Barrage balloon manufacture. Birthplace for air-whales--gigantic barrage balloons which look like monster whales-of-the-air, made in this huge room. Four are seen here: left rear is a balloon being folded into the shipping container at the extreme rear; next to it is an inflated balloon on which final inspection and checking is now complete, and ready for deflation and packing; at the right is a completed balloon in the process of being inflated for inspection; in the foreground is an assembled balloon awaiting final fitting and inflation. General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio

Barrage balloon manufacture. Reinforcing the fins of a fish-of-the-air. These workers at the barrage balloon division, are putting double reinforcements on the right fin of a completed barrage balloon before it is deflated and sent to army training camps Every seam must be absolutely gas- and air-tight, since the tiniest pinhole would permit valuable amounts of precious helium to escape. General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio

Barrage balloon manufacture. Tugging a finished half of a barrage balloon into position for joining with the other half. These workers have come to the final assembly step in producing barrage balloons for American air defense. Four steps in final production are shown in this photo: the half-balloon they are dragging in; the nose of a ship on the right which is in the process of being deflated for packing and shipping; and the inflated balloon in the background which is being inspected for final okay before being shipped. General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio

Barrage balloon manufacture. Getting supplies at the storehouse. This barrage balloon builder has come to the company's storehouse to obtain more reinforcing tape to fasten the seams of a barrage balloon. Small, but vital to production, every piece of material must pass over this counter and be recorded before issuance. The storekeeper is the only man who knows the secret formula for mixing the rubber cement combination which works most effectively in making air-tight seams. General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio

Barrage balloon manufacture. Assembling the balloon. These workers are ready to fasten one-half of a barrage balloon to the other half--the final major step in the assembly of the huge balloon. After this is done, all accessories, ropes and rigging will have to be added before the balloon can be tested, finally inspected, packed and shipped to Uncle Sam. General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio

Barrage balloon manufacture. Birthplace for air-whales--gigantic barrage balloons which look like monster whales-of-the-air, made in this huge room. Four are seen here: left rear is a balloon being folded into the shipping container at the extreme rear; next to it is an inflated balloon on which final inspection and checking is now complete, and ready for deflation and packing; at the right is a completed balloon in the process of being inflated for inspection; in the foreground is an assembled balloon awaiting final fitting and inflation. General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio

description

Summary

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches).
Title and other information from caption card.
Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944.
More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is available at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.fsaowi
Film copy on SIS roll 30, frame 1049.

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