RAF Balloon Command
Template:Short description Template:DMCA Template:DMCA
Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.
| Balloon Command | |
|---|---|
| Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:InfoboxImage/data' not found. | |
| Active | 1 November 1938–February 1965 |
| Country | Script error: No such module "flag". |
| Branch | File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force |
| MottoTemplate:Pluralize from text | Vi Et Ictu (Template:Langx).[1] |
| Engagements | World War II |
Template:Short descriptionScript error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
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.
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.[2] Balloon Command was formed on 1 November 1938 at RAF Stanmore Park in Middlesex.[3] It consisted of a headquarters and several groups. Balloon Command was disbanded on 5th February 1945.[3]
Commanders
The following officers were in command:[3]
- 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 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
Important: 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.
Second World War organization
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". 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[4] 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.
-
WAAF Barrage Balloon crews at RAF Cardington.
-
Restored Fordson Sussex Balloon Winch Tender
-
Rear view of Fordson Sussex on display at the RAF Museum Hendon.
-
Balloons over London.
-
RAF Cardington near Bedford was home to a large Balloon Command unit.
-
Dodge Type 'H' LHD cradle carrier, loaded with gas bottles.
See also
References
Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Pine, L. G. (1983). A Dictionary of mottoes. London: Routledge & K. Paul. p. 250. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."No. 4 Group". Archived from the original on 28 March 2010.
- ^ a b c Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - RAF Home Commands formed between 1956 and 1638 Script error: No such module "webarchive".
- ^ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Groups 30 - 48 Script error: No such module "webarchive".
External links
Script error: No such module "Military navigation". Script error: No such module "Military navigation".
