Gatesville balloonist returns home from World War I

Wert Renfro Shelton, who is buried in Coryell County, was little known for his unique military career, which was a slight bit different from other branches of the military. Shelton was a part of the Balloon Company Air Service during World War I where he served as a private.

Shelton began his service in August of 1918. At that time, balloons and kites were the first inventions used in aerial warfare, and their primary role was observation. Balloons provided a very reliable and stable means of elevating a soldier to be a high observer over battlefields in order to obtain a birds-eye view of troop positions and movements.

Balloons, which were considered to be a highly valuable instrument of aerial intelligence, were also used to create accurate battlefield maps.

The balloons were usually deployed about two miles behind the forward line of resistance, which allowed the two on board observers to see as far as 40 miles behind enemy lines to watch enemy troop and aircraft movements on a clear day. The balloons would rise to between 3,000 and 5,000 feet far out of the range of ground fire.

Balloons had been employed by the U.S. Army for observation during the Civil War in the United States and during the Spanish-American War, but did not achieve a significant amount of success until 1917 during World War I.

The balloon used most often by U.S. units was the Caquot Type-R balloon, which was manufactured in the U.S. by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. The hydrogen-filled balloon could lift two observers in a basket with their charting, photographic, and communications equipment, along with the weight of its mooring cable. They could also hold small bombs for combat.

During World War I, military ballooning reached its peak. In addition to the balloons being used to spot enemy movements, they also provided early warning of enemy attacks.

It is unknown the exact role Wert Shelton played in this service. He was honorably discharged from the Air Service Balloon Corp in January of 1919 and returned home. He died on May 9, 1942, and was buried in Seaton Cemetery in Coryell County.

Today, military ballooning is not widely used, as many other technologies such as drones and satellite service have taken over its main roles.

Wert Shelton remains a pioneer in aviation combat while defending his country.