Talk:Barrage balloon

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Start	This article has been rated as Start-Class on the quality scale.
Additional information and associated task forces: This article has been checked against the following criteria for B-Class status: Referencing and citation: criterion not met Coverage and accuracy: criterion not met Structure: criterion not met Grammar: criterion met Supporting materials: criterion met Associated task forces (general topics): Military aviation task force

The article sorely underemphasizes the main point of barrage baloons, which is to provide deterrence against low-flying, high-precision, surprise attacks. Also, by confining the airspace, in which enemy aircraft can safely operate, the other defenses are made more effective. For more details, see

http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj89/hillson.html

[edit] Removal of nuclear test image

I've removed this image because the "barrage balloon" isn't actually a barrage balloon, but a US Navy ZSG-3 airship. See: http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/photos/photodetails.aspx?ID=459 and http://stinet.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0360874. Anyway, while it's a very striking image it's not exactly a typical or an informative one, even if it had been a barrage balloon. Something more iconic from the Blitz might be better. Airminded 08:20, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Barrage balloons in the USA and Canada?

I'm rather intrigued and dubious about the quoted use of barrage balloons at Saulte Sainte Marie in 1942. Sault Sainte Marie is almost 1000km inland and would surely have been beyond the range of the Axis dive bombers that barrage balloons were intended to counter. As far as I'm aware North America suffered no air attacks in the Second World War apart from some Japanese balloons, let alone from short-range dive bombers. Why go to the trouble of putting up barrage balloons at a site far beyond enemy divebomber range? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.72.134.216 (talk) 23:52, 7 February 2008 (UTC)