Original Items: Only One Set Available. This is a lovely set of communication gear from "The Great War", as used by the U.S. Army Observation Balloon Service. It consists of a set of earphones as well as a microphone that would be hung around the neck. The wires are insulated with fabric, and like most of the set, fitted with leather, as rubber of the time was not really up to the task. The microphone has a leather "funnel" for surrounding the mouth when talking, which also probably helped keep them warm.

There are not much in the way of markings on the set, however the leather harness around the earphones indicates that they are of French manufacture, which makes sense as much of the equipment used by the U.S. during WWI was sourced from French & British sources. The set is in good condition, especially considering the age, with deterioration to the leather and elastic. There are some torn straps on the headphone harness, and we do not have any way of testing these items to see if they still function.

A great WWI Balloonist communication set, ready to research and display!

Note: We found a picture of a member of the U.S. 43rd Balloon Company wearing a very similar rig, which is shown in the pictures, but is not included.

Balloon Service in World War I
United States Army Balloon Squadrons and companies organized under the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps and served overseas with the United States Army Air Service before and during World War I. There were also French, British, and German Balloon Corps.

The History of military ballooning includes the American Civil War era Union Army Balloon Corps and the even earlier French Aerostatic Corps.

At the start of World War I, the organization of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force included observation balloon units organized into companies, squadrons, and wings and each company was equipped with one balloon. Five companies comprised a squadron, and three squadrons made up a wing. By the end of the war 110 companies had been created. In the field Balloon companies were allotted to the ground units they supported as needed. In 1918 June, with squadron organization discontinued, company designations were numbered and organized into groups. Only 35 companies made it to France with the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). 17 companies served at the front, making 1,642 combat ascensions, while six other groups were en route to the front at the armistice.