Royal Auxiliary Air Force - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF), originally the Auxiliary Air Force (AAF), is the voluntary active duty reserve element of the Royal Air Force

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...

, providing a primary reinforcement capability for the regular service. It consists of paid volunteers who give up some of their weekends, evenings and holidays to train at one of a number of squadron

Squadron (aviation)

A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...

s around the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

. Its current mission is to provide trained personnel in support of the RAF.

Formation

The Royal Auxiliary Air Force owes its origin to Lord Trenchard

Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard

Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard GCB OM GCVO DSO was a British officer who was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force...

's vision of an elite corps of civilians who would serve their country in flying squadrons in their spare time. Instituted by Order in Council on 9 October 1924, the first Auxiliary Air Force squadrons were formed the following year. The pilots of AAF squadrons were generally formed from particular social circles, in comparison to those of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve consists of a number of groupings of individual military reservists for the management and operation of the Royal Air Force's Air Training Corps and CCF Air Cadet formations, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons , Air Experience Flights, and also to form the...

(RAFVR) which had been trained in the RAF and left but were obliged to return to service if required.

World War II

By March 1939, 21 flying squadrons had been formed, the 20 surviving units being incorporated into the Royal Air Force

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...

at the outbreak of war. The squadrons were equipped with a variety of operational aircraft which included Hurricanes

Hawker Hurricane

The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...

and Spitfires

Supermarine Spitfire

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...

. The squadrons scored a number of notable successes before and during the Second World War: the first flight over Mount Everest

Mount Everest

Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...

, the first German

Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...

aircraft destroyed over British territorial waters - and over the mainland, the first U-boat

U-boat

U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...

to be destroyed with the aid of airborne radar

Radar

Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...

, the first kill of a V-1 flying bomb

V-1 flying bomb

The V-1 flying bomb, also known as the Buzz Bomb or Doodlebug, was an early pulse-jet-powered predecessor of the cruise missile....

; the first to be equipped with jet-powered aircraft, and the highest score of any British night fighter

Night fighter

A night fighter is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility...

squadron. In the Battle of Britain

Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...

, the AAF provided 14 of the 62 Squadrons in RAF Fighter Command

RAF Fighter Command

RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...

's Order of Battle and accounted for approximately 30% of the accredited enemy kills. The losses caused during the Battle of Britain were replaced by drafting in regular and RAFVR pilots.

The Tactical Air Force squadrons were chosen to carry out several successful ultra low-level raids on key 'pin-point' targets in occupied Europe. The Balloon Squadrons also played their part, downing and deterring many hostile aircraft and were accredited with the destruction of 279 V1 flying bombs.

The Auxiliary Air Force was also responsible for the anti-aircraft Balloon defences of the UK, At the outbreak of war in 1939 there were about 42 Squadrons operating barrage balloons, with the number of Squadrons peaking at about 102 in 1944.

Cold War

These achievements were honoured by the prefix "Royal" conferred by King George VI in 1947. Twenty of the pre-war squadrons were reformed postwar as fighter units. Events post WWII heralded a time of great danger for the UK. The onset of the Cold War

Cold War

The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...

with the Communist Bloc leading to the Berlin Air Lift and ultimately the outbreak of the Korean War

Korean War

The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...

in June 1950. During all these crises the RAuxAF fighter squadrons, the five newly formed Air Observation Post (AOP) squadrons and other RAuxAF units, played their part in the UK's air defence and participated in many NATO air exercises. In 1951, at the height of the Korean War, all 20 RAuxAF fighter squadrons (representing one third of Fighter Command strength) were called up for three months full-time service. They were required for home defence in place of regular squadrons earmarked for deployment to Korea. In the event RAF fighter squadrons were not needed in Korea, but the RAuxAF squadrons were retained for intensive refresher training at their home bases.

The 10 March 1957 saw the disbandment of all the 20 RAuxAF Force fighter squadrons, the five post-war AOP squadrons and the Light Anti-Aircraft ground-based squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment. In the following two years or so, the Auxiliary Fighter Control Units associated with them were also disbanded. On the 16 March 1960, the Air Commodore-in-Chief

Air Commodore-in-Chief

Air Commodore-in-Chief is a type of honorary air force appointment which originated in the Royal Air Force and now exists in the air forces of various Commonwealth realms. Initially only the British monarch held air commodore-in-chief appointments...

and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...

, invited the Squadron Commanders and Flight Commanders of all the disbanded Royal Auxiliary Air Force units to a Reception at Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...

. (All were given a letter from the Air Commodore-in-Chief and this is reproduced below.)

The renaissance of the RAuxAF began in 1979 with the formation of three Regiment Field Sqns, and continued with a Movements Sqn in 1982, and, following lessons learned during the Falklands conflict

Falklands War

The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...

; an Aeromedical Evacuation Sqn in 1983. A more recent addition, in 1987, was an auxiliary element (The Grampian Troop) formed within a regular RAF Regiment Rapier Air Defence Squadron. Another step forward was taken in 1986, with the raising of four Defence Force Flights with the role of ground defence of key points on air bases. In 1984, the RAuxAF's Diamond Jubilee

Diamond Jubilee

A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary in the case of a person or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event.- Thailand :...

was marked by the award to the Service of its own badge, which forms the basic motif of the Sovereign's Colour for the Royal Auxiliary Force presented by Her Majesty the Queen

Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...

in 1989. The words of the badge motto COMITAMUR AD ASTRA - Latin "We go with them to the stars".

Gulf War and beyond

During the Gulf War

Gulf War

The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...

in 1991 the Aeromedical and Movements Squadrons performed with great distinction in theatre and at other locations in the UK and overseas.

On 5 April 1997, all of the four war-appointable flights of the then Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

were fully amalgamated into the RAuxAF, each with squadron status. In recognition of their origins, and in the absence of direct county or city territorial affiliations, they were each given the honour of retaining the letters "VR" within their squadron titles. The remaining non-active support elements of the RAFVR were and remain unaffected by this amalgamation, namely the RAFVR(T), the RAFVR(UAS), and at its point of formation, the RAFVR(DTUS) (being the branches for Training, University Air Squadron, and the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme, respectively).

During 2003 the RAuxAF was involved in the first large-scale mobilisation for over 50 years. More than 900 people, over 70% of its trained strength, were called into full-time service and were deployed to support RAF operations in Cyprus

Cyprus

Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...

, Kuwait

Kuwait

The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...

, Iraq

Iraq

Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....

and the Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...

, as well as those in the UK. The RAuxAF enjoyed its 80th anniversary during 2004 and Lord Trenchard's vision has been amply vindicated by its achievements spanning the years. While the Auxiliary concept has moved away from the provision of Flying Sqns, the professional skill, enthusiasm and esprit-de-corps of his young men of the twenties and thirties are matched by the men and women who constitute the RAuxAF of today.

The Royal Auxiliary Air Force establishment (liability) is set at 2,920 - though recruitment difficulties mean the RAuxAF is currently at a strength well below that.

On 19 July 2007 Senior Aircraftman Chris Dunsmore, aged 29, of 504 (County of Nottingham) Sqn RAuxAF was one of three men killed by a rocket attack on the COB at Basrah Airport, Iraq.
He was the first serving RAuxAF member killed by enemy action since the Second World War.

On 13 April 2008 Senior Aircraftman Gary Thompson, aged 51, of 504 (County of Nottingham) Sqn RAuxAF was killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol in Kandahar. SAC Thompson is the oldest British serviceman killed in Afghanistan.

Personal letter from Queen Elizabeth II

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...

16 March 1957

Elizabeth R

Flying Squadrons formed 1925-1939

No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron RAF
No. 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron RAF
No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron RAF
No. 503 (County of Lincoln) Squadron RAF (disbanded 1 November 1938 - not reformed postwar)
No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron RAF
No. 600 (City of London) Squadron RAF
No. 601 (County of London) Squadron RAF
No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron RAF
No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAF
No. 604 (County of Middlesex) Squadron RAF
No. 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron RAF

No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron RAF
No. 608 (North Riding) Squadron RAF (originally 'County of York')
No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF
No. 610 (County of Chester) Squadron RAF
No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron RAF
No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron RAF
No. 613 (City of Manchester) Squadron RAF
No. 614 (County of Glamorgan) Squadron RAF
No. 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron RAF
No. 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron RAF

Air Observation Post flying Squadrons formed in 1949

No. 661 (AOP) Squadron RAuxAF
No. 662 (AOP) Squadron RAuxAF
No. 663 (AOP) Squadron RAuxAF

No. 664 (AOP) Squadron RAuxAF
No. 666 (AOP) Squadron RAuxAF

Disbanded Units

Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force was an auxiliary unit of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, based in Hong Kong. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, the unit was disbanded on 1 April 1993.Although technically an armed...

1949-1993
No. 2625 (County of Cornwall) Sqn RAF Regiment (RAF St Mawgan)
No. 2625 Squadron RAF Regiment
No.2625 Squadron was formed at RAF St Mawgan on the 1 November 1982 to provide ground defence for its home station.The Squadron remained at St Mawgan when in 1990 its role was changed to provide augmentation and sustainment to the regular RAF Regiment Very High Readiness Squadrons...

1982-2006

Current RAuxAF Units

(Note: none of the squadrons listed below are flying units with their own allocated aircraft)

3 Squadron Tactical Provost Wing (RAF Henlow
RAF Henlow
RAF Henlow is a Royal Air Force station in Bedfordshire, England, equidistant from Bedford, Luton and Stevenage. It houses the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine, the RAF Signals Museum and 616 Volunteer Gliding Squadron.- History :...

)
No. 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron RAF (RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, about west north-west of London, is the largest station of the Royal Air Force. It is close to the settlements of Brize Norton, Carterton and Witney....

)
No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron RAF (RAF Cottesmore
RAF Cottesmore
RAF Cottesmore was a Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England, situated between Cottesmore and Market Overton. The station housed all the operational Harrier GR9 squadrons in the Royal Air Force, and No 122 Expeditionary Air Wing...

)
No. 600 (City of London) Squadron RAF (RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station situated in South Ruislip, east by northeast of Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. Approximately north of London Heathrow Airport, the station also handles a large number of private civil flights...

)
No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron RAF (Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

)
No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAF (Edinburgh)
No. 606 (Chilterns) Squadron RAF
No. 606 Squadron RAF
No 606 Squadron was formed as a Royal Auxiliary Air Force helicopter support squadron at RAF Benson on 1 October 1999. It provides personnel for the RAF tactical support helicopter fleet and does not operate any aircraft itself.-History:...

(RAF Benson
RAF Benson
RAF Benson is a Royal Air Force station near Benson in South Oxfordshire, England. It is home to the Royal Air Force's support helicopters, the Aérospatiale Puma and the EH-101 Merlin, known as the Puma HC.Mk 1 and the Merlin HC.Mk 3 and Mk 3a....

)
No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF (RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, UK.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Leeming. The Station Commander is Group Captain Anthony Innes....

)
No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron RAF (RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. It is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the university town of St Andrews.-Operations:...

)
No. 4624 (County of Oxford) Movements Squadron RAF (RAF Brize Norton)

No. 4626 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron RAF (RAF Lyneham
RAF Lyneham
RAF Lyneham is a Royal Air Force station in Wiltshire, England. It was the home of all the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft of the Royal Air Force before they were relocated to RAF Brize Norton.The station was also home to No...

)
No. 7006 (VR) Intelligence Squadron RAF (RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England.-Formation:Waddington opened as a Royal Flying Corps flying training station in 1916 until 1920, when the station went into care and maintenance....

)
No. 7010 (VR) Photographic Interpretation Squadron RAF (RAF Waddington)
No. 7630 (VR) Intelligence Squadron RAF (RAF Waddington)
No. 7644 (VR) Media Ops Squadron RAF (RAF Halton
RAF Halton
RAF Halton is one of the largest Royal Air Force stations in the United Kingdom, located near the village of Halton near Wendover, Buckinghamshire.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Halton.-History:...

)
No. 1359 Flight RAF (Hercules Reservist Aircrew) (RAF Lyneham)
No. 2503 (City of Lincoln) Squadron RAF (RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England.-Formation:Waddington opened as a Royal Flying Corps flying training station in 1916 until 1920, when the station went into care and maintenance....

)
No. 2620 (County of Norfolk) Squadron RAF Regiment (RAF Marham)
No. 2622 (Highland) Squadron RAF Regiment (RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth is a Royal Air Force station to the west of the town of Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. It is one of the RAF's biggest bases and is currently Britain's main base for Tornado GR4s. From 2013 the Northern QRA force of Typhoon F2 will relocate to Lossiemouth following the closure of...

)
No. 2623 (East Anglian) Squadron RAF Regiment
No. 2623 (East Anglian) Squadron RAF Regiment
No. 2623 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force is a part of the Royal Air Force Regiment, based at RAF Honington. It was formed on 1 July 1979 to provide ground defence of the station...

(RAF Honington
RAF Honington
RAF Honington is a Royal Air Force station located south of Thetford near Ixworth in Suffolk, England. Although used as a bomber station during the Second World War, RAF Honington is now the RAF Regiment depot and home to the Joint CBRN Regiment.-RAF use:...

)

Barrage Balloon Groups and Centres

data from:-

No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF

17 Mar 1937 - 7 Jan 1945

No 1 Balloon Centre: :Kidbrooke
Kidbrooke
Kidbrooke is a district of South East London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.The district takes its name from the Kyd Brook, a watercourse which runs from Orpington to Lewisham, by which point it is part of the River Quaggy...

, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

SE3 :::4 Oct 1937 - 196
No 2 Balloon Centre: :Hook
Hook, London
Hook is a place in south west London, England. It forms part of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and is located 13.5 miles south west of Charing Cross....

, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...

:::1937 - pre Jun 194
No 3 Balloon Centre: :Stanmore
Stanmore
Stanmore is a suburban area of the London Borough of Harrow, in northwest London. It is situated northwest of Charing Cross. The area is home to Stanmore Hill, one of the highest points of London, high.-Toponymy:...

, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...

:::1937 - Curren
No 4 Balloon Centre: :Chigwell
Chigwell
Chigwell is a civil parish and town in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is located 11.6 miles north east of Charing Cross. It is served by two London Underground stations and has a London area code.-Etymology:According to P. H...

, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...

:::2 Aug 1938 - 1 Apr 194
No 22 Balloon Centre: :Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill is an area and electoral ward in the outskirts of the London Borough of Bromley in southeast London, United Kingdom.-History:Historically the settlement was known as Aperfield and formed part of the parish of Cudham...

, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...

:::19 Feb 1944 - 20 Nov 194
No 23 Balloon Centre: :Gravesend
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...

, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...

:::1 Feb 1944 - 15 Jan 194
No 24 Balloon Centre: :Redhill
Redhill, Surrey
Redhill is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. Redhill and the adjacent town of Reigate form a single urban area.-History:...

, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...

:::1 Jul 1944 - 15 Jan 194

No 31 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF

Birmingham

Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...

1 Apr 1939 - 13 Nov 1941

No 5 Balloon Centre: :Whitehouse Common, Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...

, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...

:::Unknown - pre Jun 194
No 6 Balloon Centre: :Wythall
Wythall
Wythall is a village in the Bromsgrove District, in the north-east corner of the county of Worcestershire, England. It borders Solihull and Birmingham, and has a population of 11,377....

, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...

:::Transferred to No 32 Group13 Nov 194
No 7 Balloon Centre: :Curzon Lane, Alvaston
Alvaston
Alvaston is a suburb and ward of Derby, England. Alvaston is situated on the A6, three miles south-east of Derby city centre. It is bordered to the north by the wards of Derwent, Chaddesden and Spondon, to the east is the City Centre, to the south are Sinfin and Chellaston and to the west the...

, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...

:::Unknown - pre Jun 194
No 8 Balloon Centre: :Fazakerley
Fazakerley
Fazakerley is a suburb of north Liverpool, Merseyside, England, and a Liverpool City Council Ward. At the 2001 Census it had a population of 15,062...

, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...

:::Unknown - pre Jun 194
No 9 Balloon Centre: :Houghton Green, Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...

:::Unknown - pre Jun 194
No 10 Balloon Centre: :Bowlee
Bowlee
Bowlee is a village in Greater Manchester, England along Heywood Old Road on the outskirts of Middleton between Rhodes and Heywood. Historically it forms part of Lancashire..-RAF Bowlee:...

, Middleton
Middleton, Greater Manchester
Middleton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Irk, south-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester...

, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...

:::Unknown - pre Jun 194

No 32 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF

Romsey

Romsey is a small market town in the county of Hampshire, England.It is 8 miles northwest of Southampton and 11 miles southwest of Winchester, neighbouring the village of North Baddesley...

/ Bath

1 Mar 1939 - 15 Nov 1944

No 11 Balloon Centre: :Pucklechurch
Pucklechurch
Pucklechurch is a village in South Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom.- Location :Pucklechurch is a historic village with an incredibly rich past, from the Bronze Age with its tumulus on Shortwood Hill, up to the siting of a barrage balloon depot in World War II...

, ristol]
No 12 Balloon Centre: :Southampton Road, Titchfield
Titchfield
Titchfield is a village in southern Hampshire, by the River Meon. The village has a history stretching back to the 6th century. During the medieval period, the village operated a small port and market...

, Fareham
Fareham
The market town of Fareham lies in the south east of Hampshire, England, between the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, roughly in the centre of the South Hampshire conurbation.It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area...

, Hants :::Transferred to No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF - pre Jun 194
No 13 Balloon Centre: :Collaton Cross, Yealhampton, lymouth]
No 14 Balloon Centre: :Caerau
Caerau, Cardiff
Caerau is a community in the west of Cardiff, capital city of Wales. Heol Trelai is the main road or avenue which is very much lined with large trees and shrubbery. Dominated mostly by council housing, it has the Western Leisure Centre, supermarkets, schools, churches and an Ely Police Station...

, Ely
Ely, Cardiff
Ely is a community primarily dominated by council housing in western Cardiff, capital of Wales.-The Roman era:In Roman times, Ely was the site of a Roman villa, near the old racecourse...

, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...

:::Unknown - pre Jun 194
No 21 Balloon Centre: :Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock is a town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, lying north of Pembroke on the River Cleddau. Originally a small fishing village known as Paterchurch, the town was greatly expanded from 1814 onwards following the construction of a Royal Naval Dockyard...

, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

:::27 Aug 1940 - 31 Dec 194

No 33 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF

Long Benton / Sheffield

Sheffield

Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...

(1940)

1 Mar 1939 - 4 Sep 1944

No 15 Balloon Centre: :Long Benton, Forest Hall, ewcastle-upon-Tyne]
No 16 Balloon Centre: :Hemsworth
Hemsworth
Hemsworth is a small town and civil parish on the edge of West Yorkshire, England. It forms part of the City of Wakefield, and has a population of 13,311....

, Norton, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...

:::15 Aug 1939 - pre Jun 194
No 17 Balloon Centre: :Sutton-on-Hull
Sutton-on-Hull
Sutton-on-Hull is a suburb of the city of Kingston upon Hull, in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was served by Sutton-on-Hull railway station on the Hull and Holderness Railway until 1964.-External links:*...

, Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...

:::17 May 1939 - 15 Oct 194

No 34 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

1 Jul 1940 - 4 Sep 1944

No 18 Balloon Centre: :Bishopbridge, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

:::Aug 1939 - Unknow
No 19 Balloon Centre: :Rosyth
Rosyth
Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....

, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...

:::21 Oct 1939 - 6 May 194
No 18 Balloon Centre: :Lyness
Lyness
Lyness is a village on the east coast of the island of Hoy, Orkney.During the 1920's Lyness was briefly the headquarters of the metal salvage firm of Cox and Danks's raising of the German High Seas Fleet, scuttled by the Germans on June 21st 1919 during the Armistice.During the Second World War it...

, Orkney :::2 Jun 1940 - 27 Dec 194

Barrage Balloon Squadrons

No. 901 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF

16 May 1938

5 Flights of 9 balloons

Woolwich

Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...

, Abbey Wood

Abbey Wood

Abbey Wood is a district of South-East London, England, located mostly in the London Borough of Greenwich, and partly within the London Borough of Bexley. It is situated east of Charing Cross.-Development:...

, Kidbrooke

Kidbrooke

Kidbrooke is a district of South East London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.The district takes its name from the Kyd Brook, a watercourse which runs from Orpington to Lewisham, by which point it is part of the River Quaggy...

No. 902 (County of London) Balloon Squadron AAF

16 May 1938

5 Flights of 9 balloons

Kidbrooke

, Brixton

Brixton

Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....

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

Forest Hill, London

Forest Hill is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It situated between Dulwich and Sydenham. The area has enjoyed extensive investment since plans to extend the East London Line to Forest Hill were unveiled in 2004....

No. 904 (County of Surrey) Balloon Squadron AAF

16 May 1938

5 Flights of 9 balloons

Clapham

Clapham is a district in south London, England, within the London Borough of Lambeth.Clapham covers the postcodes of SW4 and parts of SW9, SW8 and SW12. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth, although Lambeth has responsibility for running the common as a whole. According...

No. 905 (County of Surrey) Balloon Squadron AAF

16 May 1938 - Unknown 1944

5 Flights of 9 balloons. Amalgamated with 901 Sqn

Kensington

Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...

, Clapham

Clapham

No. 906 (County of Middlesex) Balloon Squadron AAF

7 Jul 1938

5 Flights of 9 balloons

Hampstead

Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...

, Kensington

Kensington

No. 907 (County of Middlesex) Balloon Squadron AAF

16 May 1938

5 Flights of 9 balloons

Harringay

Harringay is a residential area of North London, part of the London Borough of Haringey, United Kingdom. It is centred on the section of Green Lanes running between the northern boundary of Finsbury Park up to the southern boundary of Duckett's Common, not far from Turnpike Lane.-Location:The...

/ Woodberry Down

No. 908 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF

5 Jul 1938

5 Flights of 9 balloons

Wanstead

Wanstead is a suburban area in the London Borough of Redbridge, North-East London. The main road going through Wanstead is the A12. The name is from the Anglo-Saxon words wænn and stede, meaning "settlement on a small hill"....

, Harringay

Harringay

No. 909 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF

16 May 1938

5 Flights of 9 balloons

West Ham

West Ham is in the London Borough of Newham in London, England. In the west it is a post-industrial neighbourhood abutting the site of the London Olympic Park and in the east it is mostly residential, consisting of Victorian terraced housing interspersed with higher density post-War social housing...

, East Ham

East Ham

East Ham is a suburban district of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Newham. It is a built-up district located 8 miles east-northeast of Charing Cross...

No. 910 (County of Essex) Balloon Squadron AAF

5 Jul 1938

5 Flights of 9 balloons, (3 Water-borne (Aug 1940))

Dagenham

Dagenham is a large suburb in East London, forming the eastern part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and located east of Charing Cross. It was historically an agrarian village in the county of Essex and remained mostly undeveloped until 1921 when the London County Council began...

, East Ham

East Ham

East Ham is a suburban district of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Newham. It is a built-up district located 8 miles east-northeast of Charing Cross...

No. 911 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF

Jan 1939 – Unknown

4 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940)

West Bromich, Chelmsford

Chelmsford

Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...

, Erdington

Erdington

Erdington is a suburb northeast of Birmingham city centre, England and bordering Sutton Coldfield. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee...

(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

Gloucester

Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....

No. 913 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF

Jan 1939 -Unknown

3 Flights of 8 balloons

Erdington

Erdington is a suburb northeast of Birmingham city centre, England and bordering Sutton Coldfield. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee...

/ Sutton Coldfield

Sutton Coldfield

Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...

, Chelmsford

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

Wythall is a village in the Bromsgrove District, in the north-east corner of the county of Worcestershire, England. It borders Solihull and Birmingham, and has a population of 11,377....

/ Northfield.

No. 915 (County of Warwick) Balloon Squadron AAF

Jan 1939 -Unknown

4 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)

Bourneville

Bourneville is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.-Population:-References:*...

/ Rowkeath, Chelmsford

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

Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...

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

Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...

/ Alveston

Alveston

Alveston is a commuter village of roughly 3000 people about south of Thornbury, South Gloucestershire and approximately north of Bristol, England. Alveston is twinned with Courville sur Eure, France. It has two hotels, a variety of small shops, several parks and fields, two churches and a...

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

Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...

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

Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...

No. 921 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF

Jan 1939 - 20 Feb 1943

3 Flights of 8 balloons (48 balloons in Aug 1940)

Liverpool

Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...

/ Fazakerley

Fazakerley

Fazakerley is a suburb of north Liverpool, Merseyside, England, and a Liverpool City Council Ward. At the 2001 Census it had a population of 15,062...

No. 922 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF

Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943

4 Flights of 8 balloons

Warrington

Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...

/ Curerdley

No. 923 (West Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF

Jan 1939 - Unknown, Jun 1944 - Unknown

4 Flights of 8 balloons

Runcorn

Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...

/ Birkenhead

Birkenhead

Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...

Reformed for Anti-'Diver' duties

No. 924 Balloon Squadron AAF

Jan 1939 Unknown

4 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940)

Southampton

Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...

/ Eastleigh

Eastleigh

Eastleigh is a railway town in Hampshire, England, and the main town in the Eastleigh borough which is part of Southampton Urban Area. The town lies between Southampton and Winchester, and is part of the South Hampshire conurbation...

No. 925 (East Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF

Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944

3 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)

Manchester

Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...

No. 926 (East Lancashire) Balloon Squadron AAF

Unknown - pre Jun 1944

3 Flights of 8 balloons (40 balloons in Aug 1940)

Bowlee

Bowlee is a village in Greater Manchester, England along Heywood Old Road on the outskirts of Middleton between Rhodes and Heywood. Historically it forms part of Lancashire..-RAF Bowlee:...

/ Manchester

Manchester

No. 927 (County of Gloucester) Balloon Squadron AAF

Jan 1939 Unknown

3 Flights of 8 balloons (32 balloons in Aug 1940)

Bristol

Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...

No. 928 Balloon Squadron AAF

Jan 1939 Unknown

3 Flights of 8 balloons (10 Water-borne Aug 1940)

Felixstowe

Felixstowe is a seaside town on the North Sea coast of Suffolk, England. The town gives its name to the nearby Port of Felixstowe, which is the largest container port in the United Kingdom and is owned by Hutchinson Ports UK...

/ Harwich

Harwich

Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...

No. 929 Balloon Squadron AAF

Jan 1939 Unknown

3 Flights of 8 balloons (7 Water-borneAug 1940)

South Queensferry

South Queensferry , also called Queensferry, is a former Royal Burgh in West Lothian now part of the City of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located some ten miles to the north west of the city centre, on the shore of the Firth of Forth between the Forth Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge, approximately 8...

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

Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...

No. 933 (Hampshire) Balloon Squadron AAF

Jan 1939 Unknown

3 Flights of 8 balloons

Portsmouth

/ Gosport

Gosport

Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...

No. 934 (County of Devon) Balloon Squadron AAF

Jan 1939 Unknown

5 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940)

Plymouth

Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...

No. 935 (County of Glamorgan) Balloon Squadron AAF

Jan 1939 Unknown

2 Flights of 8 balloons (24 balloons in Aug 1940)

Plymouth

/Filton

Filton

Filton is a town in South Gloucestershire, England, situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Bristol, about from the city centre. Filton lies in Bristol postcode areas BS7 and BS34. The town centres upon Filton Church, which dates back to the 12th century and is a grade II listed building...

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

Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River 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

Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River 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

Billingham

Billingham is a town in the unitary authority of Stockton on Tees, in north east England, with a population of 35,765 . It was founded circa 650 by a group of Saxons known as Billa's people, which is where the name Billingham is thought to have originated...

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

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)

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

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

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

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

-Local government:The town of Renfrew gave its name to a number of local government areas used at various times:*Renfrew a town to the west of Glasgow*Renfrewshire, the present unitary local council area in which Renfrew is situatated....

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

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

Reformed in 22 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

No. 948 Balloon Squadron AAF

Oct 1939 - pre Dec 1943

24 balloons in Aug 1940

Rosyth

Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....

No. 949 Balloon Squadron AAF

Oct 1949 - Unknown, Jun 1944 - Unknown

32 balloons in Aug 1940

Crewe

Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...

Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

No. 950 Balloon Squadron AAF

Unknown – Unknown

Lyness

Lyness is a village on the east coast of the island of Hoy, Orkney.During the 1920's Lyness was briefly the headquarters of the metal salvage firm of Cox and Danks's raising of the German High Seas Fleet, scuttled by the Germans on June 21st 1919 during the Armistice.During the Second World War it...

, Orkney – Feb 1940, Kirkwall

Kirkwall

Kirkwall is the biggest town and capital of Orkney, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. The town is first mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in the year 1046 when it is recorded as the residence of Rögnvald Brusason the Earl of Orkney, who was killed by his uncle Thorfinn the Mighty...

, Orkney - 1944

32 balloons in Aug 1940

No. 951 Balloon Squadron AAF

Unknown - pre Dec 1943

40 balloons in Aug 1940

Bristol

until 19 Jun 1944 (Norwich) and then Anti-'Diver' duties

No. 952 Balloon Squadron AAF

Nov 1939

Sheerness

Sheerness is a town located beside the mouth of the River Medway on the northwest corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, England. With a population of 12,000 it is the largest town on the island....

40 balloons (32 Water-borne) in Aug 1940

No. 953 Balloon Squadron AAF

Unknown

Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...

1943/44

39 balloons (7 Water-borne) in Aug 1940

1943/44 -, Anti-'Diver' duties from Jun 1944

No. 954 Balloon Squadron AAF

Cobham

- Towns or districts :* Cobham, Kent, England* Cobham, Surrey, England* Cobham, Virginia , multiple places- Other place names :* Cobham Intermediate School* Cobham Sports and Social Club...

No. 955 Balloon Squadron AAF

1943/44

Weston-super-Mare

Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...

No. 956 Balloon Squadron AAF

Colnbrook

24 balloons in Aug 1940

No. 957 Balloon Squadron AAF

Jul 1940 – Unknown

Yeovil

Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...

24 balloons in Aug 1940

No. 958 Balloon Squadron AAF
Jul 1940 - Unknown

Swansea

Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...

25 balloons (3 Water-borne) in Aug 1940

Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

No. 959 Balloon Squadron AAF

27 Aug 1940 Unknown

Falmouth

Falmouth, Cornwall

Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....

24 balloons (8 Water-borne) in Aug 1940

No. 960 Balloon Squadron AAF

Feb 1940 - Unknown

Lyness

, Orkney to Dec 1943, Canterbury

Canterbury

Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....

1944 on

24 balloons (16 Water-borne) in Aug 1940

No. 961 Balloon Squadron AAF

Jul 1940 – Unknown

Dover

Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...

8 Water-borne balloons (Aug 1940)

No. 962 Balloon Squadron AAF

Sep 1940 - pre Dec 1943

Milford Haven

Milford Haven is a town and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, a natural harbour used as a port since the Middle Ages. The town was founded in 1790 on the north side of the Waterway, from which it takes its name...

24balloons (9 Water-borne) in Aug 1940

No. 963 Balloon Squadron AAF

Unknown - pre Dec 1943

No. 964 Balloon Squadron AAF

Aug 1940 - Unknown

Torpoint

Torpoint is a civil parish and town on the Rame Peninsula in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated opposite the city of Plymouth across the Hamoaze which is the tidal estuary of the River Tamar....

, Plymouth

Plymouth

1944 on

24 balloons (6 Water-borne) in Aug 1940

No. 965 Balloon Squadron AAF

Jul 1940 - Unknown

Port Talbot

Port Talbot is a town in Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It had a population of 35,633 in 2001.-History:Port Talbot grew out of the original small port and market town of Aberafan , which belonged to the medieval Lords of Afan. The area of the parish of Margam lying on the west bank of the lower Afan...

16 balloons in Aug 1940

Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

No. 966 Balloon Squadron AAF

Sep 1940 - Unknown

Newport

Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...

, Monmouthshire, moved to RAF Seal south of London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

from Jun 1944

40 balloons in Aug 1940

Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

No. 967 Balloon Squadron AAF

Unknown - pre Dec 1943

Ardrossan

Ardrossan is a town on the North Ayrshire coast in south-western Scotland. The name "Ardrossan" describes its physical position — 'ard' from the Gaelic àird meaning headland, 'ros' a promontory and the diminutive suffix '-an' - headland of the little promontory...

48 balloons in Aug 1940

No. 968 Balloon Squadron AAF

Unknown - pre Dec 1943

Belfast

Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

16 balloons (8 Water-borne) in Aug 1940

No. 969 Balloon Squadron AAF

Jul 1940 – Unknown , - Unknown

Barry pre Dec 1943, Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...

from Jun 1944

16 balloons in Aug 1940

Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

No. 970 Balloon Squadron AAF

Unknown - pre Dec 1943

No. 971 Balloon Squadron AAF

1944

AHQ Eastern Mediterranean

No. 972 Balloon Squadron AAF

Egypt

Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...

No. 973 Balloon Squadron AAF

1944

AHQ Eastern Mediterranean

No. 974 Balloon Squadron AAF

Egypt

2nd Tactical Air Force (2nd TAF or 2 TAF)

No. 975 Balloon Squadron AAF

1944

No. 242 Group AAF

No. 976 Balloon Squadron AAF

1944

2nd TAF

No. 977 Balloon Squadron AAF

1944

Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces

No. 978 Balloon Squadron AAF

1941 1944

3rd TAF

No. 979 Balloon Squadron AAF

1944

3rd TAF

No. 980 Balloon Squadron AAF

Unknown - 6 Jun 1945

2nd TAF (1944 on)

980 Sqn defended Abadan

Abadan

Abadan is a city in and the capital of Abadan County, Khuzestan Province, Iran. It lies on Abadan Island , from the Persian Gulf, near the Iraqi-Iran border. The civilian population of the city dropped to near zero during the eight-years Iran–Iraq War. In 1992, only 84,774 had returned to live...

from 1942 and Khosrowabad before being moved via Jordan

Jordan

Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...

to the Suez Canal

Suez Canal

The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...

and then Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

No. 981 Balloon Squadron AAF

1941-Unknown

Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces

Reformed in UK for Anti-'Diver' duties - 1944

No. 982 Balloon Squadron AAF

1944

Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces

No. 983 Balloon Squadron AAF

1944

Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces

No. 984 Balloon Squadron AAF

1944

No. 222 Group AAF

No. 985 Balloon Squadron AAF

1944

No. 242 Group AAF

No. 986 Balloon Squadron AAF

1944

Malta

No. 987 Balloon Squadron AAF

1 Sep 1943-Unknown

No. 224 Group AAF (1944 on)

No. 988 Balloon Squadron AAF
No. 989 Balloon Squadron AAF
No. 990 Balloon Squadron AAF

1944

No. 222 Group AAF

No. 991 Balloon Squadron AAF

2nd TAF

No. 992 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron AAF

Dec 1943 -

No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth

Jun 1944 to 85 Group, for the defence of ports.

No. 993 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron AAF

Dec 1943

No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Chelmsford

Chelmsford

No. 994 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron AAF

Dec 1943

No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Canterbury

Canterbury

Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....

Jun 1944 to 85 Group,

No. 995 (Mobile) Balloon Squadron AAF

Dec 1943

No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group AAF, Titchfield

Titchfield

Titchfield is a village in southern Hampshire, by the River Meon. The village has a history stretching back to the 6th century. During the medieval period, the village operated a small port and market...

No. 996 Balloon Squadron AAF

No. 85 Group AAF

Mobile Unit for the defence of ports

No. 997 Balloon Squadron AAF

Weymouth (1944)

Mobile Unit for the defence of ports

No. 998 Balloon Squadron AAF

Brighton

Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...

(1944)

Mobile Unit for the defence of ports

No. 999 Balloon Squadron AAF

Paignton

Paignton is a coastal town in Devon in England. Together with Torquay and Brixham it forms the unitary authority of Torbay which was created in 1998. The Torbay area is a holiday destination known as the English Riviera. Paignton's population in the United Kingdom Census of 2001 was 48,251. It has...

(1944)

Mobile Unit for the defence of ports

External links

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Formation

World War II

Cold War

Gulf War and beyond

Personal letter from Queen Elizabeth II

Flying Squadrons formed 1925-1939

Air Observation Post flying Squadrons formed in 1949

Disbanded Units

Current RAuxAF Units

Barrage Balloon Groups and Centres

Barrage Balloon Squadrons

See also

External links