| Balloon Command | |
|---|---|
|
File:RAFBallooncommand.png Command Crest | |
| Active | 1 November 1938–February 1945 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Motto(s) |
Vi Et Ictu (Latin: By Force and Impact).[1] |
| Engagements | World War II |
Balloon Command was the Royal Air Force command which was responsible for controlling all the United Kingdom-based barrage balloon units during World War II.
History[]
Balloon Command was formed on 1 November 1938 at RAF Stanmore Park in Middlesex.[2] It consisted of a headquarters and several groups. Balloon Command was disbanded in February 1945.[2]
Commanders[]
The following officers were in command:[2]
- 1 November 1938 Air Vice-Marshal Owen Tudor Boyd
- 1 December 1940 Air Marshal Sir Leslie Gossage
- 1 February 1944 Air Vice-Marshal W C C Gell
- 13 February 1945 Air Commodore P L Lincoln
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. 901 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
- No. 902 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
- No. 903 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
- No. 2 Balloon Centre at Hook
- No. 904 (County of Surrey) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
- No. 905 (County of Surrey) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
- No. 3 Balloon Centre at Stanmore
- No. 906 (County of Middlesex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
- No. 907 (County of Middlesex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
- No. 4 Balloon Center at Chigwell
- No. 908 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
- No. 909 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
- No. 910 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
Second world war organization[]
During World War II, the command had the following organization:
- Headquarters at Old Church Lane, Stanmore in Middlesex. This in turn directly controlled:
- RAF Cardington
- RAF Chessington
The command consisted of five groups[3] 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)
- 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.
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Leslie Gilbert Pine: "A Dictionary of Mottoes", 1983, Routledge, ISBN 0-7100-9339-X
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - RAF Home Commands formed between 1936 - 1938
- ↑ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Groups 30 - 48
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The original article can be found at RAF Balloon Command and the edit history here.