- Who
- L’Entreprenant
- Where
- Belgium (Charleroi)
- When
The first successful use of a balloon as a form of military reconnaissance vehicle is at the Siege of Charleroi, which would develop into the Battle of Fleurus, on 26 June 1794. Piloted by engineer Jean-Marie-Joseph Coutelle (FRA), the aerostat – known as "L’Entreprenant" ("The Enterprising One") – was used by the French Aerostatic Corps to track the movements of the Coalition Army troops, and played a key role in the French Republic's victory.
