Historical weapons? question

Ian2 · 21-04-2006, 04:41

Hi all, since there is a lot of knowledgeable people about WW2 here, I think its a good place to ask a question about a picture I saw either in a book or a documentary.

It is a pic/video view from the beach of normandy towards the water, probably a couple of days/weeks after the D-day invasion.

There is ton of ships, but in total there is at least between 40-60 BIG BIG ballons on top of those ships (maybe 30-40 ships) it looks like there was more ballons floating around than the number of ships fitting in this picture.

What the H#$??? where those ballons?
I know germany had zeppelin in WW1, or WW2? (what were they used for anyway since everyone had planes?) But those ballons looked a little bit smaller than zeppelin

Maybe that picture is in my head from a dream or something and there is actually no ballon on top of those ship.(if its the case please remove this posting pls!)

But for some reasons I always had that picture in my head wondering what were those ballons for? I wish i could find this picture again so i can prove to anyone that picture exist!!!

(so many video/book of WW2 it would take me 75+ hours to find that thing again) But ill find it in the next year and post it here!!!

If any of you have ever seen that picture, or even better, have any idea of what those balloons were, pls let me know! Thanks, Ian

Sir Humphrey · 21-04-2006, 04:47

They are barrage ballons, designed to stop low flying enemy aircaft.

blue emu · 21-04-2006, 04:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian2

If any of you have ever seen that picture, or even better, have any idea of what those balloons were, pls let me know! Thanks, Ian

Barrage Balloons:

They were used to scare off strafing fighters. From the Wiki:

Quote:

A barrage balloon is a large balloon used as a defense against aircraft. The balloon is attached to the ground with metal cables, which are intended to ensnare the aircraft, notably its propellers. Some versions carried small explosive charges that would be pulled up against the aircraft to ensure its destruction. Barrage balloons were only really successful for low-flying aircraft, the weight of a longer cable making them impractical for higher altitudes.

Tskb18 · 21-04-2006, 04:50

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrage_balloon

i had looked this up before the previous poster(s!) mentioned them...
but had no idea whether these were the things over the D-Day ships.

USAF_777 · 21-04-2006, 05:27

Here're a couple Normandy pictures of them:
http://www.skylighters.org/barrageballoons/britlcts.jpg
http://www.americasstory.gov/assets/...i_dday_3_e.jpg

Ian2 · 21-04-2006, 05:28

Didn't taught the answers would be that fast, and I dind't taught it would be that easy to find on the internet! Next time I ll "google it" even if i think that it is something that would not be on the internet.

(WW2 is so fascninating and impressive) You guys have probably seen or heard of the "blow up" tanks divisions that the british/US placed in southern U.K for the german recon planes see and think that there was actual tanks divisions)

Or the story about a dead officer body that they let float near spanish coastal water with important strategic paper involving an invasion in greece (while planning to Italy invasion) Spanish gave those papers to germany and i think hitler actually move some more troops to greece!!!

Ballons to defend ship!lol
Cant see that now!

Anyway thanks for those info, Ian

Tskb18 · 21-04-2006, 06:14

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mincemeat

Saw the movie. Apparently there was a book too. Something new every day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Who_Never_Was
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049471/

21-04-2006, 04:41	#1
Ian2 Recruit Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Victoria B.C Posts: 4	Historical weapons? question Hi all, since there is a lot of knowledgeable people about WW2 here, I think its a good place to ask a question about a picture I saw either in a book or a documentary. It is a pic/video view from the beach of normandy towards the water, probably a couple of days/weeks after the D-day invasion. There is ton of ships, but in total there is at least between 40-60 BIG BIG ballons on top of those ships (maybe 30-40 ships) it looks like there was more ballons floating around than the number of ships fitting in this picture. What the H#$??? where those ballons? I know germany had zeppelin in WW1, or WW2? (what were they used for anyway since everyone had planes?) But those ballons looked a little bit smaller than zeppelin Maybe that picture is in my head from a dream or something and there is actually no ballon on top of those ship.(if its the case please remove this posting pls!) But for some reasons I always had that picture in my head wondering what were those ballons for? I wish i could find this picture again so i can prove to anyone that picture exist!!! (so many video/book of WW2 it would take me 75+ hours to find that thing again) But ill find it in the next year and post it here!!! If any of you have ever seen that picture, or even better, have any idea of what those balloons were, pls let me know! Thanks, Ian Last edited by Ian2; 21-04-2006 at 04:46. Reason: small mistake

21-04-2006, 04:47	#2
Sir Humphrey Ra Ra Queenslandaar! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Brisbane. Queensland. Posts: 5,904	They are barrage ballons, designed to stop low flying enemy aircaft. __________________ Now On FaceBook! Showcase of the Week March 30, 2004 - The Australian Lion. Writer of the Week March 6, 2005 - Under the Crimson Skies. Writer of the Week May 29, 2005 - The Sacred Grove of Britannia. Showcase of the Week January 17, 2006 - Under the Crimson Skies.

21-04-2006, 05:27	#5
USAF_777 \|~\|~\|~\|~\| Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 397	Here're a couple Normandy pictures of them: http://www.skylighters.org/barrageballoons/britlcts.jpg http://www.americasstory.gov/assets/...i_dday_3_e.jpg __________________ \|~\|~\|

21-04-2006, 05:28	#6
Ian2 Recruit Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Victoria B.C Posts: 4	Thanks guys! Didn't taught the answers would be that fast, and I dind't taught it would be that easy to find on the internet! Next time I ll "google it" even if i think that it is something that would not be on the internet. (WW2 is so fascninating and impressive) You guys have probably seen or heard of the "blow up" tanks divisions that the british/US placed in southern U.K for the german recon planes see and think that there was actual tanks divisions) Or the story about a dead officer body that they let float near spanish coastal water with important strategic paper involving an invasion in greece (while planning to Italy invasion) Spanish gave those papers to germany and i think hitler actually move some more troops to greece!!! Ballons to defend ship!lol Cant see that now! Anyway thanks for those info, Ian Last edited by Ian2; 21-04-2006 at 05:33.

21-04-2006, 04:50	#4
Tskb18 General Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,346	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrage_balloon i had looked this up before the previous poster(s!) mentioned them... but had no idea whether these were the things over the D-Day ships.

21-04-2006, 06:14	#7
Tskb18 General Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,346	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mincemeat Saw the movie. Apparently there was a book too. Something new every day. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Who_Never_Was http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049471/