A German observer jumping from his observation balloon, 1917-1918. While this picture's original description written on 13 November 1918 reads "German aviator escapes from attacked ballon. German Soldier jumping from gondola of his observation balloon during an attack by allied aircraft. His parachute has not opened yet", it is difficult to know if this is a staged photograph. Instead of a real action photo, this seems to show a German official demonstrating the method of escape from an observation balloon in the event of attack. However, this image is featured in a collection of war stamps. Its caption reads: "The spring battle at Arras. April 2 - May 25, 1917. Parachute jump of an artillery watcher from a captive balloon during an enemy air raid. From the official material of the Reichasarchiv Potsdam." Others point it was taken by a nearby aviator. The original was most likely taken by a German soldier or photographic unit, which was later captured by American soldiers. That would explain its presence in the archives labeled as "Enemy Activities - Miscellaneous" and without the date of shot. Reconnaissance balloons hanged up to more than 1000 metres above the ground and, while they had by anti-aircraft batteries and machine guns, were easy but fortified victims. Shooting a balloon down counted as taking down any other aircraft (1).

Source: National Archives and Records Administration (31479817) Ghent University Library (ED059A90-1728-11E2-A8D9-5A520D0ED9C1) Australian War Memorial (H13483) Bibliography: 1. Hodges, Ian (2010) Australian Fling Corps. Canberra: Department of Veterans’ Affairs, p. 23, 87