British Barrage Balloon WW2 1/300 scale

The Barrage Balloon was the single most numerous aircraft type used during World War 2. They had proved their worth during the First World War and both the Allied and Axis powers were quick to establish squadrons of them ready for the outbreak of the Second.  Their obvious detterent affect against low flying aircraft was joined by the fact that attackers were forced to fly at altitudes sufficient enough to keep them within the sights of anti-aircraft guns for longer.

In Britain, every major port and quayside  and all larger cities and towns were protected by them.  They were flown by ships of the Atlantic convoys and were used on the Normandy beaches from D-Day onwards. Wherever longer term anti-aircraft defence was required, barrage balloons were pressed into service and their contribution to the Allied victory cannot be overstated.

The model represents just one of very many British detailed variants that were constructed although virtually all used the same tri-form tail fin configuration. The main envelope was hydrogen filled and equipped with an air-filled ballonet that was kept inflated by wind pressure and thereby maintained the hull shape.  The tail fins were similarly inflated by wind pressure and often drooped characteristically when winds were light. They were flown slightly nose-up into the wind.