Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-25
SIGNAL CORPS
AIRSHIP SAILS
ASCENSION is MADE FROM
CHUTES PARK
PRIVATE COLBY OF co. A PILOTS
THE BALLOON
Military's Demonstration of NsvIgat-
ing In Air Ends in Successful
Landing of Aeronaut, Who
Assembled 1000 Feet

The second balloon ascension con-
Quoted by the aeronautical squad of
company A signal corps was made
from the Chutes park grounds yester-
day afternoon with Signal Corps No. 2
balloon secured from e. r. Schallmo
Private Charles d. Colby made the
ascension, landing at First and Town
send streets in Boyle Heights after a
trip over the eastern section of the
city.
The balloon has less than one-fourth
the capacity of the Ferris balloon used
by the signal corps last month and
can carry but one man with ordinary
gas. The aeronautical squad has plans
for using a larger balloon later In the
year. The next ascension probably
will be made carly in November from
Venice Yesterdays trip was possible
through the courtesy of ]. B. Lehigh,
manager of Chutes park.
Capt. H. w. Slotterbeck of company
A supervised the work and the mem
bers of the aeronautical squad taking
part in the preparation for the trip
were A. c. Boeckman, Elmer A. Marsh.
j. P. Potts, V. c. Worden, j. j. Clark
A. r. Winnen, H. c. Hickman, G. L.
I1dIllIIlOIllf d. D. ObLSt W a. 11tllls
w. r. Kitchen, L. B. Hunter, P. C.
Foot, G. B. Harrison and C. D. Colby.
The company will take a mounted
ride from Pasadena next Saturday and
Sunday, in which all members will
participate, and will follow that with
considerable signal practice.
other instruction Given
The. .aeronautical plans form only one
part of the regular work of the signal
corps, which includes instruction in
regular and wireless telegraphy, tele-
phony, use of the heliograph and other
phases of work assigned to the signal
corps.
"Three years in the signal corps in
reality gives a man genuine tech
nical instruction." said Capt. Slotter-
beck last night. "a recruit does not
necessarily take up all lines under
taken by the signal corps. If his bent
is for wireless telegraphy and he cares
nothing about aeronauticS he will like
ly have little or nothing to do with
the balloons, but will become expert
in telegraphy. Our equipment enables
us to instruct man who is apt along
certain lines so that he may become
skilled in a commercial sense as we'll
as for military duty. We are trying
to secure about twenty-five more re-
cruits, when we shall be able to make
company A one of which Los Angeles
will be proud"
Private Colby's trip yesterday was
almost northeast from the Chutes, as
he kept within an altitude of 1000 feet,
which carried the balloon in the lower
stratum of air. If he had risen an
other thousand feet he would have
gone southeast. The quality of gas
was apparently not as good as usual
and Colby was able to get away with
but small amount of ballast.
Keeps Balloon from Falling
Toward the end of his journey when
the lack of the SUMS rays caused con-
densation he kept the balloon from
falling by cutting off sections of his
drag rope and dropping them. When
he found a suitable landing place he
came down gently and men who saw
him were ready to help him in the de-
scent, as the members of the squad
who were following did not reach the
landing point until he had the balloon
Debated
A chart and map of the trip with a
log and full details of the ascension
will be prepared by w. A. Hall, in
structor of the squad. The chart |
shows the altitude at all points on the |
voyage, which is taken by the balloon
ist by reading an aneroid barometer |
At the next meeting of the squad |
Thursday night data and experience |
already obtained will be discussed pre- |
liminary to working out regular mill
tary tactics for a balloon ascension, |
the work of bringing |
out the balloon, laying it out and in
fating and weighing off" for a free |
flight, as we'll as observations with the |
balloon held captive.
Capt Slotterbeck will ask the CO.
operation of Prof. T. S. C. Lowe of |
Pasadena in this, as Prof. loves aero
nautical work during the Civil War
stands as pioneer almost of all prac-
teal military aeronautics. Although |
he demonstrated the successful use of
a balloon in wartime, aeronautical
work by the army was not continued |
and the United States now possesses
no tactics or manual for instruction
of men of the signal corps in handling
a balloon. Before the winter season
closes Capt. Slotterbeck hopes to have
this partially worked out through the
practical balloon work of company AS
aeronautical squad.