On Nov 30, 8:58*pm, Gordon wrote:
I have a photo of a whale boat returning to the ship, titled "USS
North Dakota whale boat rescuing balloon man." * It is not a motor
whaleboat, its rowed by hand - but there isn't any other details.
Always intrigued by such references - who was this 'balloon man'?

The only markings on the whaleboat are block letters "ND" on the bow.
Either 12 or 14 oarsmen, a caller at the bow and two men back by the
tiller. Uniforms look ~1900-1910 to me, which is why I am so
interested in the name of the airman.