BALLOON BARRAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23143, 15 September 1938, Page 16

BALLOON BARRAGE

DAYLIGHT DEMONSTRATION TEN SQUADRONS PREPARED ' . /• London, sept. 8 Londoners were given a view of the much discussed, but little known, balloon barrage this week when seven kite balloons soared over Blackheath in daylight. ballo.ons are stream-lined, and each has three stabilising fins. They are filled with air, blown in through scoops as the balloon rises. Another scoop, •under the nose, admits air to the Juallonets inside the envelope. Tlie balloon cable is attached to a winch on a motor lorry. Thus, the unit is essentially mobile and this enables it to keep bomhor-pilots guessing._ The fighting part of the device is the cable, which will be made lethal by a secret process and destroy any aeroplane touching it. The hbight to which the balloons can ascend is also a secret.

The knowledge, or even 'the suspicion, that tho barrage is flying will almost certainly deter even bombers from flying low, and this, again, will reduce their- chances of hitting any particular target. Britain now possesses 10 balloon sqdadrons. A barrage of 600 balloons, each no bigger than a 'bus, is being constructed to enable the ringing of London in two alternating circles. The balloons are made of soft rubber-proofed cotton fabric, and it is claimed that they cannot be deflated by bullets. The Minister for Air,i Sir Kingsley 'Wood, is appealing for 5000 recruits, aged from 38 to 50. in order- to complete the squadrons to full strength.