Balloon "Captif"

[Marnik]

Hello,

This is a picture of balloon "Captif", prepared to take off somewhere arround Steenstraete, June 1916.

Was this balloon British,French or Belgian?

Soon another photo of the hiding place of the balloon.

Marnik

[Marnik]

The hiding place of balloon Captif also in Steenstraete.

Marnik

[Marnik]

I looked in a dictionnary and "balloon captif" means balloon on a cable".

So it's not the name of the balloon.

My question :was it a British, French or Belgian balloon?

Regards

Marnik

[Dolphin]

Marnik

The balloon in the photographs is certainly a Drachen (Dragon) type, but the nationality isn't as clear as it might be. The original German Drachen design was copied by the British as the Spencer-Drachen, or Type 'H' balloon, and saw widespread use. By the middle of the War the Spencer-Drachen was generally replaced by the Caquot type balloon.

I'm not sure about Belgian or French use of the Drachens. Probably the best guide to the nationality of the balloon in question would be the uniforms of the men around it. Are they any clearer on your original photograph?

Regards

Gareth

[Marnik]

It's the only photo i have and it isn't so sharp.

Maybe the time(june '16) and the location (Steenstraete, 2nd line) can give an answer.?

Steenstraete was these days the border of the Belgian and Allied troops.

Regards,

Marnik