Early American Military Aviation and Military Ballooning

Lecture by Leah Dearborn

Military ballooning in the United States began early in the Civil War. Balloons gave the Union the ability to view enemy troops from the “high ground” during a battle. Best known of the “aeronauts” was Thaddeus S.C. Lowe. He and others made numerous observations using hydrogen-filled balloons during the first two years of the war. World War I was the high point for the military use of observation balloons, which were extensively deployed by both sides.

Leah Dearborn is the Assistant Director at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire. She is an experienced communications professional with many articles to her credit and a passion for aviation.