French Weather Balloon Lands in Scioto County

Articles taken from The Marion Star, July 19, 22, 23, 1968

Portsmouth, Ohio (AP)- A huge, hydrogen-filled plastic ballon apparently sent up last May by the National Center of Space Studies in France landed today in a cornfield in the Scioto River bottom lands about 3 miles north of here.

George L. Davis, the farm operator, watched the estimated 600-ft. balloon desend about 8 a.m. and cover about an acre of his cornfield.

The balloon is believed to have been the same one which touched off a flurry of UFO reports in the southcentral area of Ohio Thursday night. A Hocking County deputy sheriff had observed the object with highpowered binoculars and said it appeared to be a clear plastic weather balloon floating at high altitude.

There were some straps hanging from the cylinder - shaped ballon and a metal ring was attatched to one strap. There were no instrument of any other items or information on the card or balloon, except that the balloon was inflated with hydrogen and warning finders it could be dangerous.

Davis speculated to newsmen that the French apparently had sent up the balloon for high altitude recordings with instrument attached to the metal ring.

He believed that once the information was obtained some explosive device was set off freeing the instruments to descend by parachute and allowing the balloon to float free.

A state highway patrolman on the scene suggested to Davis he might seek reimbursment from the French government for damage to his cornfield.

Davis chuckled, and said, "How could I do that...they haven't paid the U.S. their World War I debt and I'd hardly expect they'd pay a farmer for cornfield damage."

French Balloon May Bring Ohio Farmer an Award

Portsmouth, Ohio (AP)--Farmer George L. Davis probably will get some sort of a award from the French government for recovering a space balloon that landed on his property Friday.

But space scientist in Paris cautioned today that the award may not pay for alleged damages caused to Davis' cornfield by the balloon.

The huge, plastic cylinder shaped balloon dropped on Davis' cornfield in the Scioto River bottom lands three miles north of here when the last of its hydrogen leaked out.

The balloon carried no instruments - only a card saying it was launched May 7, 1968 by the French National Center of Space Studies.

The balloon apparently had circled the earth before landing here since, according to weather bureau officials, there are no prvailing winds which would have blown it directly to this country.

Will Use Balloon

Portsmouth, Ohio (AP) - That wandering French weather balloon which landed in George Davis' cornfield will be on the "go-go" again.

Dan Bradburn has bought the huge plastic balloon for $50. He will use it to decorate the interior of a new discotheque here.