balloonatic, n. and adj.
A. n.
A person who is balloon-mad; a balloonist, spec. (Mil. slang) a member of a balloon corps or balloon squadron in the First World War (1914–18).
B. adj.
Balloon-mad, balloon-crazy.
[May 1942. Alfred T. Palmer. Parris Island, South Carolina, United States.]
Marine Corps barrage balloons. The Marines have the situation well in hand. That goes for anything they tackle — like this barrage balloon, for example. Special Marine Corps units at Parris Island, South Carolina gain rare proficiency with this new fighting tool that the leathernecks have taken over.
Image via The United States Library of Congress.