Photo of one plaque that was placed commemorating Balloon School and another plaque in honor of Lt. John Hoeppel, who was responsible for getting the land from U.S. government for Los Angeles County Park. See also photo #184.
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.
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.
View northwest. Large balloon being held by approximately 15 soldiers, between 2 large tent hangars. Building in the distance has Army YMCA painted on the roof. San Gabriel Mountains in background.
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.
1. "Making charts of air currents." Arcadia Journal, June 21, 1919. 2. "Mercury Flights Through Cloudland (1917)." Advertising brochure for sightseeing flights. One of the attractions was the Balloon School. Copied from the original owned by Sid Platford. 3. "Veteran recalls balloon field." Ar…
1. "Making charts of air currents." Arcadia Journal, June 21, 1919.
2. "Mercury Flights Through Cloudland (1917)." Advertising brochure for sightseeing flights. One of the attractions was the Balloon School. Copied from the original owned by Sid Platford.
30. "Airships tracked enemy from Arcadia balloon base." Arcadia Tribune, January 26, 1978.
31. Copies of photos with designation of various sections of base.
32. "Major Max Fleischman." Arcadian Observer, October 5, 1918.
33. "The Arcadia Balloon School, 1918." Western States Jewish Historical Quarterly, October 1980. Photo with lengthy caption.
34. "Ross Field does fadeout." Los Angeles Times, November 15, 1933, Part I , page 6.
35. "Close blind pig at once!" Hensley blind pigs is slang for speak easy or illegal operation, and referred to a need to clean them up if Balloon School is to be here. Arcadia Journal, June 8, 1918.
36. "Arcadia will be aircraft center." Arcadia Journal, September 28, 1918.
37. Correspondence regarding archival holdings on Balloon School in National Archives, June 16, 1978.
40. Recollection of Mr. John Milton Huston, stationed here at 21.
41. "The post band." Arcadia Observer, November 9, 1918, page 6.
42. "Balloons re-enter the wars." News clip, October 7, 1951, possibly from an Omaha publication.
43. "Airborne 'elephants' once inhabited Arcadia's skies." Fedco Reporter, May 1988, by J.D. Carroll.
44. "Observer." Arcadian Observer, September 1918, page 19.
45. "New commander in charge of Arcadia." Arcadian Observer, January 4, 1919, page 8.
46. "First American Balloon Officer to die in action." (Lt. Cleo J. Ross) Arcadian Observer, November 2, 1918, page 27.
47. "Two balloon men killed by bomb." Arcadia Journal, September 28, 1918.
48. "Balloon School awaits on order." Arcadia Journal, March 30, 1918.
49. Sample of letterhead stationery from Balloon School.
50. "L.A. Scene - The City then and now." Balloon School/Arcadia County Park. Los Angeles Times, December 20, 1993, page B3.
51. "Officers to have a camp at Arcadia." Temple Times, June 26, 1924.
52. "Pioneer 'Birdman' recalls balloon exploits in Pasadena area." Arcadia man won fame in flying dirigible. Pasadena Star News, March 16, 1952.
53. "Ross Field use known June 1." News clip, May 8, 1929.
54. " Ross Field bill voted by houses." News clip, March 4, 1933.
55. "Ross Field Parks Project near vote by County leaders." Pasadena Star News, May 14, 1933.
56. "Ross Field purchase is urged on Council." News clip, May 18, 1933.
57. "Ross Field planned to become new park as County gets deed." News clip, August 1, 1935.
58. "Ross Field betterment approved." News clip, August 2, 1935.
59. "Ross Field to harbor zeppelin and Ross Field hangar leased as zeppelin assembling center." News clip, no date.
60. "Air planes gather at Ross Field for zeppelin activities." News clip, May 22, 1929. "Pilots will be trained at Ross." News clip, May 22, 1929. "Light tests on way at Ross site." News clip, May 18, 1929.
61. "U.S. returns Ross Field as sports center." News clip, June 11, 1935.
62. "Army School Ross Field Project." News clip, June 24, 1930.
63. "Park agreed at balloon field site." News clip, July 3, 1935.
64. "$55,655 price decision near on Ross Field." News clip, May 17, 1933. "Senate passes Arcadia Bill." Los Angeles Times, 1933.
65. "Set date for zeppelin to take air." News clip, May 28, 1929.
66. "Dirigible's keel laid at Ross." News clip, May 20, 1929.
67. "Group backs Ross Field measure." News clip, January 24, 1933.
68. "Senate passes balloon camp land transfer." News clip, February 10, 1933.
69. 1996 Heritage Calendar by Chino Valley Bank. Includes photos of U.S. Army Balloon Corp station.
70. "Today and yesterday of the Arcadia Balloon School Field." Pasadena Star News, July 4, 1931.
71. Copies of photos of Ray Walters, stationed at the Balloon School. Photo and article regarding the first annual picnic, June 1938.
72. Copy of photo #186.
73. "Army's biggest balloon school coming here." Los Angeles Times, March 13, 1916, Part II, page 1.
74. First draft chapter on Ross Field, by Arcadia resident John Irwin.
75. "Balloon Work Conditions Better, Y.M.C.A. Outpost is Established at Stocker Field, Officers Will Play Ball Tonight at Balloon Camp." Pasadena Star News, July 18, 1918.
76. World War I Heroes Remembered : Cleo J. Ross. Written by Ken Hudnut. (Internet article)
77. California Aviation History : The Army Balloon School, Ross Field, Arcadia, California, by Richard DesChenes. From the California State Military Department, California Military Museum. http:www.militarymuseum.org/BalloonSch.html
78. "Pasadena Public Library does bit for soldiers." Collection of books is provided for the military camp of the Seventh California regiment of guardsmen at Arcadia. Pasadena Star News, May 19, 1917, p. 13.
79. Overseas Army nurse, Grace Thompson, has been assigned to the post hospital at the United States Army Balloon School at Arcadia. Pasadena Star News, May 21, 1919, p. 11
80. "Heads For Camp in City." Thirty officers arrive from Fort Dodge, Iowa to take balloon duty in Arcadia. Many live in Arcadia. Lieutenant Colonel W.N. Hensley will host a dinner for his staff at Hotel Huntington. Pasadena Star News, Monday April 1, 1918.
81. "Tents Erected at Balloon Campsite." Seven tents for thirty men from the United States Army signal corps have been erected on the site of the new balloon station on the Baldwin Ranch in Arcadia. Pasadena Star News, April 4, 1918.
82. "May Give Up Camp Plans." Rumors from Washington say balloon station is not needed, decision will come soon, war department to meet with Los Angeles representatives. Pasadena Star News, April 9, 1918.
83. "Sale of Ross Field is Vetoed." War Department's wire stops sale of Ross Field to any private individual or municipality, government will reserve tract for other training. Pasadena Star News, April 13, 1927.
84. "Fire Plan Revision is Foresters' Job." Forest guards, patrolmen and registrars to complete training at Ross Field in Arcadia before fire season begins. Pasadena Star News clipping April 24, 1929.
85. "Forest fire work to be given trial. Rangers to carry out training program." The annual forest rangers' training school will be in session for two days at Ross Field, Arcadia. Pasadena Star News clipping, April 30, 1929.
86. Gallery Guide to Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum Exhibit, November 2005-January 2006. Exhibit called "War Department, Department of Military Aeronautics, Army Balloon School." Contains history of Balloon School.
87. Named "Ross Field" for Lieutenant Cleo J. Ross, killed in France. The Atlanta Constitution, May 23, 1919.
Copy of souvenir photo that may have been program cover for something called Flying Circus held February 22, 1919. Shows left to right: [a] bi-plane; [b] parachute and balloon in same shot; [c] balloon being secured by group of men; [d] parachute coming to the ground with group of people watching. [e] ? [f] aerial view of base.
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.
Photographic print of page 2 of November 23, 1918 issue of THE ARCADIAN OBSERVER, showing a drawing by Robert Sparks, of a female holding a sword and honor roll. Text reads: They died not in vain. Her sons have triumphed again, and may that war torn land o'er which they fought and bled forevermore remain in peace. Negative and print were made for the grant funded Local History Digital Resources Project 2006-2007. A digital image of this photograph is file name: caarpl_123 on LHDRP 2006-2007 Disc 10 of 14. See black box labeled Arcadia History Room Media Box.
Photo of General John J. Pershing mingling with a group at Ross Field Balloon School. He is accompanied by other officers and there are a number of young boys eager to greet him. Across photo had been written "Balloon School Training" and "1920" and "General Pershing at Arcadia."
View north toward San Gabriel Mountains. Men of Ross Field Balloon School, holding gondola or basket just coming to the ground or being readied to go aloft.
Rudolph C. Shosted, now 79, recalls his time spent at the Army's observation balloon school, located where the Los Angeles County Park golf course now is.
U.S. Army Balloon School (Ross Field) in Arcadia. View is to the north with the San Gabriel Mountains in the background. In the foreground are Army vehicles lined in a row. Buildings are visible behind the vehicles.
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.
Maneuvering officer (extreme right) leading about 23 men in readying balloon to take on observers and go aloft. Identification was given by H.F. Paden, August 1978. Mr. Paden was an officer at the Balloon School. Field is totally flat.
John M. Huston, a World War I private in the Air Services Signal Corps unit that was here in Arcadia at the Balloon School, gives an account of those experiences.