If You're Listening The balloon that started the US Air Force
Oct 20, 2025
Marc Fennell, host of No One Saw It Coming, dives into the whimsical world of Thaddeus Lowe, a theatrical 'Professor' who, with a striking mustache, played a pivotal role in aerial espionage during the Civil War. The conversation covers Lowe’s ambitious balloon flights, his encounters with skeptical military officials, and his accidental landing in Confederate territory. It explores how accusations of spying led to the birth of balloon reconnaissance, ultimately laying the groundwork for the U.S. Air Force.
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Balloonist Lands In Confederate Territory
- Thaddeus S.K. Lowe launched a gas balloon at 3am in top hat and tails to test the jet-stream theory.
- He drifted far off course and landed in Confederate South Carolina, where locals accused him of being the devil and a Yankee spy.
First Prisoner Of The Civil War
- Lowe became the first prisoner of war held by the Confederacy after his unintended landing.
- A university head later vouched for him and the mayor issued a passport that secured his release.
Accident Became A Military Innovation
- Lowe turned his accidental spy stigma into a proposal for military reconnaissance from balloons.
- He gained President Lincoln's support and $250 to demonstrate aerial telegraphy despite General Scott's scepticism.