Barrage Balloons

During World War II, barrage balloons again floated over London dangling lengths of metal cable forcing German bombers to higher altitudes. This reduced the accuracy of the German bombing missions. The United States Navy commonly used them to protect their fleets from aerial threats during missions in hostile waters and at home. Barrage balloons have not been commonly used in some time, but their usefulness may not be entirely past. They do find civilian use in outdoor advertising.

Barrage balloons protect the USS Salt Lake City off the Mare Island Navy Yard, 10 May 1943.
Photo: Photo: War Department; US Navy; Office of War Information.
Library of Congress. Prints and Photographs. Washington D.C. USA.

Barrage balloons protect the Normandy Invasion.
Photo: Photo: War Department; US Navy; Office of War Information.
National Archives and Records Administration.
Still Picture Branch; College Park, Maryland.