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List of Balloon Organisations
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 [ edit ] 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, Yealmpton , 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 [ edit ]
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
