Seated in large military truck are, L-R: Bruno Bucher, Cacelie Bucher Mauch, and Master Sgt. William Bucher, step father of the two young people. Truck is parked just inside the fence of Ross Field Balloon School, and at SW corner of Huntington Drive and Santa Anita. Note: Community Presbyterian Church seen behind them (was later moved to First Ave and Alice Street). Note also, a sign, apparently giving name of base over entry and not readable from this angle.
Two photographs mounted with one sign on each side. Top photo shows 6 balloons with officers at Ross Field. Sign on left reads:"U.S. Army Balloon School, Arcadia, California". Sign on right reads "Established June 11, 1918."
Four wheel drive truck with Cunningham winch used to get balloon aloft and back down and to keep them anchored. One truck for each balloon and had 1500 meters of heavy cable. Tires of truck were solid rubber. Note: ground line coming from truck near winch. This was to take care of static electricity generated along cable due to telephone in balloon. Information from H.F.Paden, Arcadia resident in 1978, former officer at Balloon School.
These two long buildings appear to be buildings at the Balloon School. They have been left from the time that "Lucky" Baldwin's Santa Anita Race Track was on this site. There is considerable snow on San Gabriel Mountains behind.
Original description, "Balloon about 30 feet off ground. Balloon has round target-like mark on its side. Under balloon is truck with winch and many men participating in restraining it. Overcast day." Revised description 9/7/2017 by Mark Rosenblum, a local Balloon School historian, identifies it as Rockwell Field in San Diego. It is not Arcadia, but he said the men from the Balloon School at Ross Field in Arcadia, went to San Diego to join in on a public display of the balloons.
Aerial view of Ross Field looking east from a position of about Huntington Drive and present Holly Avenue. Two large hangars are at west point of triangular property. The wash cutting across foreground is the wash just to west of present high school.
Aerial view south of Balloon School and surrounding part of valley. Large tree-lined street running from center of photo toward lower left edge of photo is Santa Anita. Tree-lined street coming in on right edge of photo about two inches from bottom of photo and intersecting Santa Anita, is Duarte Road. Note wash that at present is just west of Arcadia High School. Rio Hondo Wash runs east to west across middle of photo.
View east shows two balloons aloft over Arcadia and San Gabriel Valley. It is possible that first river up from bottom of photo is Rio Hondo Wash. Some of trees along Santa Anita appear to be in extreme lower right of photo. Tree-lined street showing in extreme lower left of photo is Duarte Road. Second river coming into photo about five inches up from bottom of photo would be San Gabriel River.
Parachute pictured coming down on Balloon School field. San Gabriel Mountains and Chantry Flats Road can be seen in background. Parachutes were used as emergency way to evacuate balloon in case of enemy fire, lightning, etc., according to H.F.Paden.
One balloon is secured on left side of photo with approximately 14 men near it. Two men are to the right of this group and are folding what appears to be a large canvas. Three buildings in photo, part of a truck shows to extreme right.
Goodyear blimp VOLUNTEER is seen stopping at Ross Field Balloon School in 1929. Five automobiles are seen parked and interested spectators are standing nearby. The two large hangars at the extreme west portion of the Balloon School land are seen in background.
Aerial view, apparently looking northeast, of major portion of Ross Field. Four large barracks-type buildings are along in a row in foreground. There are two other rows of buildings, with flag pole in third row of buildings. Large stand of eucalyptus across background.
Military vehicle, probably used to hoist and pull down the observation balloons used at Ross Field. Two men stand at the back, one with his arm raised as a signal. The San Gabriel Mountains can be seen VERY faintly in background. Buildings at the Balloon School can be seen on either side of the truck.
Balloon being restrained by about 11 men. An American flag is being raised or lowered from balloon. An automobile is in foreground. One of military winch trucks is on left side of photo.
Looking SW from mountains north of Arcadia. Major tree-lined street running from mountains south is Santa Anita Avenue. Southernmost tree-lined street cutting across entire middle of photo is Duarte Road. Barracks at the Balloon School can be seen just below Huntington Drive. Notice that Huntington Drive stops just west of the Balloon School, at the Baldwin Ranch. Much of Foothill area was planted to citrus.