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.
Fourteen officers on duty in Washington D.C. Only one identified is Capt. Thomas A. Grant, Quartermaster at Ross Field Balloon School in 1919 (on extreme left, front). Identification on back of photo is reversed, given as from within the photo.
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.
Apparently a visitors' time at Ross Field Balloon School. Photo shows balloon aloft with basket suspended. Many people in photo. Closest to camera is left to right: man, boy, and four women. Eucalyptus trees all across background.
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.
Roy Knabenshue, who built observation balloons for the U.S. during WWI, displays a model at Ross Field. Roy Knabenshue on left, C.P. Kane, commanding officer, on right.
View across swimming pool built for the men of Ross Field Balloon School by Anita Baldwin and the community. It was on possibly opening day as there are throngs of guests looking on. This was located where present parking lot of Elks building is located. H.F.Paden in 1978 told us there was also a pool formed of stone in what is now County Park area which was an officers' pool.
19 officers are in hangar at Ross Field in Arcadia as part of their training as Reserve Officers Balloon Personnel. J.H. Hoeppel in white shirt is on the right (kneeling). Lt.C.P. Kane, was in charge of the class. He is 4th man from left (next to balloon) in second row.
Photo of swimming pool which apparently was enlisted men's pool located approximately where Bekins Storage is today (1970's, at 35 W. Huntington Drive). Mr. H.F.Paden, an officer stationed at Ross Field in 1919, says there was another officer's pool of field stone in what is now county park.
View (we do not known which direction camera is looking) of Goodyear blimp VOLUNTEER when it stopped at Ross Field Balloon School. About 11 people seen to be gathered near it. On right side of photo is a long barracks-like building.
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."
One balloon in sky (extreme left) and one balloon on ground with approximately 23 men making it secure. High wire fence in foreground. San Gabriel Mountains form background.
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.
Only photo in Library Collection showing Free balloon training at Ross Field (all other are fixed). Balloon is some distance off the ground and displays an American flag on the right side.
Large balloon being brought under control by group of approximately 30 men. There is also one of trucks used for these captive balloons. On right is the framing of an unfinished hangar.