Offered here is a section of U.S. balloon fabric measuring about 19 x 18 inches and featuring hand draw balloon sketches and inscriptions. The inscription reads, “Souvenir of the first Balloon flown/in the Philippine Islands by the/17th Balloon Co. U.S. Army. This Balloon/Broke away on the 20th of Oct. 1920 at/Kindley Field, Corregidor I. with the Pilot Lt. W.E. Huffman and passenger Pvt. Murray C.A.C./The ascension of the Balloon was checked-/at an altitude of 8200 ft. The Balloon was/torn-while valving and the Balloon/gradually descending landed in Manila Bay/25 miles from Corregidor Island.” The lower right hand corner is signed, “Puttcomb/Dec. 27/1926.” Pilot Lt. Huffman recalled the incident in the January 2, 1921 edition of The Indianapolis Sunday Star. U.S. military ballooning traces its roots to the Civil War Union Army Balloon Corps. During World War I, balloon companies were part of the American Expeditionary Force, including the 17th. Reorganization efforts following the Armistice reduced the U.S. Army Air Service balloon force. The 17th and 27th Balloon Companies were attached to the Philippine Department. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection

Fine, with clear inscriptions and illustrations. An attractive piece of U.S. military ballooning history.