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
Balloon Command 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:


 * 1 November 1938 Air Vice-Marshal Owen Tudor Boyd
 * 1 December 1940 Air Marshal Sir Leslie Gossage
 * 1 February 1944 Air Vice-Marshal W C C Gell
 * 13 February 1945 Air Commodore P L Lincoln

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. 901 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
 * No. 902 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
 * No. 903 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
 * No. 2 Balloon Centre at Hook
 * No. 904 (County of Surrey) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
 * No. 905 (County of Surrey) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
 * No. 3 Balloon Centre at Stanmore
 * No. 906 (County of Middlesex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
 * No. 907 (County of Middlesex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
 * No. 4 Balloon Center at Chigwell
 * No. 908 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
 * No. 909 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force
 * No. 910 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force

Second world war organization
During World War II, the command had the following organization: The command consisted of five groups which were in turn subdivided into balloon centres (equivalent to wings of heavier-than-air aircraft). The organization was as follows:
 * Headquarters at Old Church Lane, Stanmore in Middlesex. This in turn directly controlled:
 * RAF Cardington
 * RAF Chessington
 * No. 30 Group headquartered at Chessington, near Surbiton, Surrey (1 November 1938 to 7 January 1945)
 * No. 1 Balloon Centre
 * No. 2 Balloon Centre
 * No. 3 Balloon Centre
 * No. 4 Balloon Centre
 * No. 12 Balloon Centre
 * No. 31 Group (1 April 1939 to 13 November 1941)
 * No. 32 Group headquartered at Claverton Manor, Claverton, near Bath, Somerset (1 March 1939 to 15 November 1944)
 * No. 6 Balloon Centre (earlier in 33 Group)
 * No. 11 Balloon Centre
 * No. 13 Balloon Centre
 * No. 14 Balloon Centre
 * No. 33 Group headquartered at Parkhead House, Abbey Lane, Sheffield, Yorkshire (1 March 1939 to 4 September 1944)
 * No. 5 Balloon Centre
 * No. 6 Balloon Centre (later in 32 Group)
 * No. 8 Balloon Centre
 * No. 9 Balloon Centre
 * No. 10 Balloon Centre
 * No. 15 Balloon Centre (earlier in 34 Group)
 * No. 16 Balloon Centre
 * No. 17 Balloon Centre
 * No. 34 Group headquartered at Tor House, Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh (7 April 1940 to 19 July 1943)
 * No. 15 Balloon Centre (later in 33 Group)
 * No. 18 Balloon Centre

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.