Inflated.

This is coolbert:

Courtesy the Internet web site "Covert Shores" more balloon espionage stuff. Ninety-nine balloons the U.S Navy.

"U.S. Navy & CIA Submarine Launched Spy Balloons"

From http://www.hisutton.com the article by H I Sutton 03 February 2023. 

Think once more from the era of the Cold War the American "spy" balloon Project Genetrix.

"Project Genetrix saw the USAF launch over 500 surveillance balloons, fitted with cameras, over USSR, China and Eastern Europe in the 1950s. What is less well known is that around the same time the US Navy was, with the CIA, experimenting with launching similar balloons from a submarine."

Think also during the same period the U.S. Navy having their own intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance balloon program.

U.S. Navy balloon program in contrast to Genetrix MANNED!

"Unlike the USAF program, the balloons were crewed, with a pilot and CIA photographer. The submarine would surface and the balloon inflated. At the end of mission the balloonists would ditch in the sea and be picked up by another submarine (or possibly the same one)."

Let me get this straight! 1. Submarine would first have surface. 2. Balloon inflated and sent aloft carrying crew. 3. Balloon at considerable altitude I assume drifting rather aimlessly across forbidden airspace. 4. Images would have been taken. 5. Crew ditched balloon [presumably parachuting into the open ocean]. 6. Crew of balloon hopefully rescued intact with film.

And nothing can go wrong!

coolbert.