North Queensferry Barrage Balloons – 5

A Barrage Balloon

 
Each balloon was 66 ft [20 m] long and held nearly 20,000 cu ft [1860 cu m] of hydrogen gas. It flew at heights of up to 4,500 ft [1380 m] on the end of steel restraining cable.

Diagram showing various parts of a balloon

The curtain of balloons prevented enemy aircraft from dive-bombing targets from a low level forcing them to operate with less accuracy at higher altitudes. [The raiders on 16th October crossed the North Sea at 23,000 feet, then dropped to 12,000 feet as they approached their targets. They then dived, releasing their bombs at 1,800 feet and levelling off at 900 ft. This would have been a very dangerous manoeuvre inside a defensive balloon curtain of sturdy steel cables topped with highly inflammable hydrogen gas!]