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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 (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 |
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|
No 2 Balloon Centre, Hook, Surrey
xx xxx 1937 - pre Jun 1944 |
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| No 3 Balloon
Centre, Stanmore, Middlesex
xx xxx 1937 - Current |
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| 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 |
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| No 23 Balloon
Centre, Gravesend, Kent 1 Feb 1944 - 15 Jan 1945 |
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| No 24 Balloon
Centre, Redhill, Surrey 1 Jul 1944 - 15 Jan 1945 |
||
| No
31 (Balloon Barrage) Group Birmingham 1 Apr 1939 - 13 Nov 1941 |
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| No 5 Balloon
Centre, Whitehouse Common, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham
xx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944 |
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| No 6 Balloon
Centre, Wythall, Birmingham
xx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx Transferred to No 32 Group13 Nov 1941 |
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| No 7 Balloon
Centre, Curzon Lane, Alvaston, Derbyshire
xx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944 |
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| No 8 Balloon
Centre, Fazakerley, Liverpool
xx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944 |
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| No 9 Balloon
Centre, Houghton Green, Warrington
xx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944 |
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| No 10 Balloon
Centre, Bowlee, Middleton, Manchester
xx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944 |
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| No
32 (Balloon Barrage) Group Romsey/Bath 1 Mar 1939 - 15 Nov 1944 |
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| No 11 Balloon
Centre, Pucklechurch, Bristol
xx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx |
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| No 12 Balloon
Centre, Southampton Road, Titchfield, Fareham, Hants
xx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx Transferred to No 30 Group - pre Jun 1944 |
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| No 13 Balloon
Centre, Collaton Cross, Yealhampton, Plymouth
xx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx |
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| No 14 Balloon
Centre, Caerau, Ely, Cardiff
xx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944 |
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| 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 |
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| No 15 Balloon
Centre, Long Benton, Forest Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
xx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx |
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| No 16 Balloon
Centre, Hemsworth, Norton, Sheffield
15 Aug 1939 - pre Jun 1944 |
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| No 17 Balloon
Centre, Sutton-on-Hull, Hull
17 May 1939 - 15 Oct 1942 |
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| No
34 (Balloon Barrage) Group Edinburgh 1 Jul 1940 - 4 Sep 1944 |
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| No 18 Balloon
Centre, Bishopbridge, Glasgow
xx Aug 1939 - xx xxx xxxx |
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| No 19 Balloon
Centre, Rosyth, Fife
21 Oct 1939 - 6 May 1940 |
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| No 18 Balloon
Centre, Lyness, Orkney 2 Jun 1940 - 27 Dec 1941 |
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| 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 |
| 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 | 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 | 1944 - 242 Group | |
| 986 | 1944 - Malta | |
| 987 | 1 Sep 1943 - xx xxx xxxx | 1944 - 224 Group |
| 988 | ||
| 989 | ||
| 990 | 1944 - 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 17/02/12 using FrontPage XP©
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