Page 14 - Cranwell Photographs

14
Cranwell
LIGHTERrT
AN AIR
Below: Balloon, kite balloon and airship flying was an important element of the Royal Naval Air Service during the Great War and the new station at Cranwell was earmarked as the centre for this training. The first hangar for the Lighter Than Air Section was erected in March 1916. It housed one kite balloon inflated, and a spare one, deflated. The first ascent was made on 4th April 1916 and by the end of that year ten officers had completed their training. The Wicker- basket from one of these balloons is visible on the right.
Below right: Interior detail of the Coastal airship shed. Note the padding attached to the wooden structure - in case of accidental contact by the airship.
Left: Building work on the large rigid shed of The Lighter Than Air Section can be seen in the centre foreground. Still in use on the site is the original canvas kite balloon hangar, featured above, top left. Construction of a portable Submarine Scout shed, brought in from Anglesey, is well advanced despite it having been damaged in a gale at the end of March 1916. This rigid shed was completed early in 1917; a second building was planned but was cancelled before construction started. Photograph dated 15th October 1916.