School of Ballooning
Encyclopedia
The School of Ballooning was a training and test centre for British Army
experiments with balloon
s and airships. It was established at Chatham in Kent
in 1888. The School moved to Stanhope Lines, Aldershot
in 1890 when a balloon section and depot were formed as permanent units of the Royal Engineers
establishment. The School was sometimes known as the Balloon Factory.
officers, who had seen balloons
being used in the American Civil War
, drew the attention of the War Office
to the potential use of balloons for observation
. These officers demonstrated balloons to the army, but it was only in 1878 that the War Office directed Captain James Templer
, an army reservist
and experienced balloonist, to set up a small unit of Royal Engineers which became known as the School of Ballooning.
Initially the School was based at the Royal Arsenal
, Woolwich
. In 1878 the school constructed and flew a hydrogen
-filled balloon of 10000 ft3 capacity. By 1879 the unit had 5 balloons. In 1880 military balloon training and demonstration took place at Aldershot
. After a tragic incident in 1881 Templer concentrated on development of balloons rather than making ascents himself.
At Chatham
In 1882 the School moved to the School of Military Engineering
at Chatham where they discovered that Goldbeater's skin
was superior balloon fabric than the material they had used previously – in particular it was easier to stow for transport. Templer also took out a patent for the use of unmanned balloons for “Balloon Photography
” of the ground below.
At Aldershot
In 1890 the School moved to Aldershot
where a section of the Royal Engineers had been formed to use balloons operationally. The School of Ballooning was renamed the Balloon Factory in 1897. In 1899 the Factory increased production to supply balloons for use in the Boer War
. The Factory began experiments with "dirigible balloons" (airship
s) in 1902.
At Farnborough
The Aldershot site was found to be too enclosed so in 1904-1906 the Factory moved to a site at the edge of Farnborough Common
. A 72 feet (21.9 m) high airship shed
was built at the site.
In 1906 Colonel
John Capper
took up command of the School of Ballooning. During his time in command, Capper contributed to the development of Britain's military airships and, with Cody, piloted the first successful British airship flight, that of the Nulli Secundus over London
during 1907.
Samuel Cody experimented with man-lifting kites at the site.In 1906 he was appointed as Chief Instructor in Kiting.
In 1909-1911, part of the Factory was separated to form the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers
. In 1912 the Balloon Factory was renamed the Royal Aircraft Factory.
In 1909, the Balloon Factory was separated from the Balloon School. Colonel Capper continued as commander of the Balloon School, and the civilin consultant engineer Mervyn O'Gorman was appointed superintndantot the Balloon Factory. Several months later Major Sir Alexander Bannerman took over the Balloon School from Colonel Capper.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
experiments with balloon
Balloon (aircraft)
A balloon is a type of aircraft that remains aloft due to its buoyancy. A balloon travels by moving with the wind. It is distinct from an airship, which is a buoyant aircraft that can be propelled through the air in a controlled manner....
s and airships. It was established at Chatham in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
in 1888. The School moved to Stanhope Lines, Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
in 1890 when a balloon section and depot were formed as permanent units of the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
establishment. The School was sometimes known as the Balloon Factory.
Origins
In 1862 two Royal EngineersRoyal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
officers, who had seen balloons
Balloon (aircraft)
A balloon is a type of aircraft that remains aloft due to its buoyancy. A balloon travels by moving with the wind. It is distinct from an airship, which is a buoyant aircraft that can be propelled through the air in a controlled manner....
being used in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, drew the attention of the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
to the potential use of balloons for observation
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
. These officers demonstrated balloons to the army, but it was only in 1878 that the War Office directed Captain James Templer
James Templer
Colonel James Lethbridge Brooke Templer was an early British military pioneer of balloons. He was an officer in the King's Royal Rifle Corps and Royal Engineers. Templer set out a scientific foundation for British military ballooning...
, an army reservist
Reservist
A reservist is a person who is a member of a military reserve force. They are otherwise civilians, and in peacetime have careers outside the military. Reservists usually go for training on an annual basis to refresh their skills. This person is usually a former active-duty member of the armed...
and experienced balloonist, to set up a small unit of Royal Engineers which became known as the School of Ballooning.
History
At WoolwichInitially the School was based at the Royal Arsenal
Royal Arsenal
The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, originally known as the Woolwich Warren, carried out armaments manufacture, ammunition proofing and explosives research for the British armed forces. It was sited on the south bank of the River Thames in Woolwich in south-east London, England.-Early history:The Warren...
, Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
. In 1878 the school constructed and flew a hydrogen
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
-filled balloon of 10000 ft3 capacity. By 1879 the unit had 5 balloons. In 1880 military balloon training and demonstration took place at Aldershot
Aldershot Garrison
Aldershot Garrison, also known as Aldershot Military Town, is a major garrison in South East England. Established in 1854, Aldershot has long been seen as the home of the British Army. The garrison was established when the war department brought a large area of land near to the village of...
. After a tragic incident in 1881 Templer concentrated on development of balloons rather than making ascents himself.
At Chatham
In 1882 the School moved to the School of Military Engineering
School of Military Engineering
School of Military Engineering may refer to a training institution for military engineering such as:*Royal School of Military Engineering of the British Army*College of Military Engineering, Pune of the Indian Army...
at Chatham where they discovered that Goldbeater's skin
Goldbeater's skin
Goldbeater's skin — the outer membrane of calf's intestine — is a parchment traditionally used in the process of making gold leaf by beating, reducing gold into mere 1μm-thick leaves....
was superior balloon fabric than the material they had used previously – in particular it was easier to stow for transport. Templer also took out a patent for the use of unmanned balloons for “Balloon Photography
Aerial photography
Aerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure. Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer, triggered remotely or...
” of the ground below.
At Aldershot
In 1890 the School moved to Aldershot
Aldershot Garrison
Aldershot Garrison, also known as Aldershot Military Town, is a major garrison in South East England. Established in 1854, Aldershot has long been seen as the home of the British Army. The garrison was established when the war department brought a large area of land near to the village of...
where a section of the Royal Engineers had been formed to use balloons operationally. The School of Ballooning was renamed the Balloon Factory in 1897. In 1899 the Factory increased production to supply balloons for use in the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
. The Factory began experiments with "dirigible balloons" (airship
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
s) in 1902.
At Farnborough
Farnborough Airfield
Farnborough Airport or TAG London Farnborough Airport is an airport situated in Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire, England...
. A 72 feet (21.9 m) high airship shed
Airship hangar
Airships are sheltered in airship hangars during construction and sometimes also for regular operation, particularly at bad weather conditions. Rigid airships always needed to be based in airship hangars because weathering was a serious risk.- History :...
was built at the site.
In 1906 Colonel
Colonel (UK)
Colonel is a rank of the British forces, ranking below Brigadier, and above Lieutenant Colonel. British Colonels are not usually field commanders; typically they serve as staff officers between field commands at battalion and brigade level. The insignia is two diamond shaped pips below a crown...
John Capper
John Capper
Major-General Sir John Edward Capper KCB KCVO was a senior officer of the British Army during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century who served on the North-West Frontier of British India, in South Africa and during the First World War, where he was instrumental in the development of the...
took up command of the School of Ballooning. During his time in command, Capper contributed to the development of Britain's military airships and, with Cody, piloted the first successful British airship flight, that of the Nulli Secundus over London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during 1907.
Samuel Cody experimented with man-lifting kites at the site.In 1906 he was appointed as Chief Instructor in Kiting.
In 1909-1911, part of the Factory was separated to form the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers
Air Battalion Royal Engineers
The Air Battalion Royal Engineers was the first flying unit of the British Armed Forces to make use of heavier-than-air craft. It evolved into the Royal Flying Corps which in turn evolved into the Royal Air Force.-Establishment:...
. In 1912 the Balloon Factory was renamed the Royal Aircraft Factory.
Commanders
The following officers served as superintendent of the Balloon Factory:- 1878 to ?, Captain J L B TemplerJames TemplerColonel James Lethbridge Brooke Templer was an early British military pioneer of balloons. He was an officer in the King's Royal Rifle Corps and Royal Engineers. Templer set out a scientific foundation for British military ballooning...
- 1901 to May 1906 Colonel J L B TemplerJames TemplerColonel James Lethbridge Brooke Templer was an early British military pioneer of balloons. He was an officer in the King's Royal Rifle Corps and Royal Engineers. Templer set out a scientific foundation for British military ballooning...
- 1906 to 1909, Colonel J E CapperJohn CapperMajor-General Sir John Edward Capper KCB KCVO was a senior officer of the British Army during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century who served on the North-West Frontier of British India, in South Africa and during the First World War, where he was instrumental in the development of the...
In 1909, the Balloon Factory was separated from the Balloon School. Colonel Capper continued as commander of the Balloon School, and the civilin consultant engineer Mervyn O'Gorman was appointed superintndantot the Balloon Factory. Several months later Major Sir Alexander Bannerman took over the Balloon School from Colonel Capper.