RAF Balloon Command


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 Group and was commanded by Air Commodore John Hearson. Balloon Command itself was formed on 1 November 1938 at RAF Stanmore Park in Middlesex. It consisted of a headquarters and several groups. Balloon Command was disbanded in February 1945.

Commanders

The following officers were in command:
Before the second world war the command had one group - No. 30 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
During World War II, the command had the following organization:
The command consisted of five groups which were in turn subdivided into balloon centres. 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.