Barrage Balloon Organisations of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force facts for kids

During World War II, the sky above many British cities was filled with giant, silver balloons. These were called barrage balloons, and they were a clever way to protect important places from enemy aircraft. This article lists the organisations that managed these balloons, part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (AAF) and the Royal Air Force (RAF).

The AAF was a volunteer force that became part of the RAF when the war started. This meant that all balloon squadrons numbered 900 to 947 were originally AAF units. Squadrons from 948 to 999 were part of the regular RAF. These balloons were a crucial part of Britain's air defence.

What Were Barrage Balloons?

Barrage balloons were large balloons filled with hydrogen gas. They were tethered to the ground by strong steel cables. Their main job was to create a physical barrier in the sky. Enemy bombers flying low to drop bombs would risk hitting these cables. This forced them to fly higher, making it harder for them to aim accurately. It also made them easier targets for anti-aircraft guns and fighter planes.

How Were Barrage Balloon Units Organised?

To manage thousands of balloons across the country, the Royal Air Force set up a special structure. This included different Groups, Balloon Centres, and Squadrons. Think of it like a pyramid: Groups oversaw large areas, Centres managed specific regions, and Squadrons were the teams that actually operated the balloons.

Barrage Balloon Groups and Centres

The Barrage Balloon Groups were like regional headquarters. They managed several Balloon Centres in their area. These Groups made sure that balloons were placed strategically to protect cities and important industrial sites.

• No. 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF: This group was active from March 1937 to January 1945. It covered the London area, which was a major target for enemy bombing.
  • No. 1 Balloon Centre in Kidbrooke, London: This was a very important centre, active from October 1937 until 1960.
  • No. 2 Balloon Centre in Hook, Surrey: Active from 1937.
  • No. 3 Balloon Centre in Stanmore, Middlesex: This centre was also established in 1937.
  • Other centres in this group included No. 4 in Chigwell, No. 22 in Biggin Hill, No. 23 in Gravesend, and No. 24 in Redhill.

• No. 31 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF: Based in Birmingham, this group operated from April 1939 to November 1941. It protected the industrial heartland of England.
  • No. 5 Balloon Centre in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.
  • No. 6 Balloon Centre in Wythall, Birmingham.
  • Other centres included No. 7 in Alvaston, No. 8 in Fazakerley, No. 9 in Houghton Green, and No. 10 in Bowlee.

• No. 32 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF: This group was located near Romsey and later Bath. It was active from March 1939 to November 1944.
  • No. 11 Balloon Centre in Pucklechurch, Bristol.
  • No. 12 Balloon Centre in Titchfield, Fareham.
  • Other centres included No. 13 in Yealmpton, No. 14 in Caerau, and No. 21 in Pembroke Dock.

• No. 33 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF: Covering the northeast of England, this group was based in Long Benton and later Sheffield. It operated from March 1939 to September 1944.
  • No. 15 Balloon Centre in Long Benton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
  • No. 16 Balloon Centre in Hemsworth, Norton, Sheffield.
  • No. 17 Balloon Centre at Royal Air Force Sutton-on-Hull, Hull.

• No. 34 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF: This group protected Scotland, based in Edinburgh from July 1940 to September 1944.
  • No. 18 Balloon Centre in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow.
  • No. 19 Balloon Centre in Rosyth, Fife.
  • Another No. 18 Balloon Centre was located in Lyness, Orkney.

Barrage Balloon Squadrons

The Barrage Balloon Squadrons were the hands-on units. Each squadron was responsible for operating a number of balloons, usually divided into "Flights." A typical squadron might have several flights, each with 8 or 9 balloons. These squadrons were often named after the county or city they protected.

• AAF Squadrons (901-947): These were the original Royal Auxiliary Air Force units.
  • No. 901 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF: Formed in May 1938, it had 5 Flights, each with 9 balloons, protecting areas like Woolwich and Kidbrooke.
  • No. 902 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF: Also formed in May 1938, covering Kidbrooke and Brixton.
  • Many other squadrons followed a similar pattern, protecting specific areas around London, such as Surrey (904, 905), Middlesex (906, 907), and Essex (908, 909, 910). Some squadrons, like 910, even had water-borne balloons for coastal defence.
  • Squadrons like 911 to 917 protected the Warwickshire area, including Birmingham and Coventry. They often had 3 or 4 Flights, each with 8 balloons.
  • Further squadrons, such as 918 (Derby), 919-923 (West Lancashire, protecting Liverpool and Birkenhead), and 925-926 (East Lancashire, protecting Manchester), covered other key industrial regions.
  • Coastal and port areas were also vital. Squadrons like 924 (Southampton), 928 (Felixstowe/Harwich), 929 (South Queensferry), and 930-933 (Hampshire, protecting Southampton and Portsmouth) were crucial.
  • In the southwest, 934 (Devon) and 935 (Glamorgan) protected areas like Plymouth and Cardiff.
  • Northern England and Scotland had squadrons like 936, 937, 938 (Northumberland, protecting Newcastle upon Tyne and Stockton on Tees), 939, 940, 941 (West Riding, protecting Sheffield), and 942, 943, 944 (East Riding, protecting Kingston upon Hull).
  • Scottish cities were protected by 945, 946, and 947 (City of Glasgow). Some squadrons, like 916, 923, 945, and 947, were reformed later in the war for "Anti-'Diver'" duties, meaning they helped defend against V-1 flying bombs.

• RAF Squadrons (948-999): These squadrons were part of the regular Royal Air Force.
  • No. 948 Balloon Squadron RAF: Formed in October 1939, it protected Rosyth.
  • No. 949 Balloon Squadron RAF: Protected Crewe. It was also reformed for Anti-'Diver' duties.
  • Other RAF squadrons covered a wide range of locations, including Lyness and Kirkwall in Orkney (950), Bristol and Norwich (951), Sheerness (952), and Cardiff (953). Many of these later took on Anti-'Diver' duties.
  • Squadrons like 958 (Swansea), 965 (Port Talbot), and 966 (Newport) protected Welsh areas.
  • Some squadrons were deployed overseas, such as 971, 972, 973, 974 (Egypt and Eastern Mediterranean), 975, 976 (2nd Tactical Air Force), 977, 978, 979, 981, 982, 983 (Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces), 980 (defended Abadan and the Suez Canal), and 986 (Malta).
  • Later in the war, many "Mobile" Balloon Squadrons (like 992-999) were formed. These units could be moved quickly to defend important ports or areas under attack, especially against the V-1 flying bombs. They were crucial for adapting to changing threats.

These organisations and the brave people who served in them played a vital role in protecting Britain and its allies during World War II, helping to defend cities and strategic locations from enemy air attacks.