[Martin Gleeson]

Gentlemen,

There is a huge difference between unmanned defensive barrage balloons and observation balloons (manned). The rarity of the latter in WW2 is why balloons feature so rarely in pilot's scores. From memory I believe some few were used by the Germans on the Eastern Front during the first year or two of the war there. One occasionally sees photos of these on EBay.

While H-K Mayer may have had these marked on his aircraft's rudder I bet they were not counted in his total of victories.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.