Balloon Command was the Royal Air Force command which was responsible for controlling all the United Kingdom-based barrage balloon units during the Second World War. History Prior to the establishment of Balloon Command, a balloon group was brought into being in 1937. This smaller formation was known as No. 30 (Balloon Barrage) Group and was commanded by Air Commodore John Hearson. Balloon Command itself 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. Commanders The following officers were in command: 1 November 1938 Air Vice-Marshal Owen Tudor 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 Pre-war organization Before the second world war the command had one group - No. 30 (Balloon) Group at four stations: No. 1 Balloon Centre at Kidbrooke No. 901 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force No. 902 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force No. 903 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force No. 2 Balloon Centre at Hook No. 904 (County of Surrey) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force No. 905 (County of Surrey) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force No. 3 Balloon Centre at Stanmore No. 906 (County of Middlesex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force No. 907 (County of Middlesex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force No. 4 Balloon Centre at Chigwell No. 908 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force No. 909 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force No. 910 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force Important: All Balloon Squadrons numbered 901 to 947 were formed within the Auxiliary Air Force (AAF) prior to the outbreak of war in September 1939, thereafter, the remainder numbered 948 to 999 were RAF Squadrons. Second world war organization During World War II, the command had the following organization: Headquarters at Old Church Lane, Stanmore in Middlesex. This in turn directly controlled: RAF Cardington RAF Chessington The command consisted of five groups which were in turn subdivided into balloon centres (equivalent to wings of heavier-than-air aircraft). The organization was as follows: No. 30 Group headquartered at Chessington, near Surbiton, Surrey (1 November 1938 to 7 January 1945) No. 1 Balloon Centre No. 2 Balloon Centre No. 3 Balloon Centre No. 4 Balloon Centre No. 12