Balloon Command was the Royal Air Force command which was responsible for controlling all the United Kingdom-based barrage balloon units during the Second World War.
No. 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group, 1937-38 Prior to the establishment of Balloon Command, a balloon group was brought into being in 1937. It was known as No. 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group and was commanded by Air Commodore John Hearson.
Before the establishment of Balloon Command No. 30 (Balloon) Group administered ten squadrons in four Balloon Centres. The centres included: 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 Centre 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
Balloon Command
Balloon Command was formed on 1 November 1938 at RAF Stanmore Park in Middlesex.Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - RAF Home Commands formed between 1936 and 1938 It consisted of a headquarters and several groups. All Balloon Squadrons numbered 901 to 947 were formed within the Auxiliary Air Force (AAF) prior to the outbreak of war in September 1939, thereafter, the remainder numbered 948 to 999 were RAF Squadrons.
Balloon Command was disbanded on 5th February 1945.
Structure 1939-1945 During World War II, the command had the following organization: Headquarters at Old Church Lane, Stanmore in Middlesex, nearby RAF Fighter Command. This in turn directly controlled: RAF Cardington RAF Chessington The command consisted of five groupsAir of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Groups 30 - 48 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.
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
See also Royal Auxiliary Air Force List of Royal Air Force commands
References
External links Balloon Barrage Reunion Club Website - Development of Balloon Command