Up In
The Air
The World War I Diaries of Balloonist Cyril Gordon Jones
1917
7th Jan
"...Saw one of our aeroplanes attacked by a Hun and set on fire..."
Jan 10th "...
attacked and burnt by German aeroplane, an Albatross Scout..."
Jan 16th
"
Found my room half covered with snow in morning.
.. "
1917
17th Jan
"Capt Child dined here and played poker."
2nd Feb " Skating on Serpentine and other lakes in London"
1st March
" No 2 balloon was shelled at 2.15pm today... "
Ist April
"They were caught in a squall whilst crossing the wires"
8th April
" I was hit on right arm by a piece of anti aircraft shell..."
1917
1st May "I saw a very exciting scrap..."
27th May
"...balloon was damaged by a collision with a tree"
8th June
" ...examined their balloon which was leaking at diagonal seam ..."
17th June
" No 9’s balloon was shelled but not hit."
June 28th
"...struck by lightning and burst...."
21st July
"...balloon was shelled in the air and several holes made in it."
1917
22nd July
"...No 9’s balloon ... was shelled...telephone cable was cut...."
August 9th
"All balloons up A few targets done."
29th Sept
"old position deflated and packed up... "
11th Oct
"Bad tooth ache..."
27th Oct
"48 targets done..."
30th Nov
"...balloon eventually deflated, after being hit several times. ..."
8th Dec
"All went well till I landed..."
9th Dec
"My leg was X Rayed today..."
1917
17th Dec
"...
taken to Boulogne and put on board Hospital Ship St Dennis
"
1917
ca. 19th Dec
"...air raid alarm on the way to London and the train was stopped
25th December
"Xmas day. I was of course in bed. We were well looked after and had Turkey, Champagne and Port Wine."
22nd Jan b..."Court of Enquiry..."