RAF Balloon Command

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

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

History

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 itself 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 in February 1945.[3]

Commanders

The following officers were in command:[3]

Pre-war organization

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 Center at Chigwell

Second world war organization

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

References

  1. ↑ Leslie Gilbert Pine: "A Dictionary of Mottoes", 1983, Routledge, ISBN 0-7100-9339-X
  2. ↑ http://www.rafweb.org/Grp04.htm
  3. 1 2 3 Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - RAF Home Commands formed between 1936 - 1938
  4. ↑ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Groups 30 - 48
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