Balloons at War by John Christopher
'I hope these new mechanic meteors will prove only playthings ... and not be converted into new engines of destruction to the human race.' - Horace Walpole, 1785 Walpole's words were prophetic; within only eleven years the balloon had proved its worth at war and Joseph Montgolfier, even before a balloon had left the ground, had seen a potential use for his new invention in attacking the English at Gibraltar. The first 'air force' was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte. The American Civil, Franco-Prussian and First World Wars saw extensive use of balloons but it was during the Second World War that the balloon saw more new and imaginative uses. Barrage balloons helped prevent incursions by enemy aircraft and new, ingenious uses were found for balloons, including dropping bombs (as used by the Japanese against the USA), destroying enemy aircraft, espionage and other clandestine operations.Samuel Youd, who was born in Lancashire, England, in 1922, used the alias John Christopher. He published almost fifty novels and novellas, as well as a number of short tales. The Death of Grass, the Tripods trilogy, The Lotus Caves, and The Guardians are among his most well-known works.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780752429953 |
| ISBN 10 | 0752429957 |
| Title | Balloons at War |
| Author | John Christopher |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | The History Press Ltd |
| Year published | 2004-03-31 |
| Number of pages | 160 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |