Did you know that the first gas balloon was destroyed because villagers were too terrified? Well, when the first gas balloon ran out of gas and finally landed in a village, locals were really terrified. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.

There were of course humorous incidents, one of which is told by Goderic Hodges ( Memoirs of an Old Balloonatic, published in 1972)Despite the anecdote detailed here, Lt Col MacNeece had more hours observing than any of his subordinates. By October 1917 he had logged more than 500 hours and been awarded a DSO. On 10 August 1918, whilst commanding 5 Balloon Wing (in 5 Brigade RAF) he had to parachute to safety after being shot down in a ‘friendly fire’ incident by a British SE5 scout. He was injured on landing. He remained in the post war RAF retiring in 1946 as an Air Vice-Marshal. A cute little (sometimes also big!) bag infused with gas, balloons are, without a trace of doubt, the life of any party or event. The term 'balloon' originates from the Italian word 'pallone,' which translates to 'large ball.' The Aztecs are believed to be the inventor of the first-ever ' balloon animals' made out of cat bowels. People also witnessed tethered balloons even during World War II. Usually used for military and defense purposes, they are tethered to someplace to make observations. Most of them are either blimps or hot air balloons. Modern-day balloons are made from many different materials. It is the kind of materials used in the making of the balloon which determines the stretchiness and buoyancy of that particular balloon.

Unlike traditional balloons that use animal intestines, modern balloons are made from rubber and latex. Some are even made from polychloroprene or nylon fabric. Lt. Sharp twice parachuted from burning balloons on 21 April and again on 4 May. On the second occasion Lt. Sharp stayed in the basket firing his revolver at the enemy aircraft although the balloon was well alight. It seems he survived this experience.

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Elsewhere away from the Western Front, balloons were used in Gallipoli. HMS Manica was a British cargo steamship that became the first kite balloon ship of the Royal Naval Air Service. She saw active service in the Dardanelles Campaign of 1915 directing the fire of the supporting ships at Anzac Cove. The vessel was irreverently known as 'HMS Maniac'.

In praise of a Colonel and a Lance Corporal. The Advance of 9th Battalion Cheshire Regiment (part of 19th [Western] Division) in the Battle of Messines 7 June 1917 by Peter Crook Hopper balloons or hoppers are one of the types of hot air balloons, which can seat only one person. They are significantly smaller than hot air balloons and can float for a maximum of one to two hours. For example, latex and foil balloons filled with human breath will not float because the balloon will be heavier in weight than air, leading to negative buoyancy. Did You Know...However much worse was to befall 39 section three weeks later. Another bombardment on 17 November resulted in the ground crew taking to slit trenches and dugouts. Unfortunately a shell hit one of the trenches resulting in nine fatalities. Eight were killed outright and are buried at New Irish Farm Cemetery side by side. The ninth who died the same day is buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery. Coppens survived the war, unlike the American pilot ace, Frank Luke, who had a score of 14 balloons and 4 aircraft. Above: Observers from a Balloon Company in the observation basket of a balloon ready to ascend. IWM Q12502

Above: New Irish Farm Cemetery (CWGC). The Kite Balloon graves are in front of the 'War Stone' and can be seen in the above photograph. Heveabrasiliensis, the most widely used natural latex used in balloon manufacturing, grows primarily in Malaysia. America imports this sap from Malaysia in large ocean tanker ships.In the pre-rubber era, air balloons were made from animal bladders and animal intestines. Most of these bladders came from sea animals. Above: Kite balloon windlas and crew, fixing the 500' flag to a cable, May 1917. (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3395253) At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents. Each RFC Brigade had a Kite Balloon Wing commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel. Within each wing was a number (typically five) Kite Balloon Companies – these being commanded by a Captain or Major. Each Company would have two or three Kite Balloon Sections.[1]