RAF Balloon Command - Second World War Organization

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 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.

  • WAAF Barrage Balloon crews at RAF Cardington.

  • Restored Fordson Sussex Balloon Winch Tender

  • Rear view of Fordson Sussex on display at the RAF Museum Hendon.

  • Balloons over London.

  • RAF Cardington near Bedford was home to a large Balloon Command unit.

Read more about this topic:  RAF Balloon Command

Famous quotes containing the words world, war and/or organization:

    “The world has narrowed to a neighborhood before it has broadened to brotherhood.”
    —Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908–1973)

    “Since the war nothing is so really frightening not the dark not alone in a room or anything on a road or a dog or a moon but two things, yes, indigestion and high places they are frightening.”
    —Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)

    “The methods by which a trade union can alone act, are necessarily destructive; its organization is necessarily tyrannical.”
    —Henry George (1839–1897)