American observation 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.

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.

In the field Balloon companies were allotted to the ground units they supported as needed.

Only 35 companies made it to France with the American Expeditionary Force (AEF).

After the war, the National Association of American Balloon Corps Veterans was organized[1] and published a history of the service: Eyes of the Army : a story about the Observation Balloon Service of World War I by Craig S.