United Kingdom - Balloon Command

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

Balloon Command 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:

• 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 HQ 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 Kidbrooke London 4 Oct 1937 - 1960

     No 2 Balloon Centre Hook, Surrey 1937 - pre Jun 1944

     No 3 Balloon Centre Stanmore, Middlesex 1937 - Current

     No 4 Balloon Centre Chigwell, Essex 2 Aug 1938 - 1 Apr 1943

     No 22 Balloon Centre Biggin Hill, Kent 19 Feb 1944 - 20 Nov 1944

     No 23 Balloon Centre Gravesend, Kent 1 Feb 1944 - 15 Jan 1945

     No 24 Balloon Centre Redhill, Surrey 1 Jul 1944 - 15 Jan 1945

• No. 31 Group (1 April 1939 to 13 November 1941)
     No 5 Balloon Centre Whitehouse Common, Sutton Coldfield, BirminghamUnknown - pre Jun 1944

     No 6 Balloon Centre Wythall, BirminghamTransferred to No 32 Group13 Nov 1941

     No 7 Balloon Centre Curzon Lane, Alvaston, DerbyshireUnknown - pre Jun 1944

     No 8 Balloon Centre Fazakerley, LiverpoolUnknown - pre Jun 1944

     No 9 Balloon Centre Houghton Green, WarringtonUnknown - pre Jun 1944

     No 10 Balloon Centre Bowlee, Middleton, ManchesterUnknown - pre Jun 1944

• 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) 1 Mar 1939 - 15 Nov 1944

• No 11 Balloon Centre Pucklechurch, Bristol
  No 12 Balloon Centre Southampton Road, Titchfield, Fareham, Hants Transferred to No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF - pre Jun 1944
  No 13 Balloon Centre Collaton Cross, Yealhampton, Plymouth
  No 14 Balloon Centre Caerau, Ely, Cardiff  Unknown - pre Jun 1944
  No 21 Balloon Centre Pembroke Dock, Wales 27 Aug 1940 - 31 Dec 1941
  
  
• 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 CentreLong Benton, Forest Hall, Newcastle-upon-TyneNo 16 Balloon CentreHemsworth, Norton, Sheffield  15 Aug 1939 - pre Jun    1944
  No 17 Balloon Centre Sutton-on-Hull, Hull 17 May 1939 - 15 Oct 1942
  
  
• 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 CentreBishopbridge, Glasgow Aug 1939 - Unknown
   No 19 Balloon CentreRosyth, Fife 21 Oct 1939 - 6 May 1940
   No 18 Balloon CentreLyness, Orkney 2 Jun 1940 - 27 Dec 1941

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.


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

No. 901 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF 16 May 1938  5 Flights of 9 balloons Woolwich, Abbey Wood, Kidbrooke
No. 902 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF 16 May 1938  5 Flights of 9 balloonsKidbrooke, Brixton
No. 903 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF 16 May 1938 - Unknown 1944  5 Flights of 9 balloons.Amalgamated with 902 Sqn.Brixton / Forest Hill
No. 904 (County of Surrey) Balloon Squadron AAF 16 May 1938  5 Flights of 9 balloonsClapham
No. 905 (County of Surrey) Balloon Squadron AAF 16 May 1938 - Unknown 1944  5 Flights of 9 balloons. Amalgamated with 901 SqnKensington, Clapham
No. 906 (County of Middlesex) Balloon Squadron AAF 7 Jul 1938  5 Flights of 9 balloonsHampstead, Kensington
No. 907 (County of Middlesex) Balloon Squadron AAF 16 May 1938  5 Flights of 9 balloonsHarringay / Woodberry Down
No. 908 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF5 Jul 1938  5 Flights of 9 balloonsWanstead, Harringay
No. 909 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF 16 May 1938  5 Flights of 9 balloonsWest Ham, East Ham
No. 910 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF5 Jul 1938  5 Flights of 9 balloons, (3 Water-borne (Aug 1940))Dagenham, East Ham.
No. 911 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 – Unknown  4 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940)West Bromwich, Chelmsford, Erdington (Dec 1943).
No. 912 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 -Unknown  4 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940)Brockworth, Gloucester.
No. 913 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 -Unknown  3 Flights of 8 balloonsErdington / Sutton Coldfield, Chelmsford
No. 914 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944  4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)Wythall / Northfield.
No. 915 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 -Unknown  4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)Bourneville / Rowkeath, Chelmsford.
No. 916 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 – Unknown, Jun 1944 - Unknown  3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940) CoventryReformed for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 917 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944  3 Flights of 8 balloonsCoventry
No. 918 (County of Derby) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944  3 Flights of 8 balloons ( 32 balloons in Aug 1940)Derby / Alveston.
No. 919 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944  4 Flights of 8 balloons. (52 balloons (12 Water-borne) in Aug 1940)Birkenhead.
No. 920 Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943  4 Flights of 8 balloons (A & B Flights later 12 balloons each, C & D retained 8 each)Derry
No. 921 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 - 20 Feb 1943  3 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940)Liverpool / Fazakerley.
No. 922 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 - pre Dec 1943  4 Flights of 8 balloonsWarrington / Curerdley
No. 923 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 - Unknown, Jun 1944 - Unknown  4 Flights of 8 balloonsRuncorn / BirkenheadReformed for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 924 Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 Unknown  4 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940)Southampton / Eastleigh.
No. 925 (East Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 - pre Jun 1944  3 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)Manchester
No. 926 (East Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAFUnknown - pre Jun 1944  3 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)Bowlee / Manchester
No. 927 (County of Gloucester) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 Unknown  3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940)Bristol.
No. 928 Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 Unknown  3 Flights of 8 balloons (10 Water-borne Aug 1940)Felixstowe / Harwich
No. 929 Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 Unknown  3 Flights of 8 balloons (7 Water-borneAug 1940)South Queensferry
No. 930 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 - pre Dec 1943  3 Flights of 8 balloons (50 balloons (10 Water-borne ) in Aug 1940)Southampton.
No. 931 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 - pre Dec 1943  3 Flights of 8 balloons
No. 932 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 Unknown  3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940)Portsmouth
No. 933 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 Unknown  3 Flights of 8 balloonsPortsmouth / Gosport
No. 934 (County of Devon) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 Unknown  5 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940)Plymouth.
No. 935 (County of Glamorgan) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 Unknown  2 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940)Plymouth/Filton.
No. 936 (County of Northumberland) Balloon Squadron AAF20 Feb 1939 - 4 Jun 1943  4 Flights of 8 balloons (4 Water-borne Aug 1940)Newcastle upon TyneAmalgamated with No 937 on 4 Jun 1943
No. 937 (County of Northumberland) Balloon Squadron AAF20 Feb 1939 - 4 Jun 1943  4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons (3 Water-borne) in Aug 1940)Newcastle upon TyneAmalgamated with No 936 on 4 Jun 1943
No. 936/937 Balloon Squadron AAF4 Jun 1943 - 1 Dec 1944
No. 938 (County of Northumberland) Balloon Squadron AAF20 Feb 1939 - 1 Dec 1944  3 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940)Stockton on Tees / Billingham
No. 939 (West Riding) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 Unknown  3 Flights of 8 balloonsSheffield
No. 940 (West Riding) Balloon Squadron AAFUnknown - pre Jun 1944Sheffield  3 Flights of 8 balloons
No. 941 (West Riding) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 Unknown3 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)Sheffield / Sunderland (May 1943)Amalgamated with 939 due to lack of volunteers
No. 942 (East Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF25 Jan 1939 - 1 Jan 1942  3 Flights of 8 balloons 42 balloons (24 Water-borne) in Aug 1940Sutton on HullAmalgamated with 943 - 1 Jan 1942
No. 943 (East Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF25 Jan 1939 - 1 Jan 1942  3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940)Sutton on HullAmalgamated with 942 - 1 Jan 1942
No. 942/943 (East Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF1 Jan 1942 - 31 Aug 1944 Anti-'Diver- duties from 31 Jul 1944
No. 944 (East Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF25 Jan 1939 -26 Apr 1942  3 Flights of 8 balloonsSutton on Hull
No. 945 (City of Glasgow) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 - Unknown, Jun 1944 - Unknown  4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)GlasgowReformed in 22 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 946 (City of Glasgow) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 - pre Jun 1944  4 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940)Renfrew
No. 947 (City of Glasgow) Balloon Squadron AAFJan 1939 - pre Jun 1944, Jun 1944 - Unknown  3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940)GlasgowReformed in 22 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 948 Balloon Squadron AAFOct 1939 - pre Dec 1943  24 balloons in Aug 1940Rosyth
No. 949 Balloon Squadron AAFOct 1949 - Unknown, Jun 1944 - Unknown  32 balloons in Aug 1940CreweReformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 950 Balloon Squadron AAF Unknown – UnknownLyness, Orkney – Feb 1940, Kirkwall, Orkney - 1944 32 balloons in Aug 1940
No. 951 Balloon Squadron AAF Unknown - pre Dec 1943  40 balloons in Aug 1940Bristol until 19 Jun 1944 (Norwich) and then Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 952 Balloon Squadron AAF Nov 1939Sheerness  40 balloons (32 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 953 Balloon Squadron AAF UnknownCardiff 1943/44  39 balloons (7 Water-borne) in Aug 19401943/44 -, Anti-'Diver' duties from Jun 1944
No. 954 Balloon Squadron AAF Cobham
No. 955 Balloon Squadron AAF 1943/44Weston-super-Mare
No. 956 Balloon Squadron AAF Colnbrook  24 balloons in Aug 1940
No. 957 Balloon Squadron AAF Jul 1940 – UnknownYeovil  24 balloons in Aug 1940
No. 958 Balloon Squadron AAF Jul 1940 - Unknown Swansea  25 balloons (3 Water-borne) in Aug 1940Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 959 Balloon Squadron AAF 27 Aug 1940 UnknownFalmouth  24 balloons (8 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 960 Balloon Squadron AAF Feb 1940 - UnknownLyness, Orkney to Dec 1943, Canterbury 1944 on  24 balloons (16 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 961 Balloon Squadron AAF Jul 1940 – UnknownDover8 Water-borne balloons (Aug 1940)
No. 962 Balloon Squadron AAF Sep 1940 - pre Dec 1943Milford Haven  24balloons (9 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 963 Balloon Squadron AAF Unknown - pre Dec 1943
No. 964 Balloon Squadron AAF Aug 1940 - UnknownTorpoint, Plymouth 1944 on  24 balloons (6 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 965 Balloon Squadron AAF Jul 1940 - UnknownPort Talbot  16 balloons in Aug 1940 Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 966 Balloon Squadron AAF Sep 1940 - UnknownNewport, Monmouthshire, moved to RAF Seal south of London from Jun 1944 40 balloons in Aug 1940 Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 967 Balloon Squadron AAF Unknown - pre Dec 1943Ardrossan  48 balloons in Aug 1940
No. 968 Balloon Squadron AAF Unknown - pre Dec 1943Belfast  16 balloons (8 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 969 Balloon Squadron AAFJ ul 1940 – Unknown , - UnknownBarry pre Dec 1943, Great Yarmouth from Jun 1944  16 balloons in Aug 1940 Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 970 Balloon Squadron AAF Unknown - pre Dec 1943
No. 971 Balloon Squadron AAF 1944 AHQ Eastern Mediterranean
No. 972 Balloon Squadron AAF Egypt
No. 973 Balloon Squadron AAF 1944 AHQ Eastern Mediterranean
No. 974 Balloon Squadron AAF Egypt 2nd Tactical Air Force (2nd TAF or 2 TAF)
No. 975 Balloon Squadron AAF 1944 No. 242 Group AAF
No. 976 Balloon Squadron AAF 1944 2nd TAF
No. 977 Balloon Squadron AAF 1944 Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces
No. 978 Balloon Squadron AAF 1941 1944 3rd TAF
No. 979 Balloon Squadron AAF 1944 3rd TAF
No. 980 Balloon Squadron AAF Unknown - 6 Jun 19452nd TAF (1944 on) 980 Sqn defended Abadan from 1942 and Khosrowabad before being moved via Jordan to the Suez Canal and then Italy
No. 981 Balloon Squadron AAF 1941-Unknown Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces Reformed in UK for Anti-'Diver' duties - 1944
No. 982 Balloon Squadron AAF 1944 Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces
No. 983 Balloon Squadron AAF 1944 Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces
No. 984 Balloon Squadron AAF 1944 No. 222 Group AAF
No. 985 Balloon Squadron AAF 1944 No. 242 Group AAF
No. 986 Balloon Squadron AAF 1944 Malta
No. 987 Balloon Squadron AAF 1 Sep 1943-Unknown No. 224 Group AAF (1944 on)
No. 988 Balloon Squadron AAF
No. 989 Balloon Squadron AAF
No. 990 Balloon Squadron AAF 1944 No. 222 Group AAF
No. 991 Balloon Squadron AAF 2nd TAF
No. 992 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron AAF Dec 1943 -No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Great Yarmouth Jun 1944 to 85 Group, for the defence of ports.
No. 993 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron AAF Dec 1943 No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Chelmsford
No. 994 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron AAF Dec 1943 No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Canterbury Jun 1944 to 85 Group,
No. 995 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron AAF Dec 1943 No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Titchfield
No. 996 Balloon Squadron AAF No. 85 Group AAF Mobile Unit for the defence of ports
No. 997 Balloon Squadron AAF Weymouth (1944) Mobile Unit for the defence of ports
No. 998 Balloon Squadron AAF Brighton (1944) Mobile Unit for the defence of ports
No. 999 Balloon Squadron AAF Paignton (1944) Mobile Unit for the defence of ports