Service with RFC/RAF Balloons in 1918

[michaeldr]

This is a spin-off from a Naval thread here -

and concerns the service of Edmund Clifton Carver who was previously a Captain RN rtd., and who received the DSO in the 1917 Birthday Honours. 

In 1918 however, he joined the RFC [see AIR 76-79-47] listed as T/Major from 5-1-18 and Major from 7-3-18.

Under 'Special Qualifications' are noted gunnery, submarine diving, marine salvage and 'some knowledge of electrical & mechanical appliances'. 
A further note read “Experimental work in connection with development of mobility of balloons & their equipment of stores & transport.”
Major Carver's movements are given as seen below.

Balloons are an unknown field for me and I would be grateful for any explanation or amplification which can be given concerning the above 
 

Thanks in advance
Michael

[michaeldr]

So far just 'Guess-Work' aided by scratching around the web:-

Putney & Rollestone (Larkhill) were Balloon Training Schools for the advance training of officers as Balloon Observers. 
The transfer in March 1918 was from Rollestone to B T Wing [which may be Balloon Training Wing (?)]

The following units/movements are recorded:-
58 Balloon Section (?)
EF (?)
38 Balloon Section from 14 June 1918, 
and again 
38 Balloon Section (Attached) 15 November 1918

One mention of 38 Balloon Section during the period June/Nov 1918 puts them “Between Ypres and Staden, Belgium”
see No.25 here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aerial_victories_of_Friedrich_Ritter_von_Röth 

Comments and corrections are welcomed

Thanks for your interest
Michael

[charlie962]

Not sure if you have seen the Casualty forms from the RAF Museum but here they are:

1 hour ago, michaeldr said:

38 Balloon Section from 14 June 1918,

That seems to conflict with the casualty form?

[MaureenE]

For general interest some online accounts Archive.org Books to Borrow

Memoirs of an Old Balloonatic by Goderic Hodges 1972

https://archive.org/details/memoirsofoldball0000hodg/mode/2up

 

Chapter   "Flight Sergeant Bernard Oliver"  page 73 in the book Voices in flight : conversations with air veterans of the Great War by Anna Malinovska and Mauriel Joslyn 2006 https://archive.org/details/voicesinflightco0000mali/mode/2up (book) or

Page 73 https://archive.org/details/voicesinflightco0000mali/page/72/mode/2up (You need to Borrow the Book before the link will be visible))

Bernard Oliver also wrote  the 1975 booklet/album (13 Pages?) Looking back sixty years. Memoirs ... Three years' service in Ieper, Ypres, Salient in balloons of the Royal Flying Corps . IWM Museums give the title as Three and a half years  with the Kite Balloons of the Royal Flying Corps: (Ypres Salient three years) : Memoirs

This booklet is detailed  in an article about Bernard Oliver https://suitcaseofmemoriessite.com/part-one-the-oliver-and-hawkes-families-of-kent-england/uncle-bernard/

Another book I have seen a reference to 

The Balloonatics by Alan Morris 1970 

Maureen

[michaeldr]

“That seems to conflict with the casualty form?”

Thanks for your input here Charlie; You're absolutely right. 
However there seems to be no explanation forthcoming from any experts hereabout. 

The WFA reproduce an OoB for the RFC's balloons as at 1st January 1918,
see https://www.westernfrontassociation.com/world-war-i-articles/balloonatics-during-the-first-world-war-1914-1918/ [taken from Rob Pugh on the crossandcockade forum]
Is there any later version of the OoB available anywhere?

By the way, what is the significance of the Casualty Form which you show
since, to this simple soul at least, there seems to be no evidence of either sickness or a further wounding? 
…...................................................................................................................................................................

Maureen,
thanks for adding those links which I am sure will prove useful

regards
Michael

[b3rn]

Michael, this thread (two pages) might help.

https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62440