Puneet Varma (Editor)

RAF Balloon Command

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Country
  
United Kingdom

Founded
  
1 November 1938

Engagement
  
Engagements
  
World War II

Branch
  
Royal Air Force

RAF Balloon Command httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenthumbf

Active
  
1 November 1938–February 1945

Motto
  
Vi Et Ictu; (Latin: By Force and Impact).

Similar
  
Royal Air Force, Royal Observer Corps, RAF Fighter Command, RAF Training Command, RAF Coastal Command

Balloon Command was the Royal Air Force command which was responsible for controlling all the United Kingdom-based barrage balloon units during World War II.

Contents

History

Prior to the establishment of Balloon Command, a balloon group was brought into being in 1937. This smaller formation was known as No. 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group and was commanded by Air Commodore John Hearson. Balloon Command itself was formed on 1 November 1938 at RAF Stanmore Park in Middlesex. It consisted of a headquarters and several groups. Balloon Command was disbanded in February 1945.

Commanders

The following officers were in command:

  • 1 November 1938 Air Vice-Marshal Owen Tudor Boyd
  • 1 December 1940 Air Marshal Sir Leslie Gossage
  • 1 February 1944 Air Vice-Marshal W C C Gell
  • 13 February 1945 Air Commodore P L Lincoln

    • Pre-war organization

    Before the second world war the command had one group - No. 30 (Balloon) Group at four stations:

    No. 1 Balloon Centre at Kidbrooke
  • No. 901 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
  • No. 902 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
  • No. 903 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
    • No. 2 Balloon Centre at Hook
  • No. 904 (County of Surrey) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
  • No. 905 (County of Surrey) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
    • No. 3 Balloon Centre at Stanmore
  • No. 906 (County of Middlesex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
  • No. 907 (County of Middlesex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
    • No. 4 Balloon Center at Chigwell
  • No. 908 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
  • No. 909 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
  • No. 910 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force

    • Second world war organization

    During World War II, the command had the following organization:

  • Headquarters at Old Church Lane, Stanmore in Middlesex. This in turn directly controlled:
  • RAF Cardington
  • RAF Chessington

    • The command consisted of five groups which were in turn subdivided into balloon centres (equivalent to wings of heavier-than-air aircraft). The organization was as follows:

  • No. 30 Group headquartered at Chessington, near Surbiton, Surrey (1 November 1938 to 7 January 1945)
  • No. 1 Balloon Centre
  • No. 2 Balloon Centre
  • No. 3 Balloon Centre
  • No. 4 Balloon Centre
  • No. 12 Balloon Centre
  • No. 31 Group (1 April 1939 to 13 November 1941), Birmingham
  • No. 32 Group headquartered at Claverton Manor, Claverton, near Bath, Somerset (1 March 1939 to 15 November 1944)
  • No. 6 Balloon Centre (earlier in 33 Group)
  • No. 11 Balloon Centre
  • No. 13 Balloon Centre
  • No. 14 Balloon Centre
  • No. 33 Group headquartered at Parkhead House, Abbey Lane, Sheffield, Yorkshire (1 March 1939 to 4 September 1944)
  • No. 5 Balloon Centre
  • No. 6 Balloon Centre (later in 32 Group)
  • No. 8 Balloon Centre
  • No. 9 Balloon Centre
  • No. 10 Balloon Centre
  • No. 15 Balloon Centre (earlier in 34 Group)
  • No. 16 Balloon Centre
  • No. 17 Balloon Centre
  • No. 34 Group headquartered at Tor House, Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh (7 April 1940 to 19 July 1943)
  • No. 15 Balloon Centre (later in 33 Group)
  • No. 18 Balloon Centre

    • The dates indicated give the periods for which each group existed as part of Balloon Command. No. 30 and 31 groups also existed in World War I as part of different formations.

    The balloon centres in turn consisted of balloon squadrons which were numbered from 900 to 994.

    References

    RAF Balloon Command Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA