Barrage Balloon Organisations of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force

This is a list of Barrage Balloon Organisations of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force formed shortly before and during the Second World War.

Barrage Balloon Groups and Centres

data from:-[1]

No. 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF 17 Mar 1937 - 7 Jan 1945 No. 1 Balloon Centre Kidbrooke, London SE3 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 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF Birmingham 1 Apr 1939 - 13 Nov 1941 No. 5 Balloon Centre Whitehouse Common, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham Unknown - pre Jun 1944 No. 6 Balloon Centre Wythall, Birmingham Transferred to No 32 Group13 Nov 1941 No. 7 Balloon Centre Curzon Lane, Alvaston, Derbyshire Unknown - pre Jun 1944 No. 8 Balloon Centre Fazakerley, Liverpool Unknown - pre Jun 1944 No. 9 Balloon Centre Houghton Green, Warrington Unknown - pre Jun 1944 No. 10 Balloon Centre Bowlee, Middleton, Greater Manchester Unknown - pre Jun 1944

No. 32 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF Romsey / Bath 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 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF Long Benton / Sheffield (1940) 1 Mar 1939 - 4 Sep 1944 No. 15 Balloon Centre Long Benton, Forest Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne No. 16 Balloon Centre Hemsworth, Norton, Sheffield 15 Aug 1939 - pre Jun 1944 No. 17 Balloon Centre Royal Air Force Sutton-on-Hull, Hull 17 May 1939 - 15 Oct 1942 No. 34 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF Edinburgh 1 Jul 1940 - 4 Sep 1944 No. 18 Balloon Centre Bishopbriggs, Glasgow Aug 1939 - Unknown No. 19 Balloon Centre Rosyth, Fife 21 Oct 1939 - 6 May 1940 No. 18 Balloon Centre Lyness, Orkney 2 Jun 1940 - 27 Dec 1941

Barrage Balloon Squadrons

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 balloons Kidbrooke, 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 balloons Clapham No. 905 (County of Surrey) Balloon Squadron AAF 16 May 1938 - Unknown 1944 5 Flights of 9 balloons. Amalgamated with 901 Sqn Kensington, Clapham No. 906 (County of Middlesex) Balloon Squadron AAF 7 Jul 1938 5 Flights of 9 balloons Hampstead, Kensington No. 907 (County of Middlesex) Balloon Squadron AAF 16 May 1938 5 Flights of 9 balloons Harringay / Woodberry Down No. 908 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF 5 Jul 1938 5 Flights of 9 balloons Wanstead, Harringay No. 909 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF 16 May 1938 5 Flights of 9 balloons West Ham, East Ham No. 910 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF 5 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 balloons Erdington / 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) Coventry Reformed for Anti-'Diver' duties No. 917 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944 3 Flights of 8 balloons Coventry 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 AAF Jan 1939 - 20 Feb 1943 3 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940) Liverpool / Fazakerley. No. 922 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943 4 Flights of 8 balloons Warrington / Curerdley No. 923 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 - Unknown, Jun 1944 - Unknown 4 Flights of 8 balloons Runcorn / Birkenhead Reformed for Anti-'Diver' duties No. 924 Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 Unknown 4 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940) Southampton / Eastleigh. No. 925 (East Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944 3 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940) Manchester No. 926 (East Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF Unknown - pre Jun 1944 3 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940) Bowlee / Manchester No. 927 (County of Gloucester) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 Unknown 3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940) Bristol. No. 928 Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 Unknown 3 Flights of 8 balloons (10 Water-borne Aug 1940) Felixstowe / Harwich No. 929 Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 Unknown 3 Flights of 8 balloons (7 Water-borneAug 1940) South Queensferry No. 930 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943 3 Flights of 8 balloons (50 balloons (10 Water-borne ) in Aug 1940) Southampton. No. 931 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943 3 Flights of 8 balloons No. 932 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 Unknown 3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940) Portsmouth No. 933 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 Unknown 3 Flights of 8 balloons Portsmouth / Gosport No. 934 (County of Devon) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 Unknown 5 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940) Plymouth. No. 935 (County of Glamorgan) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 Unknown 2 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940) Plymouth/Filton. No. 936 (County of Northumberland) Balloon Squadron AAF 20 Feb 1939 - 4 Jun 1943 4 Flights of 8 balloons (4 Water-borne Aug 1940) Newcastle upon Tyne Amalgamated with No 937 on 4 Jun 1943 No. 937 (County of Northumberland) Balloon Squadron AAF 20 Feb 1939 - 4 Jun 1943 4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons (3 Water-borne) in Aug 1940) Newcastle upon Tyne Amalgamated with No 936 on 4 Jun 1943 No. 936/937 Balloon Squadron AAF 4 Jun 1943 - 1 Dec 1944 No. 938 (County of Northumberland) Balloon Squadron AAF 20 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 AAF Jan 1939 Unknown 3 Flights of 8 balloons Sheffield No. 940 (West Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF Unknown - pre Jun 1944 Sheffield 3 Flights of 8 balloons No. 941 (West Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 Unknown 3 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 AAF 25 Jan 1939 - 1 Jan 1942 3 Flights of 8 balloons 42 balloons (24 Water-borne) in Aug 1940 RAF Sutton on Hull Amalgamated with 943 - 1 Jan 1942 No. 943 (East Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF 25 Jan 1939 - 1 Jan 1942 3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940) RAF Sutton on Hull Amalgamated with 942 - 1 Jan 1942 No. 942/943 (East Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF 1 Jan 1942 - 31 Aug 1944 Anti-'Diver- duties from 31 Jul 1944 No. 944 (East Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF 25 Jan 1939 -26 Apr 1942 3 Flights of 8 balloons RAF Sutton on Hull No. 945 (City of Glasgow) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 - Unknown, Jun 1944 - Unknown 4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940) Glasgow Reformed in 22 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

No. 946 (City of Glasgow) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944 4 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940) Renfrew No. 947 (City of Glasgow) Balloon Squadron AAF Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944, Jun 1944 - Unknown 3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940) Glasgow Reformed in 22 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties No. 948 Balloon Squadron AAF Oct 1939 - pre Dec 1943 24 balloons in Aug 1940 Rosyth No. 949 Balloon Squadron AAF Oct 1949 - Unknown, Jun 1944 - Unknown 32 balloons in Aug 1940 Crewe Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties No. 950 Balloon Squadron AAF Unknown – Unknown Lyness, Orkney – Feb 1940, Kirkwall, Orkney - 1944 32 balloons in Aug 1940 No. 951 Balloon Squadron AAF Unknown - pre Dec 1943 40 balloons in Aug 1940 Bristol until 19 Jun 1944 (Norwich) and then Anti-'Diver' duties No. 952 Balloon Squadron AAF Nov 1939 Sheerness 40 balloons (32 Water-borne) in Aug 1940 No. 953 Balloon Squadron AAF Unknown Cardiff 1943/44 39 balloons (7 Water-borne) in Aug 1940 1943/44 -, Anti-'Diver' duties from Jun 1944 No. 954 Balloon Squadron AAF Cobham No. 955 Balloon Squadron AAF 1943/44 Weston-super-Mare No. 956 Balloon Squadron AAF Colnbrook 24 balloons in Aug 1940 No. 957 Balloon Squadron AAF Jul 1940 – Unknown Yeovil 24 balloons in Aug 1940 No. 958 Balloon Squadron AAF Jul 1940 - Unknown Swansea 25 balloons (3 Water-borne) in Aug 1940 Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties No. 959 Balloon Squadron AAF 27 Aug 1940 Unknown Falmouth 24 balloons (8 Water-borne) in Aug 1940 No. 960 Balloon Squadron AAF Feb 1940 - Unknown Lyness, Orkney to Dec 1943, Canterbury 1944 on 24 balloons (16 Water-borne) in Aug 1940 No. 961 Balloon Squadron AAF Jul 1940 – Unknown Dover 8 Water-borne balloons (Aug 1940) No. 962 Balloon Squadron AAF Sep 1940 - pre Dec 1943 Milford Haven 24balloons (9 Water-borne) in Aug 1940 No. 963 Balloon Squadron AAF Accrington - pre Dec 1943 No. 964 Balloon Squadron AAF Aug 1940 - Unknown Torpoint, Plymouth 1944 on 24 balloons (6 Water-borne) in Aug 1940 No. 965 Balloon Squadron AAF Jul 1940 - Unknown Port Talbot 16 balloons in Aug 1940 Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties No. 966 Balloon Squadron AAF Sep 1940 - Unknown Newport, 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 1943 Ardrossan 48 balloons in Aug 1940 No. 968 Balloon Squadron AAF Unknown - pre Dec 1943 Belfast 16 balloons (8 Water-borne) in Aug 1940 No. 969 Balloon Squadron AAF Jul 1940 – Unknown , - Unknown Barry 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 Barrow-in-Furness - 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 1945 2nd 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

References

1. Barrass, M. B. (2015). "RAF Squadrons 901–980". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.