson, Ashley McKinley, Albert Bond Lambert, Max Fleischmann, Hokesmith O'Kelley, Thaddeus Lowe, Montgolfier brothers, Frank P Lahm, John H Jouett, Harold Geiger
Place Names: Omaha, Nebraska; Florence, Nebraska; Fort Myer, Virginia; Fort Omaha, Nebraska; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Carter Lake; Florence Field, Nebraska; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; St John's, Canada;
Place Names, France: Cuperly-sur-Maine, LeHavre, St Mihiel, Maizerais, Ferme de Choisel, Verdun, Meuse- Argonne, Malancourt, Bois de Thierville, Haudainville
Keywords: Drachen; Caquot; St Louis Aeronautical Society; Goodyear Rubber Company; Balloon School Squadron; Omaha Board of Park Commissioners; Omaha and Douglas County—A Panoramic History; Knights of Columbus; YMCA; 77th French Balloon Company
Photographs / Images: Fort Omaha balloon school; Florence Field at Fort Omaha; Balloon bed at Florence Field; Colonel Henry B Hersey; Red Cross canteen at Fort Omaha; Third Balloon Company from Fort Omaha at Koblenz, Germany; Two Cartoons from Haul Down and Ease Off, Summer 1972, published by the National Association of American Balloon Corp Veterans nebraska
SPRING 1988 Vol. 69, No.1 Fort Omaha balloon school.
FORT OMAHA BALLOON SCHOOL: ITS ROLE IN WORLD WAR I
By Inez Whitehead
World War I provided the impetus 1793 a governm ent appro priation Ball ooning after the Civil War re for the development of modern aerial establi shed a ball oo n facili ty, and by ve rted to a sport in the United States, war machines. The captive ba lloon, 1794 the French had an air fo rce of but the nations of E urope organized used as an observation post, was thirty-four to man their balloons. mili tary balloon schools as part of their moderni zed for twentieth century war Messages we re communicated to arm ed fo rces.' In the 1870s and 1880s fare, and for the next half century was ground crews by means of a co rd .2 After the British advanced balloon warfare to give its World War I handlers a the ball oon was used by the French, by ex perimenting with aerial photo unique and nostalgic position among mi li tary aeronautics lapsed until the graphic techniques and two-way veterans of the "war to end all wars." 1849 War of Italian Independence, telegraphic communi cation. In 1884 The balloon was envisioned as a when the Austlians used hot air they developed portable cylinders mili tary tool of war as early as the fi rst balloons to float time bombs into whic h wou ld enable an army to store balloon launching by the Montgolfier Itali an territory.' compressed hydrogen. France, the old brothers in 1783 in France, wh ich took The opening shots of the American balloon pioneer, was still considered an early lead in military ballooning.' In Civil War in April of 1861 brought the world's fi nest balloon maker' military balloons to public attention in Toward the end of the nineteenth the United States. T haddeus Lowe, century, military application of Union balloon enthusiast, established balloons brought about changes affect Inez Whitehead, a teacher in the Omaha practical procedures and methods for ing the shape of captive balloons used Public School system, is a graduate of Briar Cliff College in Sioux City. She did graduate the use of spherical balloons as obser for observation posts. The spheri cal and postgraduate wor!? in history at the vation posts usin g telegraphic com shape gave way to a more stable egg Ulli uersity of Nebraska at Omaha. muni cation to the battlefields.' shaped balloon. In 1896 the Germans 2 Fort Omaha Balloon School
introduced the Drachen, wh ich the allies in World War I ni cknamed the "sausage." Much more stable than the old spherical balloon, the cylindrical Drachen was fl own at an angle and had two small sails and a rear air sack to aid in contro l. It was capable of functioning in winds as high as fifty miles per hour, but exerted such great strain on its cable that it sometimes broke.' French Captain Caquot, in response to the new German balloon, designed a kite balloon wh ich came to be known as a Caquot. This balloon, allowing less strain on the cables, was divided by a diaphragm into two cells. T he top cell was in flated with hydrogen gas to lift the balloon while the bottom portion was filled with air to act as a ballast. Toward the rear of the balloon were portions that served as stabiliz ers and rudders. The balloon was held captive by four steel cabl es merged into one central cord.' The Caquot and the Florence Field al Fort Omaha. Courtesy of Douglas County Historical Society. Drachen were to be the major observa tion balloons on the western front in E urope during World WaT 1. After the Spanish-American War, a U.S. Army Signal Corps Bailoon Detachm ent was organized at Fort Myer, Virginia. In 1905 the Signal Corps transferred all balloon school activities to Fort Omaha, Nebraska, which had a la rge steel hangar, a hy drogen generator, a la rge capacity gas holder, and a motor-driven COIn pressor for storing gas in cylinders. Two spherical balloons and a German Drachen were used for training. Officers' classes in free and captive balloon flights were held each May. In 1913 the War Department closed the Signal Corps balloon facilitie s at Fort Omaha, and most equipment was se nt to Fort Leavenworth, Kan sas.9 When the Uni ted States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, the Balloon bed at Florence Field. Courtesy of Douglas Courtly Historical Society. country found its mili tary unprepared. The importance of German and Allied obselvation balloons on the battlefront forced a hurried search for balloon facilities. Because Fort Omaha still had the large steel balloon hangar and a hydrogen plant, it was reopened to 3 Nebraska History - Spring 1988
become the nation's center for war panies was organized at the fort. By balloon training. Balloonist Captain September 25 the Second Balloon Charles De Forrest Chandler took com School Squadron had been formed. mand of the school, followed shortly by Two Goodyear captive balloons were in Major Frank P. Lahm, and finally by operation daily at Fort Omaha, and fiv e Co l. Henry B. Hersey, a former or six free balloon nights were made Roosevelt Rough Rider. each week. None of this was happening The Fort Omaha Balloon School, too soon, for General John J. Pershing which eventually would train 16,000 was pressing for American balloon men in balloon skills, began to swell companies in the battlefield zone.17 with officer candidates, career military Some of the free nights from Fort men, and enlisted recruits. Balloon Omaha were harrowing and made for pilots, such as John H. Jouett, Frank exciting news copy. One such night Goodall, Leo Stevens, Harold Geiger, occurred on the morning of September Arthur Boettcher, John Paegelow, and 21,1917. Pilot Frank Goodall, with four Max Fleischmann offered their passengers, lifted of[ from Fort guidance to launch the flight school.'" Omaha into an overcast sky. Two hours About 1,000 men were trained as later Lt. Goodall estimated that they officers at Fort Omaha and became were near Lincoln. Valving down, expert pilots and observers. Very early the balloonists recognized Carter Lake twenty·one men from Yale and Colum in Omaha. Some three hours after bia Universities arrived for officer launch, Goodall landed the balloon training, followed by Harvard men and Col. Henry B. Hersey. Courtesy of inside Fort Omaha, 200 feet from the thirty·nine volunteers from the St. Douglas County Histon'cal Society. spot where he had launched." Lou is Aeronautical Society. Four By late 191i it became apparent that weeks of ground school were more room was needed for balloon obligatory. Officers were required to kite balloons that proved of poor u·aining at Fort Omaha. On October 1 complete seven balloon flights, includ quality, but they soon shipped well Florence Field, 119 acres north of Fort in g both a solo fli ght and a night made copies of the Caquot balloon. Omaha, was leased by the government. flight." The Caquot balloon, equipped with a The mi litary put up te nts for temporary By July and August of 191 7, recruits telephone communication system, use. The city of Omaha constructed were arriving in large numbers. Hous could be attached to a truck winch, wat.er, drainage, and sewage systems ing was in short supply, the post having hauled up and down easily, and moved on the land. Seven fire hydrants were only a few brick barracks, headquarters from place to place. Training began installed. Free of cost, the Omaha building, guardhouse, small hospital, in earn est, t4 Board of Park Commissioners built two quartermaster's shack, and a variety of Parachuting, in its infancy, was miles of road graded and surfaced with smaller brick buildings for officer hous tested. Charles L. Hayward described cinders. Crews from the fort con ing. Westerners, generally arriving the pioneering effort: structed red slate-roofed buildings first, were assigned to the available Leo Stevens . .. developed a parachute . ... We headquarters, barracks, mess halls barracks. Easterners, arriving later, weren't quite sure how it would operate, so we - painted sage green with ivory trim. had to be assigned to squad tents on took them up in the basket . . . tied four sandbags Except for in terior lighting, the Ne on . .. . We dropped th e para chute over from the the edge of the fort's parade ground. basket from probably about 1200 foot altitude. braska Power Company installed a Tent quarters extended into the cold Partway down, the chute opened, but the scams complete electrical system with weather." Craig S. Herbert described split ....The nextone we lried went down okay .. mat.erials on loan to the government for So we fi~'Ured we had something .... Frank living conditions: Goodale IGoodallj .. . said he would try . .. so he the duration of the war. The Nebraska the first night we were there. we were on a ca nv£ls did, and £I notice was put up on the bulletin board Telephone Company added its bunk,you know, in the tents, and you have to ha\'e for all of us who might want to try il.1 5 appliances. Plorence Pield, connected n Illatl.ress under you because the cold comes up underneath, so I walked up and down in front of Early in the game, Col. Henry B. Her to the fort by telephone, was enclosed the north barracks all night 10 keep warn) . . . but sey himself impressed offi cer can by wire fencing with gates on T hirtieth then we go t straw mattresses. l ) didates by making a parachute jump to Street and at the top of the hill on the Equipment was slow in coming. On show his men that he was willing to do field's south boundary.'· hand was a small spherical balloon and whatever he asked of them. t() By December 1917 three balloon a leaky German Drachen. Goodyear On September 15, 191 7, the First school squadrons were operating in Rubber Company supplied versions of Balloon School Squadron of four com Florence Field. Soldiers were occasion
4 Fort Omaha Balloon School
ally seen carrying partially deflated County - A Panoramic History, con sweets, had meatless days, and baked balloons north along Thirtieth Street firm ed Col. Hersey's statement. While with alfalfa flour. Guided by strong Red from the fort to Florence Field.'· In the Am erica was singing "Over There," the Cross leadership, they collected nut summer of 1918 French advisers city of Omaha was living its commit shells and fruit pits to make gas masks arrived at Fort Omaha to assist in ment. Omaha was second in the nation for the battlefield. Adults made surgi balloon training. In September 1918 wh en armed forces enlistments were cal kits for the battlefield and comfort field companies established camps in compared to population. It led the kits for the soldiers. Red Cross volun the Calhoun sector, four miles north of nation in Red Cross membership and teers were on hand to provide re· Florence Field. Training under was the first city to "go over the top" in freshments, medical aid, showers, and simulated battle conditions was added War Savings Bonds. Its Liberty Loan entertainment to the troop train s pass· to balloon school in struction.21 quota was oversubscribed by 145 per ing through the city, and they made A variety of ball oon skills were cent. The city's schools reflected war wee kly visits to the sick at nearby taught at Fort Omaha and Florence fervor: School children volunteered for military establishments." Fie ld. Aerial location of enemy artillery Red Cro ss work, learned all four verses The sudden emergence of the Fort using a map, aerial photography, of the "Star-Spangled Banner," and Omaha Balloon School ca ught Omaha parachuting, communication tech~ kn ew the "Marseillaise" in English. by surprise. Milton Darling, a retired niques, and general care of the balloon School princi pals organized mothers art dealer, was among the first to dis we re stressed for officers who wou ld be in to "block vigi lan tes," who visited cover the early recruits, mostly in going up in the baskets. Ground crews, housewives, urging them to refrain civili an attire, as they congregated mostly noncommissioned men, were from using pork and white flour. n about the Douglas County Courthouse. trained in hydrogen balloon inflation, Omaha's population, like others in Darling took several to the home of techniques of controlling the balloon, the country, was conserving food in an civic and social leader Mrs. Luther care of communications systems, and effort to feed soldiers and Allies. Kountze, wife of an Omaha banker. 29 bedding a balloon." The balloon crew Omahans ate victory bread, gave up The following morning Mrs. Kountze had to be familiar with cordage, knots, gas making, and care of the cable and wi nches holding the ball oon" Hydrogen balloons were dangerous due to the inflammability of the gas. There were some accidents at Fort Omaha and Florence Field. Veteran Earle Reynolds described one such happening: There was a red-headed kid that. was bedding down one of the balloons one night just about dark, and he was putting sandbags on the rope around the balloon to hold it down for the night, and he rubbed his ... head against the fabric. and the static electric ity set it [th e balloon[ aftre, and he was killed along with 3 or 4 others who were hurt ... . [It happened[ right in frontofthc Ft. Crook House. N Still another accident occurred on May 2, 1918, in Florence Field. T wo soldiers were killed and twenty-two seriously burned when static electricity ignited a balloon in its hangar" Col. H.B. Hersey, in command of the balloon school from September 1917 to November 1918 described the school's attachment to the Omaha community: "It has freq uently been my pleasure to say when speaking of Omaha, that it was the most patriotic city in America Red Cross canteen at Fort Omaha. Courtesy of Douglas County Historical Society. during the war."26 Dorothy Devereux Dustin in her book Omaha and Douglas 5 Nebraska History - Spring 1988
and other women appeared at the fort soldiers. who had become extremely popular could even go into a restaurant and get a cup of with baskets of edibles. A makeshift with Omaha folk .... Squadron members had won coffee and maybe a hamburger and . .. they their wuy into the hearts of many Omaha didn't chargc.1h ca nteen wa s set up, with window count girls.J: Veteran Charles L. Hayward remem ers fac ing fort property. Shortly The nearly Oawless relationship be thereafter, Commandant Hersey gave bered the numerous inv itations Omaha tween the Omaha communi ty and the homes and clubs extended to Fort permi ssion fo l' the building ora canteen fort was punctuated now and then by a adjoining the fort. Soldiers were able to Omaha men. Reminisci ng about th e few incidents. Cartel' Lake Saturday ni ght dances, he eat in sheltered seatin g on federal pl'Op On January 31, 1918, the Omaha erty, while servers worked on private said the "nice gals" made it quite a Daily Bee cautioned mothers to keep social affair fol' the fort's men.J7 property. Un der the direction of Mrs. their daughters away from Fort Omaha Kountze and 250 Red Cross volunteers Veteran Alvin A. Underhill recalled and wamed of penalties if they did that catching the street ca l' right out the canteen selved an average of 1,000 not." Balloonist veteran Daniel Carl men a day. Profits were donated to the side Fort Omaha's front gate got the quist reca ll ed that a soldier at the fort fort's soldiers quickly to downtown mess fund s for ove rseas compani es. "got a gi rl in t.l'ouble." According to The Fort Omaha canteen was so suc Omaha's enterta in ments. He remem Carlquist, sold iers at the fort were bered a special evening when Ak-Sar cessful that it became a model for irritated by the Bee article and asked others around the cOllntl'y .JO J4 Ben honored and entertain ed the the editor to retract it. fort's so ldiers." The cantee n rapidly became the Local Omaha groups frequently for t's social center. On Au gust 3, 1917, In September 191 7 the First Balloon enterta ined soldiers at Fort Omaha. School Squadron left Fort Omaha, the Omaha Daily Bee reported: Pianos and phonographs were Bac helors Gal ore Amo ng the So ld ic~' Boys Keep assigned not to Europe, but to Fort Sill, Omaha Girls at '·Iome and Don Cupid Has u Big donated. When the Florence Field Oklahoma, to establish another ball oon Job on His Hands . ... Such a nuttcring of hc ~r t s fac ility was established, servi ces of the school. Pershing wa s pleading for men when the twilight. hop invitHt.ion,s goo ulf~~m ~'o~' ~ community were extended to that post. Omuho ... u regular bachelors colo ny. I hO l o ,IS overseas, but traini ng facilities had to Major Hersey, the acting commandant, to begm The Kni ghts of Columbus built a rec be expanded. The Second Balloon at the top .. .. Then there arc that dandy bu nch of reation center, and the YMCA erected School Squadron, consisting of four eight Yale boys and a whole group from a large tent during the summer Colum bia. J1 companies. was the first unit to be sent season.JS overseas. It left on November 27, 191 7. On November 28, 1917, the Omaha Veteran ba lloonist Charl es Brown Daily Bee signaled the departure of the The Third Ball oon School Squadron reca lled his selv ice in Omaha: left the fort for overseas duty on balloon school's Second Squadron: Townrd the last we could ride streetcars fo r noth· Thanksgiving Day plans in hundreds of Omaha ing. you could go to the show, .you could ~o to the January 17, 1918. The Fo urth left on homes will be upset. by the departure of the da nces, itdidn'tcostyou nothmg. Sometllnesyoll FebrualY 6, 1918, and the Fifth on reb
711ird Balloon Company from Fort Omaha at KobleTl z, GermallY. Fort Omaha Balloon School
ruary 25, 1918." More squadrons soon followed. Veteran Hayward has left a descrip tion of battlefield activities of balloon squadrons in the war zone in France:
While the winc h-truck moved the balloon for ward, it was followed by its tender, with its lookouts and machine gu ns for protection. The tender also carried the other guns, ammunition, roadwork equipment, a variety of supplies and parts. Most of the men walked. During the move, the balloon would attain an altitude of 3,400 to 3,600 feel, dependent upon visibility, sun heat and wind speed. In position, the winch-truck would be finnly grounded electrically and six 3 man machine gun and lookout teams would immediately locate on a 200-foot radius circle around the winch.~o Another veteran, Craig Herbert, de scribed balloon company duty on the front:
IWe were] plunging into the darkness with a 92 foot long balloon containing 23,200 cubi<: feet of explosive hydrogen, either "walking it" or elevat ing itabove, we ighted with sandbags, attached by cable to the winch truck, t.hrough smouldering, rubble-strewn villages, over shell-pocked or mined roads, across deeply-muddied open fields and barbed-wire to avoid traffic-blocked roads. Maneuvering it around trees, bridges .. . [andl . .. laying out miles of telephone wires to battery controls. then ready to move up agai n in twenty four hours; shelled and machine gunned by day, bombed by night; fighting off aerial attacks with machine-guns and automatic rifles; frantically carrying 200 pound hydrogen cy linders on shoulders. . to inflate another balloon .. . after ..... -=-, one had been shot down ... personnel weakened . ~,,..---_ I "'- ...-... by inhaling phosgene or chloride gas, suffering from dysentery . .. soaking wet from almost con DARE-DEVIL BALLOONIST SNEAKING BEHIND ENEMY LINES tinual rain ... uniforms crawling with cooties. (Cartoon swiped from AEF Balloon Book, drawn by Fred Cross). eating magotty food .41 From H aul Down and Ease Off, Summer 1972, published by the National Association Officer observation duty with the of American Balloon Corps Veterans. balloon usually meant three flights daily, with pulldowns in the morning and early evening. With the winch truck camouflaged, two obselvers would be sent up to locate enemy you could see across the line, you were unfolding as it was pulled out. As the positions, gunfire, and troop move telling Intelligence."" parachutist jumped, the flimsy cords ments. Field artillery was directed and Balloon observers were busy, but attaching it to the basket broke." redirected to enemy targets by they had to be alert for danger too. Few balloon observers looked for telephone communication. Maps had Intellige nce suffered when a balloon ward to jumping from the basket. A to be updated by observers in the bas was lost, as it took many days and great jump might be avoided if the ground ket. Planes could be ordered in for labor to haul in the necessary equip crew had time to maneuver the balloon closer inspection of the enemy. Later ment needed to replace a balloon.43 to low altitude, but minimum height for veteran Hayward was asked if he had Enemy aircraft could send a shell a jump was 500 meters.4S Jumps were felt like a sitting duck in the basket, and through the balloon, causing the hy ri sky. The parachute might not open or he answered, "We didn't have time to drogen to ignite and explode. A the burning balloon could fall on the think anything. We thought nothing. balloonist's parachute was located on parachute and ignite it. Ground crews We were busy every second. Whatever the outside of the balloon basket, had to be skilled with balloon 7 Nebraska History - Spring 1988
manipulation to save parachuting men. Even if the parachutist escaped all INllMATE SKtTCtt£s these hazards, he might be killed by enemy aircraft fire as he jumped. T he Third Ball oon Company's experiences illustrated the difficulties and dangers which confronted military balloonists during World War L Leav· ing Omaha from Uni on Depot, they were transpOlted to St. John's, Canada. ~t?~~ -n . . ~ . . . . Embarking on the ship Tunisian from ~~ 9fP" . -l!( _ _lIKt HIS HUMAI'i St. John's, Third Company arrived in Liverpool, England, and were shipped ~=- ~ ~~!l'l - llROTllt1l5INtH. 'Uvlcr .ANARMY BAllOON"tlG.llTS. OtjrT.5 5TOMACH':..- out to Le Havre, France, where they were assigned to a balloon school trai n· in g camp at Cu perly·sur- Mal'ne, seven mil es from the front. The win ter weather was bad, and illness broke out, causing some of the men to be hos pitalized. At Etalens, the company finally received training on a scheduled basis for duty on the fron t. On July 28, 1918, Third Company wa s moved to Brouville on the front line. There they experienced three . .. balloon attacks by German airplanes . On the second attack, Lt. Brige M. ~PfillDS MAijY Clark and Lt. Ralph S. Dodd were HA p.P'i HOvFt~ forced to parachute. On the third 'O\N~~t>UN K- attack, Lt. George C. Carroll and Harlow P. Neibling were fired upon as f \G U E"/~~__.,.c:.Jl "'T they parachuted from the balloon.'" On September 4, 1918, Third Balloon Company participated in the St. Mihiel offensive and then moved on to Maizerais. Later in September the co mpany was sent to Ferme de Chaise I in the Verdun sector and participated in the Meuse·Argonne offensive. There balloons around them were attacked and burned. When a German Fokker attacked the Third Company balloon, a dramatic fifteen minute duel between the Fokker and an American plane took place. Later, two Fokkers did succeed III destroying Third Company's ~~Q \3.50MHIM~~ Gr~ll"t"' · Ot, ·.D~VN\ were attacked and damaged. In one received the Distinguished Service Anderson, famous for la ter stratos harrowing episode, Lt. George C. Car Cross. Col. Charles DeForrest Chand phere flights." roll, under attack from German ler and Lt. Col. J ohn A. Paegelow Some Balloon Corps veterans went planes, made preparations to jump received both the Distinguished Ser on to achieve success in civilian life. and then decided to risk staying in the vice Medal and the Legion of Honor. Ashley McKinley became a famous balloon when he thought machine The French nation also awarded the aerial photographer and surveyor and gunners would be able to keep enemy Croix De Guerre to nine American flew over the south pole with Byrd. planes at bay. In October Third Com balloonists, the Order OfAeronautique Frank Goodall became a motion pi c pany's balloon was destroyed and a to one, and the French Citation to ture magnate. Albert Bond Lambert new balloon had to be inflated. thirteen.51 headed a large pharmaceutical firm in Telephone lines proved defectiv e and Shortly after the war, The Gas Bag, St. Louis and helped sponsor the carrier pigeons were then used for unofficial Fort Omaha newspaper, Lindbergh flight across the Atlantic. communication.48 quoted Col. Henry B. Hersey, later Max Fleischmann became head of On October 24, 1918, Third Balloon stationed with the American Expedi Fleischmann Yeast Company. Hoke Company was relieved from heavy duty tionary Force in France, in a letter smith O'Kelley became a candidate for at the front by the 77th French Balloon addressed to Col. Jacob W.S. Wuest, governor of Georgia.55 Company. T he men were sent to Bois then commandant of Fort Omaha: Balloon Corps reunions in Omaha de Thierville for a seven-day rest. On I am now getting the companies ready t.o return to were speciaL Veteran Charles Brown November 1 Third Company was back the states. In this connection. I wish to say that I said this: " I can truthfully say . have recommended that. aU balloon companies at the front near Haudainville, where a be sent to Fort. Omaha for mustering out. .. It Omaha treated us servicemen better si ngle German Fokker attacked and will probably require quite an efforton the parlof than any port or place in the United burned the balloon and got away. On the Omaha people to get it ordered. States."56 Since coming over here. my opinion of Fort November 11 , 1918, the Armistice was Omaha has risen still higher for it is an actual fact The tie of affection between the signed, and all hostilities ceased. that no balloon school in the world has done as balloon school and the city of Omaha Thereafter Third Company was good work, taking all together. as Fort Omaha. was strong. The February 1938 issue of assigned to the Army of Occupa I knew that we had been doi ng good work but I did Haul Do wn and Ease Off included the 49 not realize it at the lime how favorably we would tion. compare with the work done at other schools. follmving reunion calL World War I saw the United States Please remember me kindly to all the good Every Sandbagger who trained at Ft. Omaha has create an air service from practically friends at Fort Omaha and in the city of Omaha probnbly cherished at one time or another, a when you see them. S1 desire 1.0 ret.urn 10 his Alma Mater where he won nothing. According to H.A. Toulmin, hi s spurs as a full nedged gas bagger. To mast of chief of the Air Services Coordinating Col. Hersey had great loyalty to liS, old Fort Omaha with its campus-like parade ground, its old buildings, and the fine hospitality, Staff, the Balloon Division set a record Omaha. Some of the companies did so ty pical of the citizenry of Omaha, represent of wartime success. By the end of the return to the fort for termination ofser without ques tion, the finest memories of our war war, thirty-five balloon companies had vice. In 1921. however. the government time se!vice.s7 been sent to France, seventeen of moved the entire Fort Omaha Balloon Omaha citizelllY, with its preselved which were assigned to the First and School to Belleville, Illinois, where it Fort Omaha, has not forgotten the Second Armies at the front. Their eventually was phased out of glamour and excitement of Fort record was impressive: balloon ascen existence.53 Omaha's snappy balloon cadets. The sions - 5,866; enemy infantry sighted In the ensuing years, numerous balloon school was a bridge (of sorts) - twenty-two times; and enemy traffic Balloon Corps veterans returned to between nineteenth and twentieth cen on roads and railroads reported 1,113 their wartime home in Omaha. tury warfare. The Fort Omaha men of times. The United States had twelve Organized 111 1932, the National World War I occupy a unique niche in balloons destroyed and thirty-five Association of Balloon Corps Veterans local and in military history. balloons burned. Observers had to held fifty reunions before their num jump from the basket 116 times but had bers dwindled and the group disbanded. NOTES few mishaps.50 The roster of alumnae included many 1"Military Units-Balloon Corps," Ve rtical Seventeen balloon companies sent military career men: Commandants Files in Douglas County Historical Library. ~ D o na ld Dale Jackson, The Aeronauts (Alexan· to Europe saw action at the front. Of Chandler, Lahm, and Hersey; Jacob dria, Virginia: Time Life Books. 1980), 76-80. these seventeen companies, thirteen W.S. Wuest, Hersey's replacement; 3Ibid., 79, 81. 95. John A. Paegelow and Frank Kennedy, ~Eugene B. Block, Above the Civil War had been organized at Fort Omaha. (Berkeley, California: Howell-North Books, Fort Omaha's Second Company set a who both commanded military bases 1966),76.93-94. record of 244 days on the battlefield. after World War I; Leo Stevens; Oscar 5Jackson, The Aeronauts, 98. hC harles DeForrest Chandler and Frank P. The Balloon Corps earned its share of Westover, later chief of the United Lahm. 1·low Our Army Grew Wings (New York: military decorations. Fifteen men States Army Air Corps; and Orvil The Ronald Press Company, 1943), 76. 9 Nebraska History - Spring 1988 lCalvin Goddard. "Balloons in War," vol. 2 of sey was commandant from September 1917 to thought she had planned to collect two HI/cyclopaedia /3n"twlflic:a (1957), 1,01lo November 19 18. Res pected and admired for a llotments. ~"Mitita ry Units," Vertical Files. leadership fi nd enthusiasm, he was well liked by HCHthers, "Civilian War," 1. Kirkpatrick, Fort "C handler and Lahm, Willgs, 8 1-82,100. 105. both his men nnd t.he Omuha community. Om(llIo Omaha-Florenc/' Field Scrapbooh, Appendix A. llr'Military Units," Ve rtical Files. Su nday Daily Bee. Februnry 5. 191 8. If' Dustin, Oral Interviews- Balloon Corp!i Omaha World-Herald. June 19, 1938. HDustin, Omaha and Douglas Cou nty - A Veterans, 1,13. IISwulay Omaha World-Herold, June 19. Pall oramic History. 97. Dorothy May Cathers, HIbid., 99. 1938. "Civilian War Activilies in Omaha During World 18Ibid., 17. '~ D oro lhy Devereux Dus tin. Oml Interview War I" (Master's thesis, University of Nebraska, J 10