I am endlessly fascinated with early unidentified flying object sightings, cigar-shaped aerials, and how people reacted to seeing things they had never seen before. In this report from 1916, the military said they were testing out a cigar-shaped balloon over Ohio. During its flight, as it was guided by airplanes, a farmer shot at it.
New Kite Balloon
A military kite balloon, observed by thousands of persons, landed near Washington Court House, Ohio, after a trip from Akron, Ohio, a distance of about 120 miles. The balloon was piloted by C.H. Roth and C.A. Wollen of Akron, and made the trip in three hours and 45 minutes.
The balloon was shaped like a large cigar, but carried no motive power. It was guided by means of planes, and the trip was made for the purpose of testing the steering, elevating and lowering apparatus.
The pilots said that it was the first time that such a trip in a balloon so equipped had been attempted in this country, and that the idea is a new and undeveloped one in Europe. They said that the fast time and perfect control proved the value of the craft.
The balloon was shot at over a farm in Green County, but the machine rose out of range.
Source: The Keota news. (Keota, Weld County, Colo.), 20 Oct. 1916.
