‘An intrepid observer meets with a mishap and makes a hurried descent’, 1916 circa (b/w...

‘An intrepid observer meets with a mishap and makes a hurried descent’, 1916 circa. Stereoscopic photograph, World War One, Western Front (1914-1918), 1916 circa. Observers were carried in baskets or containers underneath their balloons. They were responsible for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. The balloons were usually heavily defended by anti-aircraft guns and fighter aircraft, but sometimes the observers had to use their parachutes when their balloons were attacked. From a collection of 96 stereoscopic photographs entitled ‘The Great War’ including the official series.