Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


Home Page

Main Menu

Quick Menu

Members' Area

What New?

About this site

Reunions

Help Needed?

Glossary

Bibliography

Sign Guest Book

View Guest Book

Link to Amazon

Online Store

Contact Me


HQ No 30 Group Personnel, units and locations


[Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939 | Dec 1939 | Jun 1941 | Jul 1942 | Dec 1943 | Jun 1944]

Reformed as No 30 (Barrage Balloon) Group on 17 March 1937 within Fighter Command

July 1937

Location Command Controlled
33-34 Tavistock Place, London WC1 Fighter Command
  • No unit allocated yet

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre (Ret)

John G Hearson

 1 May 1937 Air Officer Commanding, CB, CBE, DSO
Air Staff
Gp Capt W C Hicks  1 May 1937 Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC
Fg Off A Green  1 Jun 1937  

Source - July 1937 Air Force List

This Group HQ moved to Kelvin House, Cleveland Street, London W1 on 8 October 1937

July 1938

Location Command Controlled
Kelvin House, Cleveland Street, London W1 Fighter Command
  • No 1 Balloon Centre - Kidbrooke

  • No 901 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 902 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 903 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 904 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 907 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 909 (Balloon) Squadron

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre (Ret)

John G Hearson

 1 May 1937 Air Officer Commanding, CB, CBE, DSO
Air Staff
Gp Capt W C Hicks  1 May 1937 Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC
Sqn Ldr H F Luck  2 Apr 1938 Maintenance Liaison Officer
Flt Lt A Green  1 Jun 1937  
Sqn Ldr B E Harrison 21 Jun 1937 AFC, RAFO
Personnel Staff
Wg Cdr H Dawes 21 Jun 1937 Senior Personnel Staff Officer, MBE, RAFO
Flt Lt H A Anson   RAFO
Attached to the Staff
Balloons
Gp Capt F A Baldwin  5 Jul 1937  
Services
Signals
Flt Lt C A Gregory   RAFO
Warrant Officer
WO I E W Mason 30 Apr 1937 Personnel

Source - July 1938 Air Force List

Control of this Group was transferred to Balloon Command on 1 November 1938

January 1939

Location Command Controlled
Kelvin House, Cleveland Street, London W1 Balloon Command
  • No 1 Balloon Centre - Kidbrooke

  • No 2 Balloon Centre - Hook

  • No 3 Balloon Centre - Stanmore

  • No 4 Balloon Centre - Chigwell

  • No 901 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 902 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 903 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 904 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 905 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 906 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 907 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 908 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 909 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 910 (Balloon) Squadron

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre (Ret)

John G Hearson

 1 May 1937 Air Officer Commanding, CB, CBE, DSO
Air Staff
Gp Capt W C Hicks  1 May 1937 Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC
Sqn Ldr H F Luck  2 Apr 1938 Maintenance Liaison Officer
Sqn Ldr B E Harrison 21 Jun 1937 AFC, RAFO
Flt Lt H A Anson   RAFO
Brig (Ret) P W L Broke-Smith   CIE, DSO, OBE
Personnel Staff
Wg Cdr H Dawes 21 Jun 1937 Senior Personnel Staff Officer, MBE, RAFO
Services
Signals
Flt Lt C A Gregory   RAFO
Warrant Officer
WO E W Mason 30 Apr 1937 Personnel

Source - January 1939 Air Force List

April 1939

Location Command Controlled
Kelvin House, Cleveland Street, London W1 Balloon Command
  • No 1 Balloon Centre - Kidbrooke

  • No 2 Balloon Centre - Hook

  • No 3 Balloon Centre - Stanmore

  • No 4 Balloon Centre - Chigwell

  • No 901 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 902 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 903 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 904 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 905 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 906 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 907 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 908 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 909 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 910 (Balloon) Squadron

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre (Ret)

John G Hearson

 1 May 1937 Air Officer Commanding, CB, CBE, DSO
Air Staff
Gp Capt W C Hicks  1 May 1937 Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC
Sqn Ldr H F Luck  2 Apr 1938 Maintenance Liaison Officer
Sqn Ldr B E Harrison 21 Jun 1937 AFC, RAFO
Brig (Ret) P W L Broke-Smith   CIE, DSO, OBE
Personnel Staff
Wg Cdr H Dawes 21 Jun 1937 Senior Personnel Staff Officer, MBE, RAFO
Services
Signals
Flt Lt C A Gregory   RAFO
Warrant Officer
WO E W Mason 30 Apr 1937 Personnel

Source - April 1939 Confidential Air Force List

May 1939

Location Command Controlled
Kelvin House, Cleveland Street, London W1 Balloon Command
  • No 1 Balloon Centre - Kidbrooke

  • No 2 Balloon Centre - Hook

  • No 3 Balloon Centre - Stanmore

  • No 4 Balloon Centre - Chigwell

  • No 901 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 902 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 903 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 904 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 905 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 906 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 907 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 908 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 909 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 910 (Balloon) Squadron

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre (Ret)

John G Hearson

 1 May 1937 Air Officer Commanding, CB, CBE, DSO
Air Staff
Gp Capt W C Hicks  1 May 1937 Senior Air Staff Officer, AFC
Sqn Ldr H F Luck  2 Apr 1938 Maintenance Liaison Officer
Sqn Ldr B E Harrison 21 Jun 1937 AFC, RAFO
Brig (Ret) P W L Broke-Smith   CIE, DSO, OBE
Personnel Staff
Wg Cdr H Dawes 21 Jun 1937 Senior Personnel Staff Officer, MBE, RAFO
Services
Signals
Flt Lt C A Gregory   RAFO
Armament
Flt Lt S A Turner   MBE, RAFO
Warrant Officer
WO E W Mason 30 Apr 1937 Personnel

Source - May 1939 Confidential Air Force List

December 1939

Location Command Controlled
Kelvin House, Cleveland Street, London W1 Balloon Command
  • No 1 Balloon Centre - Kidbrooke

    • No 901 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 902 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 903 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 952 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 2 Balloon Centre - Hook

    • No 904 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 905 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 3 Balloon Centre - Stanmore

    • No 906 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 907 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 4 Balloon Centre - Chigwell

    • No 908 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 909 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 910 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 928 (Balloon) Squadron - Felixstowe

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Gp Capt William J M Guilfoyle  1 Nov 1939 Officer Commanding, OBE, MC; later A/Cdre
Air Staff
Sqn Ldr H F Luck  2 Apr 1938 Maintenance Liaison Officer
Flt Lt P S V Smith   RAFO
Personnel Staff
Wg Cdr H Dawes 21 Jun 1937 Senior Personnel Staff Officer, MBE, RAFO
Sqn Ldr A M Lyons 25 Aug 1939 Personnel (AAF) Duties, KC, MP, JP
Services
Signals
Flt Lt C A Gregory   RAFO
Flt Lt F J Andrews   MSM, RAFO
Armament
Flt Lt S A Turner   MBE, RAFO
Engineer
Sqn Ldr R W Baird 20 Oct 1939  

Source - December 1939 Confidential Air Force List

June 1941

Location Command Controlled
Kelvin House, Cleveland Street, London W1 Balloon Command
  • No 1 Balloon Centre - Kidbrooke

    • No 901 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 902 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 952 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 961 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 2 Balloon Centre - Hook

    • No 903 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 904 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 905 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 954 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 3 Balloon Centre - Stanmore

    • No 906 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 907 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 956 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 4 Balloon Centre - Chigwell

    • No 908 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 909 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 910 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 928 (Balloon) Squadron - Felixstowe

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Gp Capt William J M Guilfoyle  1 Nov 1939 Officer Commanding, OBE, MC; later A/Cdre
Air Staff
Wg Cdr H E Hills 23 Nov 1940 Senior Air Staff Officer
Sqn Ldr C D Kershaw 15 Jan 1940  
Flt Lt A J Beard 15 Jan 1940 MC
Flt Lt A G Birch 21 Jan 1941  
Flt Lt W H Stangroom 29 Jan 1941  
Fg Off C L L A de Beaumont 15 Jul 1940  
Fg Off T G M Weldon  1 Oct 1940  
Administrative Staff
Flt Lt J G Links 14 Feb 1941 Senior Administrative Staff Officer
Sqn Ldr F T McElwee  9 Jan 1939 Personnel
Sqn Ldr R A Hodgson 16 Feb 1941 Organisation
Flt Lt T A Huson 29 Jan 1941 Organisation
Flt Lt R Lutyens 15 Jul 1940  
Plt Off E W Joseph  1 Oct 1940  
Personnel Staff
Wg Cdr H Dawes 21 Jun 1937 Senior Personnel Staff Officer, MBE, RAFO
  A M Lyons 25 Aug 1939 Personnel (AAF) Duties, KC, MP, JP
Services
Engineer
Fg Off L G Mobsby 20 Feb 1941  
Fg Off A A Whorton 28 Mar 1941  
Signals
Flt Lt F W French 15 May 1940  
Fg Off G Lynch 25 Nov 1940  
Equipment
Flt Lt E F Tanner 17 Jun 1940  
Physical Training
Fg Off G W Murray  5 Sep 1940  
Medical
Sqn Ldr R E W Fisher  6 Nov 1940 Senior Medical Officer, MB, BCh
Flt Lt J H P Gauvain 30 Nov 1930 MRCS, LRCP
Miscellaneous Appointments
Plt Off G B Rose  4 Mar 1941  

Source - June 1941 Confidential Air Force List

It moved to Hook in Surrey on 4 October 1941.

July 1942

Location Command Controlled
Chessington, near Surbiton, Surrey Balloon Command
  • SHQ RAF Chessington

    • No 954 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 1 Balloon Centre - Kidbrooke

    • No 901 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 902 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 903 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 904 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 952 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 2 Mobile Balloon Unit

  • No 3 Balloon Centre - Stanmore

    • No 905 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 906 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 956 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 4 Balloon Centre - Chigwell

    • No 907 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 908 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 909 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 928 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 12 Balloon Centre - Titchfield

    • No 924 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 930 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 932 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 933 (Balloon) Squadron

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Gp Capt (Act A/Cdre?) William C C Gell  1  Jul 1941 Air Officer Commanding, DSO, MC, TD; later  AVM
Air Staff
Wg Cdr W T Barnes 30 Aug 1941 Senior Air Staff Officer, OBE
Sqn Ldr L P Bonnet  1 Oct 1941  
Flt Lt C W Botham  6 Sep 1941  
Administrative Staff
Wg Cdr H G C Laird 24 Nov 1941 Senior Administrative Staff Officer, DSO
Sqn Ldr F T McElwee  9 Jan 1939 Personnel
Sqn Ldr A Blande 26 Jun 1941 DSO
Flt Lt S E Mann 15 Dec 1941  
Flt Lt W R Kells  9 Mar 1942  
Flt Lt A R Bewes 18 May 1942  
Fg Off F L Darke 18 May 1942  
Fg Off G B Earle 18 May 1942  
Fg Off G C T Richards 18 May 1942  
Fg Off A J Gregory 10 Feb 1942  
Fg Off E W Joseph 16 Jan 1941  
Services
Engineer
Flt Lt L G Mobsby 20 Feb 1941  
Flt Lt G W Robinson    
Signals
Flt Lt G Lynch 25 Nov 1941  
Plt Off L J P Checkemain 21 Nov 1941  
Equipment
Flt Lt T C Boyes 15 Sep 1941  
Medical
Sqn Ldr R E W Fisher  6 Nov 1940 Senior Medical Officer, MB, BCh
WAAF Staff Officers
SO M Ballantyne 21 Nov 1941 WAAF

Source - July 1942 Confidential Air Force List

December 1943

Location Command Controlled
Chessington, near Surbiton, Surrey Balloon Command
  • No 1 Balloon Centre - Kidbrooke

    • No 901 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 902/3 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 909/10 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 952 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 961 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 994 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 3 Balloon Centre - Stanmore

    • No 904/5 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 906 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 907/8 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 928 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 954 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 956 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 992 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 993 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 1 Mobile Balloon Flight - Norwich

  • No 12 Balloon Centre - Titchfield

    • No 924/30 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 932/33 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 995 (Balloon) Squadron

  • 'M' Balloon Unit - Dover

 

Rank Name Date Notes
Act A/Cdre William C C Gell  1  Jul 1941 Air Officer Commanding, DSO, MC, TD; later  AVM
Air Staff
Wg Cdr J L Padmore 11 Dec 1942 Senior Air Staff Officer, MC
Sqn Ldr C W Botham  1 Feb 1943  
Sqn Ldr C L L A de Beaumont 15 Jul 1940  
Sqn Ldr C W James  3 Jul 1943  
Administrative Staff
Sqn Ldr G P Brutton 20 Dec 1942 Personnel
Sqn Ldr E W Joseph 16 Jan 1941  
Sqn Ldr A W Fowles 16 Jun 1943 Organisation
Services
Engineer
Sqn Ldr J Bailey  9 Aug 1943  
Equipment
Sqn Ldr G H Butler 19 Jul 1943 Senior Equipment Staff Officer
Medical
Wg Cdr N R Smith 24 Jul 1942 Senior Medical Officer, MRCS, LRCP
WAAF Staff Officers
Wg Off L E Swatton 29 Apr 1943 WAAF

Source - December 1943 Confidential Air Force List

June 1944

Location Command Controlled
Chessington, near Surbiton, Surrey Balloon Command
  • No 1 Balloon Centre - Kidbrooke

    • No 901 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 902/3 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 909/10 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 952 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 960 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 961 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 3 Balloon Centre - Stanmore

    • No 904/5 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 906 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 907/8 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 911/13/15 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 928 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 951 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 954 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 956 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 969 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 12 Balloon Centre - Titchfield

    • No 924/30 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 932/33 (Balloon) Squadron

    • No 995 (Balloon) Squadron

  • No 22 Balloon Centre - Biggin Hill

  • No 23 Balloon Centre - Gravesend

  • 'M' Balloon Unit - Walmer

 

Rank Name Date Notes
A/Cdre Philip L Lincoln  1 Feb 1944 Air Officer Commanding, DSO, MC
Air Staff
Wg Cdr J L Padmore 11 Dec 1942 Senior Air Staff Officer, MC
Sqn Ldr C W Botham  1 Feb 1943  
Sqn Ldr C W James  3 Jul 1943  
Sqn Ldr L R Last 15 Mar1944  
Administrative Staff
Sqn Ldr G P Brutton 20 Dec 1942 Personnel
Sqn Ldr E W Joseph 16 Jan 1941  
Sqn Ldr A W Fowles 16 Jun 1943 Organisation
Services
Engineer
Sqn Ldr J Bailey  9 Aug 1943  
Equipment
Sqn Ldr G H Butler 19 Jul 1943 Senior Equipment Staff Officer
Medical
Wg Cdr W W Walker 15 Oct 1943 Senior Medical Officer, MB, ChB
WAAF Staff Officers
Wg Off L E Swatton 29 Apr 1943 WAAF
Miscellaneous Appointments
Sqn Ldr A D Proudfoot  1 Feb 1944  

Source - June 1944 Confidential Air Force List

It disbanded on 7 January 1945

[Jul 1937 | Jul 1938 | Jan 1939 | Apr 1939 | May 1939 | Dec 1939 | Jun 1941 | Jul 1942 | Dec 1943 | Jun 1944]

This page was last updated on 08/07/19 using FrontPage 2003©

         [Top of Page]