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.

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, 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

    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 RAFJul 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

    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 .

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