RAF Balloon Command

Balloon Command
Barrage balloons over London
Founded	1 November 1938
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Motto(s)	Vi Et Ictu (Latin: By Force and Impact).
Engagements	World War II

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.

Organisation

By July 1942, the command had the following organization:

• 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
• No. 32 Group headquartered at Claverton Manor, Claverton, near Bath, Somerset
• No. 33 Group headquartered at Parkhead House, Abbey Lane, Sheffield, Yorkshire
• No. 34 Group headquartered at Tor House, Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh

Commanders

WAAF Barrage Balloon crews at RAF Cardington

• 1 November 1938 Air Vice-Marshal O T 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

References

• Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - RAF Home Commands formed between 1936 - 1938
• Balloon Barrage Reunion Club Website - Development of Balloon Command