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.
Shows six balloons inflated and secured just off the ground. Officers and men are in formations beneath the balloons. Buildings and tents of Ross Field are arrayed across photo. Eucalyptus make a row completely across photo. San Gabriel Mountains form backdrop.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Master Sgt. William Bucher sitting at steering wheel of Army vehicle just inside grounds of Ross Field Balloon School. Behind him can be seen tower of Santa Anita Avenue and Huntington Drive.
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.
Series of seven small photos of Ross Field. Photos are numbered as follows: a. Part of a building on left with San Gabriel Mountains very prominent in background; b. two balloons on the ground; c. airplane landing on what looks like an airstrip (barely visible): d. Balloon a few feet off ground in the distance; e. Man in uniform climbing the side of a mountain; f. Building; g. Balloon a few feet above the ground with many people standing on the ground looking toward it.
Series of seven small photos of Ross Field. Photos are numbered as follows: a. Part of a building on left with San Gabriel Mountains very prominent in background; b. two balloons on the ground; c. airplane landing on what looks like an airstrip (barely visible): d. Balloon a few feet off ground in the distance; e. Man in uniform climbing the side of a mountain; f. Building; g. Balloon a few feet above the ground with many people standing on the ground looking toward it.
Series of seven small photos of Ross Field. Photos are numbered as follows: a. Part of a building on left with San Gabriel Mountains very prominent in background; b. two balloons on the ground; c. airplane landing on what looks like an airstrip (barely visible): d. Balloon a few feet off ground in the distance; e. Man in uniform climbing the side of a mountain; f. Building; g. Balloon a few feet above the ground with many people standing on the ground looking toward it.
Series of seven small photos of Ross Field. Photos are numbered as follows: a. Part of a building on left with San Gabriel Mountains very prominent in background; b. two balloons on the ground; c. airplane landing on what looks like an airstrip (barely visible): d. Balloon a few feet off ground in the distance; e. Man in uniform climbing the side of a mountain; f. Building; g. Balloon a few feet above the ground with many people standing on the ground looking toward it.
Series of seven small photos of Ross Field. Photos are numbered as follows: a. Part of a building on left with San Gabriel Mountains very prominent in background; b. two balloons on the ground; c. airplane landing on what looks like an airstrip (barely visible): d. Balloon a few feet off ground in the distance; e. Man in uniform climbing the side of a mountain; f. Building; g. Balloon a few feet above the ground with many people standing on the ground looking toward it.
Series of seven small photos of Ross Field. Photos are numbered as follows: a. Part of a building on left with San Gabriel Mountains very prominent in background; b. two balloons on the ground; c. airplane landing on what looks like an airstrip (barely visible): d. Balloon a few feet off ground in the distance; e. Man in uniform climbing the side of a mountain; f. Building; g. Balloon a few feet above the ground with many people standing on the ground looking toward it.
Series of seven small photos of Ross Field. Photos are numbered as follows: a. Part of a building on left with San Gabriel Mountains very prominent in background; b. two balloons on the ground; c. airplane landing on what looks like an airstrip (barely visible): d. Balloon a few feet off ground in the distance; e. Man in uniform climbing the side of a mountain; f. Building; g. Balloon a few feet above the ground with many people standing on the ground looking toward it.
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.
View west. Appears to have been taken a few minutes after photo #162 as it is essentially same scene, but balloon is further down on ground. Approximately 18 men working on holding balloon. San Gabriel Mountains on right side of photo.
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.