Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


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RAF Squadrons 901 - 980


The 900 series of squadron numbers was allocated to Barrage Balloon units of the Auxiliary Air Force.  Only one RAF squadron ever held a number greater than 1000, click here for details of that squadron.  The dates shown are those between which the squadron number was in use.  When a squadron was disbanded in one location but reformed in another on the same day then a break in the dates has not been shown.

Many thanks to Len Bacon for providing me with the results of his research into the RAF Balloon squadrons.

Photo of a Balloon 'Sweetheart' Pin, unit of origin unknown

Photo of a Balloon 'Sweetheart' Pin, unit of origin unknown (Courtesy Stuart Farman)

No 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group

17 Mar 1937 - 7 Jan 1945

No 1 Balloon Centre, Kidbrooke, London SE3

4 Oct 1937 - xx xxx 1960

No 2 Balloon Centre, Hook, Surrey

xx xxx 1937 - pre Jun 1944

No 3 Balloon Centre, Stanmore, Middlesex

xx xxx 1937 - Current

No 4 Balloon Centre, Chigwell, Essex

2 Aug 1938 - 1 Apr 1943

No 22 Balloon Centre, Biggin Hill, Kent

19 Feb 1944 - 20 Nov 1944

No 23 Balloon Centre, Gravesend, Kent

1 Feb 1944 - 15 Jan 1945

No 24 Balloon Centre, Redhill, Surrey

1 Jul 1944 - 15 Jan 1945

No 31 (Balloon Barrage) Group

Birmingham

1 Apr 1939 - 13 Nov 1941

No 5 Balloon Centre, Whitehouse Common, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham

xx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944

No 6 Balloon Centre, Wythall, Birmingham

xx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx

Transferred to No 32 Group13 Nov 1941

No 7 Balloon Centre, Curzon Lane, Alvaston, Derbyshire

xx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944

No 8 Balloon Centre, Fazakerley, Liverpool

xx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944

No 9 Balloon Centre, Houghton Green, Warrington

xx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944

No 10 Balloon Centre, Bowlee, Middleton, Manchester

xx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944

No 32 (Balloon Barrage) Group

Romsey/Bath

1 Mar 1939 - 15 Nov 1944

No 11 Balloon Centre, Pucklechurch, Bristol

xx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx

No 12 Balloon Centre, Southampton Road, Titchfield, Fareham, Hants

xx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx

Transferred to No 30 Group - pre Jun 1944

No 13 Balloon Centre, Collaton Cross, Yealhampton, Plymouth

xx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx

No 14 Balloon Centre, Caerau, Ely, Cardiff

xx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944

No 21 Balloon Centre, Pembroke Dock, Wales

27 Aug 1940 - 31 Dec 1941

No 33 (Balloon Barrage) Group

Long Benton/Sheffield (1940)

1 Mar 1939 - 4 Sep 1944

No 15 Balloon Centre, Long Benton, Forest Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

xx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx

No 16 Balloon Centre, Hemsworth, Norton, Sheffield

15 Aug 1939 - pre Jun 1944

No 17 Balloon Centre, Sutton-on-Hull, Hull

17 May 1939 - 15 Oct 1942

Station history by Len Bacon,

No 34 (Balloon Barrage) Group

Edinburgh

1 Jul 1940 - 4 Sep 1944

No 18 Balloon Centre, Bishopbridge, Glasgow

xx Aug 1939 - xx xxx xxxx

No 19 Balloon Centre, Rosyth, Fife

21 Oct 1939 - 6 May 1940

No 18 Balloon Centre, Lyness, Orkney

2 Jun 1940 - 27 Dec 1941

901 (County of London) 16 May 1938 - 5 Flts of 9 Balloons - Woolwich, Abbey Wood,  Kidbrooke
902 (County of London) 16 May 1938 - 5 Flts of 9 Balloons - Kidbrooke, Brixton
903  (County of London) 16 May 1938 - xx xxx 1944 5 Flts of 9 Balloons.  Amalgamated with 902 Sqn. - Brixton/Forest Hill
904 (County of Surrey) 16 May 1938 - 5 Flts of 9 Balloons - Clapham
905 (County of) Surrey 16 May 1938 - xx xxx 1944 5 Flts of 9 Balloons.  Amalgamated with 901 Sqn - Kensington, Clapham
906 (County of Middlesex) 7 Jul 1938 -  5 Flts of 9 Balloons - Hampstead, Kensington
907  (County of Middlesex) 16 May 1938 - 5 Flts of 9 Balloons - Harringay/Woodberry Down
908 (County of Essex) 5 Jul 1938 -  5 Flts of 9 Balloons Wanstead, Harringay
909 (County of Essex) 16 May 1938 - 5 Flts of 9 Balloons - West Ham, East Ham
910 (County of Essex) 5 Jul 1938 -  5 Flts of 9 Balloons - Dagenham, East Ham.  3 Waterborne (Aug 1940)
911 (County of Warwick) xx Jan 1939 -  - xx xxx xxxx 4 Flts of 8 Balloons - West Bromich, Chelmsford, Erdington (Dec 1943). 

48 Balloons in Aug 1940

912 (County of Warwick) xx Jan 1939 -  - xx xxx xxxx 4 Flts of 8 Balloons - Brockworth, Gloucester. 

24 Balloons in Aug 1940

913 (County of Warwick) xx Jan 1939 -  - xx xxx xxxx 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Erdington/Sutton Coldfield, Chelmsford
914 (County of Warwick) xx Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944 4 Flts of 8 Balloons - Wythall/Northfield. 

40 Balloons in Aug 1940

915 (County of Warwick) xx Jan 1939 -  - xx xxx xxxx 4 Flts of 8 Balloons - Bourneville/Rowkeath, Chelmsford.

40 Balloons in Aug 1940

916 (County of Warwick) xx Jan 1939 - xx xxx xxxx

xx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxxx

3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Coventry.

32 Balloons in Aug 1940

Reformed for Anti-'Diver' duties

917 (County of Warwick) xx Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Coventry
918 (County of Derby) xx Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Derby/Alveston.  32 Balloons in Aug 1940
919 (West Lancashire) xx Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944 4 Flts of 8 Balloons.  - Birkenhead.

52 Balloons in Aug 1940

12 Waterborne (Aug 1940)

920 xx Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943 4 Flts of 8 Balloons - Londonderry

A & B Flts later 12 Balloons each, C & D retained 8 each

921 (West Lancashire) xx Jan 1939 - 20 Feb 1943 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Liverpool/Fazakerley. 

48 Balloons in Aug 1940

922 (West Lancashire) xx Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943 4 Flts of 8 Balloons - Warrington/Curerdley
923 (West Lancashire) xx Jan 1939 - xx xxx xxxx

xx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxx

4 Flts of 8 Balloons - Runcorn/Birkenhead

Reformed for Anti-'Diver' duties

924 xx Jan 1939 - xx xxx xxxx 4 Flts of 8 Balloons - Southampton/Eastleigh. 

24 Balloons in Aug 1940

925 (East Lancashire) xx Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Manchester.

40 Balloons in Aug 1940

926 (East Lancashire) xx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Bowlee/Manchester

40 Balloons in Aug 1940

927 (County of Gloucester) xx Jan 1939 - xx xxx xxxx 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Bristol.

32 Balloons in Aug 1940

928 xx Jan 1939 - xx xxx xxxx 3 Flts of 8 Balloons- Felixstowe/Harwich

10 Waterborne (Aug 1940)

929 xx Jan 1939 - xx xxx xxxx 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - South Queensferry

7 Waterborne (Aug 1940)

930 (Hampshire) xx Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943 3 Flts of 8 Balloons- Southampton.

50 (10 Waterborne ) Balloons in Aug 1940

931 (Hampshire) xx Jan 1939 - pre Dec 1943 3 Flts of 8 Balloons
932 (Hampshire) xx Jan 1939 - xx xxx xxxx

3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Portsmouth.

32 Balloons in Aug 1940

933 (Hampshire) xx Jan 1939 - xx xxx xxxx 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Portsmouth/Gosport
934 (County of Devon) xx Jan 1939 - xx xxx xxxx 5 Flts of 8 Balloons - Plymouth.

24 Balloons in Aug 1940

935 (County of Glamorgan) xx Jan 1939 - xx xxx xxxx 2 Flts of 8 Balloons, Plymouth/Filton. 

24 Balloons in Aug 1940

936 (County of Northumberland) 20 Feb 1939 - 4 Jun 1943 4 Flts of 8 Balloons - Newcastle upon Tyne

4 Waterborne (Aug 1940)

Amalgamated with No 937 on 4 Jun 1943

937 (County of Northumberland) 20 Feb 1939 - 4 Jun 1943 4 Flts of 8 Balloons - Newcastle upon Tyne

40 (3 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940

Amalgamated with No 936 on 4 Jun 1943

936/937 4 Jun 1943 - 1 Dec 1944  
938 (County of Northumberland) 20 Feb 1939 - 1 Dec 1944 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Stockton on Tees/Billingham.

48 Balloons in Aug 1940

939 (West Riding) xx Jan 1939 - xx xxx xxxx 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Sheffield
940 (West Riding) xx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Sheffield
941 (West Riding) xx Jan 1939 - xx xxx xxxx 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Sheffield/Sunderland (May 1943)

40 Balloons in Aug 1940

Amalgamated with 939 due to lack of volunteers

942 (East Riding) 25 Jan 1939 - 1 Jan 1942 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Sutton on Hull

42 (24 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940

Amalgamated with 943 - 1 Jan 1942

943 (East Riding) 25 Jan 1939 - 1 Jan 1942 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Sutton on Hull

32 Balloons in Aug 1940

Amalgamated with 942 - 1 Jan 1942

942/943 (East Riding) 1 Jan 1942 - 31 Aug 1944 Anti-'Diver- duties from 31 Jul 1944
944 (East Riding) 25 Jan 1939 -26 Apr 1942 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Sutton on Hull
945 (City of Glasgow) xx Jan 1939 - xx xxx xxxx

xx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxx

4 Flts of 8 Balloons - Glasgow.

40 Balloons in Aug 1940

Reformed in 22 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

946 (City of Glasgow) xx Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944 4 Flts of 8 Balloons - Renfrew

48 Balloons in Aug 1940

947 (City of Glasgow) xx Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944

xx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxx

3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Glasgow

32 Balloons in Aug 1940

Reformed in 22 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

948 xx Oct 1939 - pre Dec 1943 Rosyth

24 Balloons in Aug 1940

949 xx Oct 1949 - xx xxx xxxx

xx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxx

Crewe

32 Balloons in Aug 1940

Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

Members of No 949 Sqn

Members of No 949 Sqn - courtesy Peter Philpott, his grandfather 846488 Leading Aircraftman EDWARD VENNER WILMOTT is seated left – Died: 25 August

950 xx Feb 1940 - Lyness, Orkney, 1944 - Kirkwall

32 Balloons in Aug 1940

951 xx xxx xxxx - pre Dec 1943 40 Balloons in Aug 1940

Bristol until 19 Jun 1944 (Norwich) and then Anti-'Diver' duties

952 xx Nov 1939 Sheerness

40 (32 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940

953 39 (7 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940

1943/44 - Cardiff, Anti-'Diver' duties from Jun 1944

954 1943/44 - Cobham
955 1943/44 - Weston-super-Mare
956 Colnbrook

24 Balloons in Aug 1940

957 xx Jul 1940 - xx xxx xxxx Yeovil

24 Balloons in Aug 1940

958

xx Jul 1940 - xx xxx xxxx

xx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxx

Swansea

25 (3 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940

Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

959 27 Aug 1940 - xx xxx xxxx Falmouth

24 (8 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940

960 xx Feb 1940 - pre Dec 1943

xx xxx 1944 - xx xxx xxxx

Lyness, Orkney, 1944 - Canterbury

24 (16 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940

 

961 xx Jul 1940 - xx xxx xxxx Dover

8 Waterborne (Aug 1940)

962 xx Sep 1940 - pre Dec 1943 Milford Haven

24 (9 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940

963 xx xxx xxxx - pre Dec 1943  
964 xx Aug 1940 - xx xxx xxxx 24 (6 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940

Torpoint, 1944 - Plymouth

965 xx Jul 1940 - pre Dec 1943

xx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxx

Port Talbot

16 Balloons in Aug 1940

Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

966 xx Sep 1940 - xx xxx xxxx

xx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxx

Originally based in Newport, Wales it moved to RAF Seal south of London in 1944.

40 Balloons in Aug 1940

Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

967 xx xxx xxxx - pre Dec 1943 Ardrossan

48 Balloons in Aug 1940

968 xx xxx xxxx - pre Dec 1943

Belfast

16 (8 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940

969 xx Jul 1940 - pre Dec 1943

xx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxx

Barry

16 Balloons in Aug 1940

1944 - Great Yarmouth

Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties

970 xx xxx xxxx - pre Dec 1943
971 1944 - AHQ Eastern Mediterranean
972   Egypt
973   1944 - AHQ Eastern Mediterranean
974 Egypt/2nd TAF
975 1944 - 242 Group
976 1943 - No 243 Wing, AHQ WD (CO - Sqn Ldr Beech)

1944 - 2nd TAF

977 1944 - Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces
978 xx xxx 1941 1944 - 3rd TAF
979 1944 - 3rd TAF
980 xx xxx xxxx - 6 Jun 1945

980 Sqn defended Abadan from 1942 and Khosrowabad before being moved via Jordan to the Suez canal and then Italy.  1944 - 2nd TAF

981 xx xxx 1941 - xx xxx xxxx 1944 - Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces.  Reformed in UK for Anti-'Diver' duties - 1944
982 1944 - Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces
983 1944 - Mediterranean Coastal Air Forces
984 1944 - 222 Group
985 1943 - No 322 Wing

1944 - No 242 Group

OCs

xx xxx 1942        Sqn Ldr Bradshaw

986 1944 - Malta
987 1 Sep 1943 - xx xxx xxxx 1944 - No 224 Group
988
989
990 1944 - No 222 Group
991 2nd TAF
992 (Mobile) Dec 1943 - No 30 Group, Great Yarmouth.  Jun 1944 - 85 Group,  for the defence of ports.
993 (Mobile) Dec 1943 - No 30 Group, Chelmsford
994 (Mobile) Dec 1943 - No 30 Group, Canterbury.  Jun 1944 - 85 Group,
995 (Mobile) Dec 1943 - No 30 Group, Titchfield
996 85 Group, Mobile Unit for the defence of ports.
997 Mobile Unit for the defence of ports.  1944 - Weymouth
998 Mobile Unit for the defence of ports. 1944 - Brighton
999 Mobile Unit for the defence of ports. 1944 - Paignton

This page was last updated on 02/08/20 using FrontPage 2003©

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