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. As the AAF was ' embodied' with the RAF on the outbreak of war when the AAF stopped recruiting, all balloon squadron numbered 900 to 947 were AAF and from 948 to 999 were RAF.

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 RAF

Oct 1939 - pre Dec 194

24 balloons in Aug 1940

Rosyth

No. 949 Balloon Squadron RAF 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 RAF

Unknown – Unknown

Lyness, Orkney – Feb 1940, Kirkwall, Orkney - 1944

32 balloons in Aug 1940

No. 951 Balloon Squadron RAF

Unknown - pre Dec 1943

40 balloons in Aug 1940

Bristol until 19 Jun 1944 (Norwich) and then Anti-'Diver' duties

No. 952 Balloon Squadron RAF

Nov 1939

Sheerness

40 balloons (32 Water-borne) in Aug 1940

[[No. 953 Balloon Squadron RAF

Cardiff 1943/44

39 balloons (7 Water-borne) in Aug 1940

1943/44 -, Anti-'Diver' duties from Jun 1944

[[No. 954 Balloon Squadron RAF]

Cobham

No. 955 Balloon Squadron RAF

1943/44

Weston-super-Mare

[[No. 956 Balloon Squadron RAF

24 balloons in Aug 1940

No. 957 Balloon Squadron RAF

Jul 1940 – Unknown

Yeovil

24 balloons in Aug 1940

[[No. 958 Balloon Squadron RAF]

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 RAF]

27 Aug 1940 Unknown

RAF

Feb 1940 - Unknown

Lyness, Orkney to Dec 1943, Canterbury 1944 on

24 balloons (16 Water-borne) in Aug 1940

No. 961 Balloon Squadron RAF

Jul 1940 – Unknown

Dover

8 Water-borne balloons (Aug 1940)

No. 962 Balloon Squadron RAF

Sep 1940 - pre Dec 1943

Milford Haven

24balloons (9 Water-borne) in Aug 1940

No. 963 Balloon Squadron RAF

Accrington - pre Dec 1943

No. 964 Balloon Squadron RAF

Aug 1940 - Unknown

Torpoint, Plymouth 1944 on

24 balloons (6 Water-borne) in Aug 1940

No. 965 Balloon Squadron RAF

Jul 1940 - Unknown

Port Talbot

16 balloons in Aug 1940

Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

No. 966 Balloon Squadron RAF

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 RAF

Unknown - pre Dec 1943

Ardrossan

48 balloons in Aug 1940

No. 968 Balloon Squadron RAF

Unknown - pre Dec 1943

Belfast

16 balloons (8 Water-borne) in Aug 1940

No. 969 Balloon Squadron RAF

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 RAF]

Barrow-in-Furness - pre Dec 1943

No. 971 Balloon Squadron RAF

1944

AHQ Eastern Mediterranean

No. 972 Balloon Squadron RAF

Egypt

[[No. 973 Balloon Squadron RAF]

1944

AHQ Eastern Mediterranean

[[No. 974 Balloon Squadron RAF]

Egypt

2nd Tactical Air Force (2nd TAF or 2 TAF)

No. 975 Balloon Squadron RAF

1944

No. 242 Group RAF

No. 976 Balloon Squadron RAF

1944

2nd TAF

No. 977 Balloon Squadron RAF

1944

Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces

No. 978 Balloon Squadron RAF

1941 1944

3rd TAF

No. 979 Balloon Squadron RAF

1944

3rd TAF

No. 980 Balloon Squadron RAF

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 RAF

1941-Unknown

Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces

Reformed in UK for Anti-'Diver' duties - 1944

No. 982 Balloon Squadron RAF

1944

Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces

No. 983 Balloon Squadron RAF

1944

Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces

No. 984 Balloon Squadron RAF

1944

No. 222 Group RAF

No. 985 Balloon Squadron RAF

1944

No. 242 Group RAF

No. 986 Balloon Squadron RAF

1944

Malta

No. 987 Balloon Squadron RAF

1 Sep 1943-Unknown

No. 224 Group RAF (1944 on)

No. 988 Balloon Squadron RAF

No. 989 Balloon Squadron RAF

No. 990 Balloon Squadron RAF

1944

No. 222 Group AAF

No. 991 Balloon Squadron RAF

2nd TAF

No. 992 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron RAF

Dec 1943 -

No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group RAF, Great Yarmouth

Jun 1944 to 85 Group, for the defence of ports.

No. 993 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron RAF

Dec 1943

No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group RAF, Chelmsford

No. 994 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron RAF

Dec 1943

No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group RAF, Canterbury

Jun 1944 to 85 Group,

No. 995 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron RAF

Dec 1943

No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group RAF, Titchfield

No. 996 Balloon Squadron RAF

No. 85 Group RAF

Mobile Unit for the defence of ports

No. 997 Balloon Squadron RAF

Weymouth (1944)

Mobile Unit for the defence of ports

No. 998 Balloon Squadron RAF

Brighton (1944)

Mobile Unit for the defence of ports

No. 999 Balloon Squadron RAF

Paignton (1944)

Mobile Unit for the defence of ports

References

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.

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[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.