Barrage Balloon Organisations of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force explained

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.

Groups

data from:-^[1]

Group	Formed	Formed At	Disbanded	Disbanded At	Notes	Fate
No. 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF	17 Mar 1937		7 Jan 1945
No. 31 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF	1 Apr 1939		13 Nov 1941
No. 32 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF
No. 33 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF	1 Mar 1939		4 Sep 1944
No. 34 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF	1 Jul 1940		4 Sep 1944

Centres

Centre	Formed	Formed At	Disbanded	Disbanded At	Notes	Fate
No. 1 Balloon Centre	4 Oct 1937		31 Mar 1945		Kidbrooke, London SE3
No. 2 Balloon Centre	4 Aug 1938		4 Oct 1941
No. 3 Balloon Centre	15 Dec 1938		15 Mar 1945
No. 4 Balloon Centre	2 Aug 1938		1 Apr 1943
No. 22 Balloon Centre	19 Feb 1944		20 Nov 1944
No. 23 Balloon Centre	1 Feb 1944		15 Jan 1945
No. 24 Balloon Centre	1 Jul 1944		15 Jan 1945
No. 5 Balloon Centre			Jun 1944
No. 6 Balloon Centre					Wythall, Birmingham, Transferred to No 32 Group13 Nov 1941
No. 7 Balloon Centre			Jun 1944
No. 8 Balloon Centre			Jun 1944
No. 9 Balloon Centre			Jun 1944
No. 10 Balloon Centre			Jun 1944
No. 11 Balloon Centre
No. 12 Balloon Centre					Southampton Road, Titchfield, Fareham, Hants, Transferred to No. 30 Group AAF - pre Jun 1944
No. 13 Balloon Centre
No. 14 Balloon Centre			Jun 1944
No. 21 Balloon Centre	27 Aug 1940		31 Dec 1941
No. 15 Balloon Centre
No. 16 Balloon Centre	15 Aug 1939		Jun 1944
No. 17 Balloon Centre	17 May 1939		15 Oct 1942
No. 18 Balloon Centre	Aug 1939
No. 19 Balloon Centre	21 Oct 1939		6 May 1940
No. 18 Balloon Centre	2 Jun 1940		27 Dec 1941		Lyness, Orkney

Squadrons

Balloon Squadron	Formed	Formed At	Disbanded	Disbanded At	Notes	Fate
No. 901 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF	16 May 1938
No. 902 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF	16 May 1938
No. 903 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF	16 May 1938		1944
No. 904 (County of Surrey) Balloon Squadron AAF	16 May 1938
No. 905 (County of Surrey) Balloon Squadron AAF	16 May 1938		1944
No. 906 (County of Middlesex) Balloon Squadron AAF	7 Jul 1938
No. 907 (County of Middlesex) Balloon Squadron AAF	16 May 1938
No. 908 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF	5 Jul 1938
No. 909 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF	16 May 1938
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				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 -				4 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940) Brockworth, Gloucester.
No. 913 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939 -
No. 914 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939		Jun 1944		4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940) Wythall / Northfield.
No. 915 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939				4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940) Bourneville / Rowkeath, Chelmsford.
No. 916 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939		Jun 1944		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		Jun 1944
No. 918 (County of Derby) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939		Jun 1944		3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940) Derby / Alveston.
No. 919 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939		Jun 1944		4 Flights of 8 balloons. (52 balloons (12 Water-borne) in Aug 1940) Birkenhead.
No. 920 Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939		Dec 1943
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		Dec 1943
No. 923 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939		Jun 1944		4 Flights of 8 balloons Runcorn / Birkenhead Reformed for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 924 Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939				4 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940) Southampton / Eastleigh.
No. 925 (East Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939		Jun 1944
No. 926 (East Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF			Jun 1944
No. 927 (County of Gloucester) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939				3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940) Bristol.
No. 928 Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939
No. 929 Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939
No. 930 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939		Dec 1943		3 Flights of 8 balloons (50 balloons (10 Water-borne) in Aug 1940) Southampton.
No. 931 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939		Dec 1943		3 Flights of 8 balloons
No. 932 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939
No. 933 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939
No. 934 (County of Devon) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939				5 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940) Plymouth.
No. 935 (County of Glamorgan) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939				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
No. 939 (West Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939
No. 940 (West Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF			Jun 1944		Sheffield 3 Flights of 8 balloons
No. 941 (West Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939				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
No. 945 (City of Glasgow) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939		Jun 1944		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		Jun 1944
No. 947 (City of Glasgow) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jan 1939		Jun 1944
No. 947 (City of Glasgow) Balloon Squadron AAF	Jun 1944				Reformed in 22 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 948 Balloon Squadron RAF	Oct 1939		Dec 1944
No. 949 Balloon Squadron RAF	Oct 1939		Jun 1944		32 balloons in Aug 1940 Crewe Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 950 Balloon Squadron RAF					Lyness, Orkney – Feb 1940, Kirkwall, Orkney - 1944 32 balloons in Aug 1940
No. 951 Balloon Squadron RAF			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
No. 955 Balloon Squadron RAF	1943		1944
No. 956 Balloon Squadron RAF					24 balloons in Aug 1940
No. 957 Balloon Squadron RAF	Jul 1940 –				Yeovil 24 balloons in Aug 1940
No. 958 Balloon Squadron RAF	Jul 1940 -				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				RAF Feb 1940 - Lyness, Orkney to Dec 1943, Canterbury 1944 on 24 balloons (16 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 961 Balloon Squadron RAF	Jul 1940 –				Dover 8 Water-borne balloons (Aug 1940)
No. 962 Balloon Squadron RAF	Sep 1940		Dec 1943		Milford Haven 24 balloons (9 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 963 Balloon Squadron RAF					Accrington - pre Dec 1943
No. 964 Balloon Squadron RAF	Aug 1940 -				Torpoint, Plymouth 1944 on, 24 balloons (6 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 965 Balloon Squadron RAF	Jul 1940 -				Port Talbot 16 balloons in Aug 1940 Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
No. 966 Balloon Squadron RAF	Sep 1940 -				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			Dec 1943		Ardrossan 48 balloons in Aug 1940
No. 968 Balloon Squadron RAF	Dec 1943				Belfast 16 balloons (8 Water-borne) in Aug 1940
No. 969 Balloon Squadron RAF	Jul 1940				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
No. 972 Balloon Squadron RAF
No. 973 Balloon Squadron RAF	1944
No. 974 Balloon Squadron RAF					Egypt 2nd Tactical Air Force (2 TAF)
No. 975 Balloon Squadron RAF	1944
No. 976 Balloon Squadron RAF					1944 2 TAF
No. 977 Balloon Squadron RAF
No. 978 Balloon Squadron RAF	1941		1944		3 TAF
No. 979 Balloon Squadron RAF					1944 3 TAF
No. 980 Balloon Squadron RAF			6 Jun 1945
No. 981 Balloon Squadron RAF	1941-				Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces Reformed in UK for Anti-'Diver' duties - 1944
No. 982 Balloon Squadron RAF
No. 983 Balloon Squadron RAF
No. 984 Balloon Squadron RAF
No. 985 Balloon Squadron RAF
No. 986 Balloon Squadron RAF					1944 Malta
No. 987 Balloon Squadron RAF	1 Sep 1943-				No. 224 Group RAF (1944 on)
No. 988 Balloon Squadron RAF
No. 989 Balloon Squadron RAF
No. 990 Balloon Squadron RAF
No. 991 Balloon Squadron RAF					2 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
No. 994 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron RAF					Dec 1943 No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group RAF, CanterburyJun 1944 to 85 Group,
No. 995 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron RAF
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

Bases

Base	Formed	Formed At	Disbanded	Disbanded At	Notes
No. 1 Balloon Base
No. 2 Balloon Base
No. 3 Balloon Base
No. 4 Balloon Base
No. 5 Balloon Base
No. 6 Balloon Base
No. 7 Balloon Base
No. 8 Balloon Base
No. 9 Balloon Base
No. 11 Balloon Base
No. 12 Balloon Base
No. 13 Balloon Base
No. 14 Balloon Base
No. 15 Balloon Base
No. 16 Balloon Base
No. 17 Balloon Base
No. 18 Balloon Base
No. 20 Balloon Base
No. 21 Balloon Base
No. 22 Balloon Base
No. 23 Balloon Base
No. 24 Balloon Base
No. 25 Balloon Base

Detachments

Detachment	Formed	Formed At	Disbanded	Disbanded At	Notes
No. 1 Port/Beach Balloon Detachment
No. 2 Port/Beach Balloon Detachment
No. 3 Beach Balloon Detachment/Party
No. 4 Beach Balloon Detachment/Party
No. 5 Beach Balloon Detachment
No. 6 Beach Balloon Detachment
No. 7 (Middle East) Balloon Detachment
'A' Beach Balloon Detachment/Party
'B' Beach Balloon Detachment
'C' Beach Balloon Detachment
'D' Beach Balloon Detachment
'E' Beach Balloon Detachment
'F' Beach Balloon Detachment
'K' Port Balloon Detachment
'L' Port Balloon Detachment

Flights

Flight	Formed	Formed At	Disbanded	Disbanded At	Notes
No. 50 'B' Balloon Flight
No. 51 'B' Balloon Flight
No. 52 'B' Balloon Flight
No. 53 'B' Balloon Flight
No. 54 'B' Balloon Flight
No. 55 'B' Balloon Flight
No. 56 'B' Balloon Flight
No. 57 'B' Balloon Flight
No. 101 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 102 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 103 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 104 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 105 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 106 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 107 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 108 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 109 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 110 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 111 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 112 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 113 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 114 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 115 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 116 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 117 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 118 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 119 'P' Balloon Flight
No. 120 'P' Balloon Flight

Units

Unit	Formed	Formed At	Disbanded	Disbanded At	Notes
Balloon Development Unit
No. 1 Balloon Repair Unit
No. 2 Balloon Repair Unit
No. 1 Balloon & Tentage Repair Unit
The Balloon Training Unit
No. 1 Balloon Training Unit
No. 2 Balloon Training Unit
The Balloon Unit
'A' Balloon Unit
'B' Balloon Unit
'C' Balloon Unit
'D' Balloon Unit
'E' Balloon Unit
'A' ("K") Balloon Unit
'B' ("K") Balloon Unit
'C' ("K") Balloon Unit
'D' ("K") Balloon Unit
'E' ("K") Balloon Unit
'F' ("K") Balloon Unit
'G' ("K") Balloon Unit
'K' ("K") Balloon Unit
'L' ("K") Balloon Unit
No. 1 'M' Balloon Unit
No. 50 'B' Balloon Unit
No. 51 'B' Balloon Unit
No. 52 'B' Balloon Unit
No. 53 'B' Balloon Unit
No. 54 'B' Balloon Unit
No. 55 'B' Balloon Unit
No. 56 'B' Balloon Unit

Other units

Unit	Formed	Formed At	Disbanded	Disbanded At	Notes
RAF Balloon Centre
Balloon Command
Balloon Development Establishment
Balloon Development Section
Balloon Experimental & Training Depot
No. 1 Balloon School of Instruction
No. 2 Balloon School of Instruction
Balloon Operations Squadron
Balloon and Oxygen Centre
Balloon Parachute Training Section
No. 1 Balloon Repair Depot
'X' Balloon Repair Section
Balloon Repair Shop/Section
Balloon Stores Depot
Balloon Testing & Kite Balloon Experimental Station
Balloon Training Centre
Balloon Training Depot
No. 1 Balloon Training Depot
No. 2 Balloon Training Depot
School of Balloon Training
No. 1 Balloon Training School
No. 2 Balloon Training School
No. 1 Balloon Training Wing
No. 2 Balloon Training Wing
Balloon Wing
1st Balloon Wing
2nd Balloon Wing
3rd Balloon Wing
4th Balloon Wing
5th Balloon Wing
6th Balloon Wing
7th Balloon Wing
8th Balloon Wing
9th Balloon Wing

References

Bibliography

• Book: Sturtivant. Ray. Hamlin. John. Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912 . 2007 . Air-Britain (Historians). Tonbridge, UK. 978-0851-3036-59.

Notes and References

1. Web site: RAF Squadrons 901–980 . M. B. . Barrass . Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation . 2015 . 24 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150912023234/http://www.rafweb.org/Squadrons/Sqn900.htm . 12 September 2015 . dmy-all .