Army - 46th Balloon Company (U.S.)

Last modified: 2005-12-17 by rick wyatt
Keywords: us army | balloon |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

• Guidon

See also:

• U.S. Army flags
• Army Organizational, Rank, and Positional Flags List
• United States of America

Guidon

image by Tom Gregg, 7 January 2000

Guidon, 46th Balloon Company (us-46bg23): These units operated captive observation balloons of the type much used during WW I for field artillery observation.

The 1923 regulations specified dimensions for guidons of 2 feet 3 inches at the hoist by 3 feet 5 inches on the fly with a 15-inch fork.Guidons were to0 be made of "wool bunting or other suitable material." In most cases the field was in the first-named branch color with letters, numerals and insignia in the second-named branch color--in this case, ultramarine blue and golden orange.

The Air Service in 1923 lacked the sophisticated structure later so characteristic of air forces. Aside from schools, there were only six unit types, all squadrons or companies. Tactical command of Air Service units was vested in corps and field army headquarters, so there were no group or wing organizations.

The drawing is based on descriptions in the 1923 Army flags regulation (AR 260-10).

Tom Gregg, 7 January 2000