The Ascendancy of AEW

The Ascendance of Airborne Early Warning

“The rocking is troublesome and increases with the force of the wind, and sometimes prevents the use of glasses; but … one can see the movements of the infantry, cavalry, and artillery with the naked eye; and I could count the pieces of the redoubts and ramparts without any extraneous assistance.”

Those were the words of Colonel Jean-Marie Joseph Coutelle describing the first use of man-carrying balloons for surveillance in combat. The historic event took place in June 1794 as the French Republican Army defended against a coalition of European powers at the Battle of Maubeuge, 125 miles northeast of Paris.

Using a balloon tethered to the ground, with dozens of men at the ropes, Colonel Coutelle and an aide rose above the battlefield “to examine the works of the enemy, his position, and his forces.” For five consecutive days, the moustachioed officers continued their airborne mission, being finally deterred by enemy cannon fire.

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