Barrage balloon manufacture. Climbing out of the manhole. This opening provides a human escape for the worker who has been inside the balloon checking it for leaks. Next to him is the inflation sleeve through which air is pumped into the bag to inflate it for inspection. General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio

Fill 'er up! Tugging at the large hose, known as the "inflation sleeve", this worker stands inside the "manhole" of a new barrage balloon to guide the sleeve into the opening through which it will pump air to test the giant rubber balloon for leaks. General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio

Barrage balloon manufacture. Fitting a manhold vent in the sidewall of a barrage balloon. These workers are putting in the final pieces of equipment on a completed barrage balloon, just prior to its deflation, packing and shipping to an army air base. In the foreground is a balloon ready for test inflation with air which will also be inspected during inflation. General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio

Barrage balloon manufacture. Reinforcing tail rigging of a new ballonet type barrage balloon, these workers at the barrage plant are cementing, seaming and rolling reinforcing tape across points in the tail and fins where strain is greatest. General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio

Barrage balloon manufacture. John and his colleagues. Silhouetted against the spiderweb pattern of the inside of a great barrage balloon, this supervisor watches "balloon tailors" at work on an inside seam. The area in the picture will be filled with helium in service. 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. Lineup of cementers. Assembling patterns into gores which in turn are assembled into balloon sections, these workers are charged with making seams strong and gas-tight, since the full tug of gas from the inside, and rigging on the outside is exerted on these sections. General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio

Barrage balloon manufacture. Climbing out of the manhole. This opening provides a human escape for the worker who has been inside the balloon checking it for leaks. Next to him is the inflation sleeve through which air is pumped into the bag to inflate it for inspection. 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 1052.

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