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A Typical Balloon Crew Roll of Honour Roof Over Britain
1940 Status Location and Equipment of Balloon Barrage Squadrons and
Balloon Centres between 31st July 1940 and 31st August 1940
On 31st July 1940 Balloon Command consisted of No.30, 31, 32 and 33 Group. As the Battle of Britain took place gaps and weaknesses in
the defensive tactics were becoming apparent. Prior to April 1940 there were a number of misconceptions held by British Government and the Military.
It was held that the German bomber force would never be employed fully to attack this country and that any bombers that came over unescorted would
be shot down. There was an alarming degree of naivety by the British at this time.
Any bomber attacks by the Nazis were predicted to be on a light scale due to the distance they would need to fly from bases in Germany.
The failure at Dunkirk to prevent the fall of France meant that German bombers and fighters were now based just across the channel and this meant that
the Nazis could attack at will.
When Britain had it's back to the wall and the Battle of Britain was under way it was clear from a review that changes were needed in numbers and places
of searchlights, anti-aircraft guns, fighters and barrage balloon defences.
As far as Barrage Balloons were concerned considerable changes were implemented between 31st July 1940 and 31st August 1940.
At the end of July 1940 there were 1,870 balloons and 1,466 had been issued to the Squadrons.
Changes in balloon numbers and changes in locations were ordered. In addition it was realised that in order to combat the threat of a invasion
by the Nazis there many more targets that needed to be protected with ports and factories particularly vulnerable.
This chart shows the position at 31st July 1940 and how within 4 weeks at the 31st August 1940 the changes that were implemented.
|
STATION |
SQUADRON |
LOCATION 31st July 1940 |
EQUIPMENT 31st July 1940 |
SQUADRON |
LOCATION 31st August 1940 |
EQUIPMENT 31st August 1940 |
|
No. 30 BB Group London |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kidbrooke No.1 Balloon Centre |
901
|
Abbey Wood and Kidbrooke SE |
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
901 |
Abbey Wood and Kidbrooke SE |
5 flights 9 Balloons |
|
|
902
|
Kidbrooke
|
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
902 |
Kidbrooke |
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
|
|
952 (Thames Convoy)
|
Sheerness |
5 flights 32 Balloons all waterborne flights 1 flight 8 balloons
|
952 |
Sheerness |
5 flights 32 Balloons all waterborne flights 1 flight 8 balloons
|
|
|
961 |
Dover |
2 flights 8 balloons 1 flight 8 balloons waterborne |
961 |
Dover |
2 flights 8 balloons 1 flight 8 balloons waterborne |
|
Hook No.2 Balloon Centre |
903
|
Forest Hill SE 23
|
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
903 |
Forest Hill SE 23
|
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
|
|
904
|
Clapham
|
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
904 |
Clapham
|
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
|
|
905 |
Kensington |
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
905 |
Kensington |
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
|
Stanmore No.3 Balloon Centre |
906
|
Hampstead NW3
|
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
906 |
Hampstead NW3
|
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
|
|
907 |
Woodberry Down N4
|
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
907 |
Woodberry Down N4
|
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
|
|
956 |
Colnbrook |
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
956 |
Colnbrook |
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
Chigwell No.4 Balloon Centre |
908 |
Metropolis
|
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
908
|
Metropolis
|
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
|
|
909 |
East Ham
|
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
909 |
East Ham
|
5 flights 9 Balloons
|
|
|
910 |
Dagenham, Essex
|
5 flights 9 Balloons (includes 3 waterborne sites) |
910 |
Dagenham, Essex
|
5 flights 9 Balloons (includes 3 waterborne sites) |
|
|
928 |
Harwich |
3 flights 8 Balloons (includes 10 waterborne sites) |
928 |
Harwich |
3 flights 8 Balloons (includes 10 waterborne sites) |
|
STATION |
SQUADRON |
LOCATION 31st July 1940 |
EQUIPMENT 31st July 1940 |
SQUADRON |
LOCATION 31st August 1940 |
EQUIPMENT 31st August 1940 |
|
No. 31 BB Group Birmingham |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alvaston, Derby No.7 Balloon Centre |
918
|
Alvaston, Derby |
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
918 |
Alvaston, Derby |
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
Fazakerley, Liverpool No.8 Balloon Centre
|
919
|
Birkenhead
|
5 flights 8 Balloons 1 flight 12 balloons waterborne
|
919 |
Birkenhead |
5 flights 8 Balloons 1 flight 12 balloons waterborne
|
|
|
|
|
|
921 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Fazakerley, Liverpool
|
6 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
Manchester No.10 Balloon Centre
|
925
|
Manchester and Bowlee |
5 flights 8 Balloons
|
925
|
Manchester and Bowlee |
5 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
926 |
Bowlee , Manchester |
5 flights 8 Balloons
|
926 |
Bowlee , Manchester |
5 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
Sutton Coldfield No.5 Balloon Centre |
911
|
West Bromwich
|
6 flights 8 Balloons
|
911 |
West Bromwich
|
6 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
913
|
Sutton Coldfield
|
5 flights 8 Balloons
|
913 |
Clapham
|
5 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
|
|
|
962 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Milford Haven |
1 flight 8 Balloons 1 flight 7 Balloons 1 flight 9 Balloons (waterborne)
|
|
Warrington No.9 Balloon Centre |
922 |
Cuerdley |
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
922 |
Cuerdley |
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
923
|
Runcorn
|
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
923 |
Runcorn
|
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
949 |
Crewe
|
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
949 |
Woodberry Down N4
|
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
Wyhall No.6 Balloon Centre |
914 |
Groveley Hall, Northfield Birmingham 31
|
5 flights 8 Balloons
|
914 |
Groveley Hall, Northfield Birmingham 31
|
5 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
915 |
Rowkeath, Birmingham
|
5 flights 8 Balloons
|
915 |
Rowkeath, Birmingham
|
5 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
916 |
Coventry
|
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
916 |
Coventry
|
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
917 |
Coventry
|
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
917 |
Coventry
|
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STATION |
SQUADRON |
LOCATION 31st July 1940 |
EQUIPMENT 31st July 1940 |
SQUADRON |
LOCATION 31st August 1940 |
EQUIPMENT 31st August 1940 |
|
No. 32 BB Group Romsey |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pucklechurch, Bristol No.11 Balloon Centre |
912
|
Brockworth |
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
912 |
Brockworth |
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
927
|
Bristol
|
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
927 |
Bristol
|
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
935 |
Filton |
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
935 |
Filton |
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
951
|
3 Caledonia Place, Bristol |
5 flights 8 Balloons
|
951
|
Bristol |
5 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
957 |
Yeovil |
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
957 |
Yeovil |
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
Cardiff No.14 Balloon Centre |
953
|
Cotterell
|
4 flights 8 Balloons 1 flight 7 Balloons waterbourne
|
953 |
Cardiff
|
4 flights 8 Balloons 1 flight 7 Balloons waterbourne
|
|
|
|
|
|
958 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Swansea |
3 flights 8 Balloons 1 flight 11 Balloons (3 waterborne) |
|
|
|
|
|
965 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Port Talbot |
2 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
|
|
|
966 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Newport |
5 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
|
|
|
969 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Barry |
2 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
Collaton Cross, Plymouth No, 13 Balloon Centre |
934
|
Beaumot House, Stoke, Plymouth
|
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
934 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Plymouth
|
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
|
|
|
959 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Falmouth |
2 flights 8 Balloons 1 flight 8 Balloons (waterborne)
|
|
|
|
|
|
964 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Torpoint |
2 flights 8 Balloons 1 flight 8 Balloons (6 waterborne)
|
|
Titchfield No.12 Balloon Centre |
|
|
|
924 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Eastleigh |
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
|
|
|
930 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Southampton
|
5 flights 8 Balloons 1 flight 10 Balloons (waterborne)
|
|
|
|
|
|
932 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Portsmouth |
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
|
|
|
933 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Gosport
|
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
STATION |
SQUADRON |
LOCATION 31st July 1940 |
EQUIPMENT 31st July 1940 |
SQUADRON |
LOCATION 31st August 1940 |
EQUIPMENT 31st August 1940 |
|
No. 33 BB Group Sheffield |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Newcastle No.15 Balloon Centre |
N/A |
|
|
936 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Benton |
5 flights 8 Balloons (includes 4 waterborne sites)
|
|
|
|
|
|
937 (NEW SQUADRON) |
South Tyne |
4 flights 8 Balloons (includes 3 waterborne sites)
|
|
|
|
|
|
938 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Billingham-on-Tees
|
6 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
Sheffield No. 16 Balloon Centre |
N/A |
|
|
939 (NEW SQUADRON)
|
Sheffield |
5 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
|
|
|
940 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Rotherham |
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
Sutton-on-Hull No.17 Balloon Centre |
N/A |
|
|
942 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Hull
|
5 flights 42 Balloons (includes 24 waterborne)
|
|
|
|
|
|
943 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Hull |
4 flights 32 balloons |
|
STATION |
SQUADRON |
LOCATION 31st July 1940 |
EQUIPMENT 31st July 1940 |
SQUADRON |
LOCATION 31st August 1940 |
EQUIPMENT 31st August 1940 |
|
No. 34 BB Group Edinburgh |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bishopbriggs No.18 Balloon Centre Firth of Forth |
N/A |
|
|
929 (NEW SQUADRON) |
South Queensferry Mid Lothian |
3 flights 8 Balloons (includes 7 waterborne sites)
|
|
|
|
|
|
945 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Glasgow |
5 flights 8 Balloons |
|
|
|
|
|
946 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Renfrew
|
6 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
Sheffield No. 16 Balloon Centre |
N/A |
|
|
947 (NEW SQUADRON)
|
Glasgow |
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
|
|
|
948 (NEW SQUADRON) (Firth of Forth) |
Rosyth |
3 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
Sutton-on-Hull No.17 Balloon Centre |
N/A |
|
|
967 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Ardrossan
|
6 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
|
|
|
968 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Bishopbriggs (in process of formation and then moved to Belfast 12th September 1940) |
5 flights 8 Balloons (includes 8 waterborne sites)
|
|
Lyness No. 20 Balloon Centre |
N/A |
|
|
950 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Lyness |
4 flights 8 Balloons
|
|
|
|
|
|
960 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Lyness |
2 flights 8 Balloons (waterborne) 1 flights 8 Balloons |
|
Administered direct by 34 Group |
N/A |
|
|
920 (NEW SQUADRON) |
Lochalsh |
1 flight 5 Balloons
1 flight 11 Balloons (waterborne)
|
The above table adds more explanation to the changes that took place rapidly between 31st July 1940 and 31st August 1940.
Many more new squadrons were embodied and this meant increased recruitment and considerable training had to take place along with
an increase in the supply of equipment for the balloon barrage.
EQUIPMENT AND LOCATION OF BALLOON SQUADRONS
AS AT 31 AUGUST 1940
No. 30 (BALLOON BARRAGE) GROUP, LONDON.
(Group Captain W. J. Y. Guilfoyle)
No. 1 Balloon Centre, Kidbrooke, London. SE3
Squadron Equipment Location
901 45 balloons Abbey Wood
902 45 balloons Kidbrooke
952 40 balloons Sheerness
(32 waterborne)
961 24 balloons Dover
(8 waterborne)
No. 2 Balloon Centre, Hook, Surrey.
903 45 balloons Forest Hill
904 45 balloons Clapham
905 45 balloons Kensington
No. 3 Balloon Centre, Stanmore,
Middlesex.
906 45 balloons Hampstead
907 45 balloons Woodberry Down
956 24 balloons Colnbrook
No. 4 Balloon Centre, Chigwell, Essex.
908 45 balloons Metropolis
909 45 balloons East Ham
910 45 balloons Dagenham
(3 waterborne)
928 24 balloons Harwich
(10 waterborne)
No. 31 (BALLLON BARRAGE) GROUP, BIRMINGHAM.
(Air Commodore J. C. Quinnell)
No. 5 Balloon Centre, Sutton Coldfield.
911 48 balloons West Bromwich
913 40 balloons Sutton Coldfield
962 24 balloons Milford Haven
(9 waterborne)
No. 6 Balloon Centre, Wythall Near Alvechurch, Birmingham.
914 40 balloons Northfield
915 40 balloons Rowkeath
916 32 balloons Coventry
917 24 ballons Coventry
No. 7 Balloon Centre, Alvaston, Derby.
918 32 balloons Alvaston.
No. 8 Balloon Centre, Fazakerley, Liverpool.
919 52 balloons Birkenhead
(12 waterborne)
921 48 balloons Fazakerley
No. 9 Balloon Centre, Barrington.
Squadron Equipment Location
922 32 balloons Cuerdly
923 32 balloons Runcorn
949 32 balloons Crewe
No. 10 Balloon Centre, Bowlee, Manchester.
925 40 balloons
Manchester & Bowlee
926 40 balloons Bowlee
No. 32 (BALLOON BARRAGE) GROUP, ROMSEY
(Air Commodore A. A. Walser)
No.11 Balloon Centre, Pucklechurch, Bristol.
912 24 balloons Brockworth
927 32 balloons Bristol
935 24 balloons Filton
951 40 balloons 3, Caledonia Place, Bristol
957 24 balloons Yeovil
No.12 Balloon Centre, Titchfield, Hampshire.
924 24 balloons Eastleigh
930 50 balloons Southampton
(10 waterborne)
932 32 balloons Portsmouth
933 24 balloons Gosport
No. 13 Balloon Centre, Collaton Cross, Plymouth.
934 24 balloons Beaumont House, Stoke, Plymouth
959 24 balloons Falmouth
(8 waterborne)
964 24 balloons Torpoint
(6 waterborne)
No. 14 Balloon Centre, Llandaff, Cardiff
953 39 balloons Cardiff
(7 waterborne)
958 35 balloons Swansea
(3 waterborne)
965 16 balloons
Port Talbot
966 40 balloons
Newport
969 16 balloons
Barry
No.33 (BALLOON BARRAGE) GROUP, SHEFFIELD.
(Air Commodore S. W. Smith.)
No. 15 Balloon Centre, Longbenton, Newcastle.
936 40 balloons Benton
(4 waterborne)
937 32 balloons South Tyne
(3 waterborne)
938 48 balloons Billingham
No. 16 Balloon Centre, Norton, Sheffield.
939 40 balloons
Sheffield
940 32 balloons Rotherham
No. 17 Balloon Centre, Sutton on Hull.
942 42 balloons Hull
(24 waterborne)
943 32 balloons Hull
No. 34 (BALLOON BARRAGE) GROUP, EDINBURGH.
(Group Captain H. R. Busteed)
No. 18 Balloon Centre, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow.
929 24 balloons South Queensferry
(7 waterborne)
945 40 balloons Glasgow
946 48 balloon Renfrew
947 32 balloons Glasgow
948 24 balloons Rosyth
967 48 balloons Ardrossan
968 40 balloons Forming at Bishopbriggs:
moved to Belfast
12 September 1940
(8 waterborne)
No.20 Balloon Centre, Lyness, Orkney.
950 32 balloons Lyness
960 24 balloons Lyness (16 waterborne)
920 16 balloons
(11 waterborne)
Administered directly by 34 Group
TOTALS.
Groups 4
Barrages 47
Balloon Centres 19
Squadrons 62
Balloons 2,208