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) Group17 Mar 1937 - 7 Jan 1945
No 1 Balloon Centre, Kidbrooke, London SE34 Oct 1937 - xx xxx 1960
No 2 Balloon Centre, Hook, Surreyxx xxx 1937 - pre Jun 1944
No 3 Balloon Centre, Stanmore, Middlesexxx xxx 1937 - Current
No 4 Balloon Centre, Chigwell, Essex2 Aug 1938 - 1 Apr 1943
No 22 Balloon Centre, Biggin Hill, Kent19 Feb 1944 - 20 Nov 1944
No 23 Balloon Centre, Gravesend, Kent1 Feb 1944 - 15 Jan 1945
No 24 Balloon Centre, Redhill, Surrey1 Jul 1944 - 15 Jan 1945
No 31 (Balloon Barrage) GroupBirmingham
1 Apr 1939 - 13 Nov 1941
No 5 Balloon Centre, Whitehouse Common, Sutton Coldfield, Birminghamxx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944
No 6 Balloon Centre, Wythall, Birminghamxx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx
Transferred to No 32 Group13 Nov 1941
No 7 Balloon Centre, Curzon Lane, Alvaston, Derbyshirexx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944
No 8 Balloon Centre, Fazakerley, Liverpoolxx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944
No 9 Balloon Centre, Houghton Green, Warringtonxx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944
No 10 Balloon Centre, Bowlee, Middleton, Manchesterxx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944
No 32 (Balloon Barrage) GroupRomsey/Bath
1 Mar 1939 - 15 Nov 1944
No 11 Balloon Centre, Pucklechurch, Bristolxx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx
No 12 Balloon Centre, Southampton Road, Titchfield, Fareham, Hantsxx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx
Transferred to No 30 Group - pre Jun 1944
No 13 Balloon Centre, Collaton Cross, Yealhampton, Plymouthxx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx
No 14 Balloon Centre, Caerau, Ely, Cardiffxx xxx xxxx - pre Jun 1944
No 21 Balloon Centre, Pembroke Dock, Wales27 Aug 1940 - 31 Dec 1941
No 33 (Balloon Barrage) GroupLong Benton/Sheffield (1940)
1 Mar 1939 - 4 Sep 1944
No 15 Balloon Centre, Long Benton, Forest Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tynexx xxx xxxx - xx xxx xxxx
No 16 Balloon Centre, Hemsworth, Norton, Sheffield15 Aug 1939 - pre Jun 1944
No 17 Balloon Centre, Sutton-on-Hull, Hull17 May 1939 - 15 Oct 1942
No 34 (Balloon Barrage) GroupEdinburgh
1 Jul 1940 - 4 Sep 1944
No 18 Balloon Centre, Bishopbridge, Glasgowxx Aug 1939 - xx xxx xxxx
No 19 Balloon Centre, Rosyth, Fife21 Oct 1939 - 6 May 1940
No 18 Balloon Centre, Lyness, Orkney2 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 xxxxxx 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 - LondonderryA & 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 xxxxxx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxx
4 Flts of 8 Balloons - Runcorn/BirkenheadReformed 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/Manchester40 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/Harwich10 Waterborne (Aug 1940)
929 xx Jan 1939 - xx xxx xxxx 3 Flts of 8 Balloons - South Queensferry7 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 xxxx3 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 Tyne4 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 Tyne40 (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 Hull42 (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 Hull32 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 xxxxxx 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 - Renfrew48 Balloons in Aug 1940
947 (City of Glasgow) xx Jan 1939 - pre Jun 1944xx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxx
3 Flts of 8 Balloons - Glasgow32 Balloons in Aug 1940
Reformed in 22 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
This was formed at No 4 Balloon Centre, Chigwell on 2 Oct 1939 from four flights (16 Balloons) drawn from the London barrage for service in Orkney under the 'Q' Plan to provide protection of the anchorage at Scapa Flow and the oil terminal at Lyness. Initially administered by HQ Balloon Command it was transferred to No 33 Group when it moved to Ore on Hoy Island, Orkney.
Rosyth 24 Balloons in Aug 1940. It disbanded before December 1943
949 xx Oct 1949 - xx xxx xxxxxx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxx
Crewe32 Balloons in Aug 1940
Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
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 - Kirkwall32 Balloons in Aug 1940
951 xx xxx xxxx - pre Dec 1943 40 Balloons in Aug 1940Bristol until 19 Jun 1944 (Norwich) and then Anti-'Diver' duties
952 xx Nov 1939 Sheerness40 (32 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940
953 39 (7 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 19401943/44 - Cardiff, Anti-'Diver' duties from Jun 1944
954 1943/44 - Cobham 955 1943/44 - Weston-super-Mare 956 Colnbrook24 Balloons in Aug 1940
957 xx Jul 1940 - xx xxx xxxx Yeovil24 Balloons in Aug 1940
958xx Jul 1940 - xx xxx xxxx
xx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxx
Swansea25 (3 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940
Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
959 27 Aug 1940 - xx xxx xxxx Falmouth24 (8 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940
960 xx Feb 1940 - pre Dec 1943xx xxx 1944 - xx xxx xxxx
Lyness, Orkney, 1944 - Canterbury24 (16 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940
961 xx Jul 1940 - xx xxx xxxx Dover8 Waterborne (Aug 1940)
962 xx Sep 1940 - pre Dec 1943 Milford Haven24 (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 1940Torpoint, 1944 - Plymouth
965 xx Jul 1940 - pre Dec 1943xx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxx
Port Talbot16 Balloons in Aug 1940
Reformed in 23 Balloon Centre for Anti-'Diver' duties
966 xx Sep 1940 - xx xxx xxxxxx 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 Ardrossan48 Balloons in Aug 1940
968 xx xxx xxxx - pre Dec 1943Belfast
16 (8 Waterborne) Balloons in Aug 1940
969 xx Jul 1940 - pre Dec 1943xx Jun 1944 - xx xxx xxxx
Barry16 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 TAFOfficers of No 978 Squadron - December 1941. photo courtesy Ross Boardman (whose Great Uncle Arthur du Heaume is on back row, far right)
979 1944 - 3rd TAF 980 xx xxx xxxx - 6 Jun 1945980 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 Wing1944 - 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 - PaigntonRetroSearch is an open source project built by @garambo | Open a GitHub Issue
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