GAT-X103 Buster Gundam

Before the Army had rotors, it had hydrogen. On this day in 1918, the 2nd Balloon Company—the very first American balloon unit to reach the front lines—was deep in preparation in France, marking the beginning of U.S. Army Aviation's combat presence in Europe. While these early observers from the 2nd Balloon Company were learning to direct artillery from wicker baskets at the training center in Cuperly, France, a strange coincidence was happening back in San Diego: On this exact day—January 23, 1