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RAF Balloon Command

Balloon Command
Balloon Command badge
Active1 November 1938–February 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Motto(s)Vi Et Ictu
(Latin: By Force and Impact).[1]
EngagementsWorld War II

Balloon Command was the Royal Air Force command which was responsible for controlling all the United Kingdom-based barrage balloon units during the Second World War.

History

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Prior to the establishment of Balloon Command, a balloon group was brought into being in 1937. This smaller formation was known as No. 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group and was commanded by Air Commodore John Hearson.[2] Balloon Command was formed on 1 November 1938 at RAF Stanmore Park in Middlesex.[3] It consisted of a headquarters and several groups. Balloon Command was disbanded on 5th February 1945.[3]

Commanders

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The following officers were in command:[3]

Pre-war organization

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Before the second world war the command had one group - No. 30 (Balloon) Group at four stations:

No. 1 Balloon Centre at Kidbrooke
No. 2 Balloon Centre at Hook
No. 3 Balloon Centre at Stanmore
No. 4 Balloon Centre at Chigwell

Important: All Balloon Squadrons numbered 901 to 947 were formed within the Auxiliary Air Force (AAF) prior to the outbreak of war in September 1939, thereafter, the remainder numbered 948 to 999 were RAF Squadrons.

Second world war organization

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Main article: Barrage Balloon Organisations of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force

During World War II, the command had the following organization:

The command consisted of five groups[4] which were in turn subdivided into balloon centres (equivalent to wings of heavier-than-air aircraft). The organization was as follows:

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

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References

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  1. ^ Pine, L. G. (1983). A Dictionary of mottoes. London: Routledge & K. Paul. p. 250. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. ^ "No. 4 Group". Archived from the original on 28 March 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - RAF Home Commands formed between 1936 and 1938 Archived 9 January 2002 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Groups 30 - 48 Archived 28 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
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