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RAF Balloon Command

{{Short description|Former command of the Royal Air Force}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name= Balloon Command

|image=RAFBallooncommand.png

|caption=Balloon Command badge

|start_date= 1 November 1938

|end_date= February 1945

|country= {{UK}}

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|motto= Vi Et Ictu
({{langx|la|By Force and Impact}}).{{cite book |last1=Pine |first1=L. G. |title=A Dictionary of mottoes |date=1983 |publisher=Routledge & K. Paul |location=London |isbn=0-7100-9339-X |page=250}}

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|battles= World War II

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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.{{cite web|url=http://www.rafweb.org/Grp04.htm|title=No. 4 Group|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328153100/http://www.rafweb.org/Grp04.htm|archivedate=28 March 2010|df=dmy-all}} Balloon Command was formed on 1 November 1938 at RAF Stanmore Park in Middlesex.[http://www.rafweb.org/Cmd_H3.htm Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - RAF Home Commands formed between 1936 and 1938] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020109165945/http://www.rafweb.org/Cmd_H3.htm |date=9 January 2002 }} It consisted of a headquarters and several groups. Balloon Command was disbanded on 5th February 1945.

=Commanders=

The following officers were in command:

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. 2 Balloon Centre at Hook

;No. 3 Balloon Centre at Stanmore

;No. 4 Balloon Centre at Chigwell

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

{{main|Barrage Balloon Organisations of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force}}

During World War II, the command had the following organization:

The command consisted of five groups[http://www.rafweb.org/Grp04.htm Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Groups 30 - 48] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328153100/http://www.rafweb.org/Grp04.htm |date=28 March 2010 }} 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.

Image:Barrage ballons.jpg|WAAF Barrage Balloon crews at RAF Cardington.

Image:RAF Sussex balloon winch tender.JPG|Restored Fordson Sussex Balloon Winch Tender

Image:Fordson Sussex ballon Winch tender rear view.JPG|Rear view of Fordson Sussex on display at the RAF Museum Hendon.

Image:Barrage balloons over London during World War II.jpg| Balloons over London.

Image:Cardington Shed BW.jpg|RAF Cardington near Bedford was home to a large Balloon Command unit.

File:Royal Air Force Balloon Command, 1939-1945. CH8330.jpg|Dodge Type 'H' LHD cradle carrier, loaded with gas bottles.

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.bbrclub.org/development_of_balloon_command.htm Balloon Barrage Reunion Club Website - Development of Balloon Command]

{{WW2AirDefenceUK}}

{{Royal Air Force}}

Category:History of ballooning

Balloon Command

Category:Military units and formations established in 1938