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.infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox" style="width:25.5em;border-spacing:2px;"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;font-size:110%;">Balloon Command</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image" style="text-align:center;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa;line-height:1.5em;"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:RAFBallooncommand.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f3/RAFBallooncommand.png/220px-RAFBallooncommand.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="278" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f3/RAFBallooncommand.png 1.5x" data-file-width="246" data-file-height="311" /></a></span><div class="infobox-caption"><a href="/wiki/Heraldic_badges_of_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Force">Balloon Command badge</a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em;">Active</th><td class="infobox-data">1 November 1938–February 1945</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em;">Country</th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/35px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/46px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">United Kingdom</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em;">Branch</th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Air_Force_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/23px-Air_Force_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Air_Force_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/35px-Air_Force_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Air_Force_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/46px-Air_Force_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1440" data-file-height="720" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force" title="Royal Air Force">Royal Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em;">Motto(s)</th><td class="infobox-data"><i>Vi Et Ictu</i> <br /> (<a href="/wiki/Latin_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Latin language">Latin</a>: <i lang="la">By Force and Impact</i>).<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em;">Engagements</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Military unit</div> <p><b>Balloon Command</b> was the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force" title="Royal Air Force">Royal Air Force</a> <a href="/wiki/Command_(military_formation)" title="Command (military formation)">command</a> which was responsible for controlling all the United Kingdom-based <a href="/wiki/Barrage_balloon" title="Barrage balloon">barrage balloon</a> units during the <a href="/wiki/Second_World_War" class="mw-redirect" title="Second World War">Second World War</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=RAF_Balloon_Command&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>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 <a href="/wiki/John_Hearson" title="John Hearson">John Hearson</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Balloon Command was formed on 1 November 1938 at <a href="/wiki/RAF_Stanmore_Park" title="RAF Stanmore Park">RAF Stanmore Park</a> in <a href="/wiki/Middlesex" title="Middlesex">Middlesex</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-air_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-air-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It consisted of a <a href="/wiki/Headquarters" title="Headquarters">headquarters</a> and several <a href="/wiki/Group_(air_force)" class="mw-redirect" title="Group (air force)">groups</a>. Balloon Command was disbanded on 5th February 1945.<sup id="cite_ref-air_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-air-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Commanders">Commanders</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=RAF_Balloon_Command&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Commanders"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The following officers were in command:<sup id="cite_ref-air_3-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-air-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li>1 November 1938 <a href="/wiki/Air_Vice-Marshal" class="mw-redirect" title="Air Vice-Marshal">Air Vice-Marshal</a> <a href="/wiki/Owen_Tudor_Boyd" title="Owen Tudor Boyd">Owen Tudor Boyd</a></li> <li>1 December 1940 <a href="/wiki/Air_Marshal" class="mw-redirect" title="Air Marshal">Air Marshal</a> <a href="/wiki/Leslie_Gossage" title="Leslie Gossage">Sir Leslie Gossage</a></li> <li>1 February 1944 Air Vice-Marshal <a href="/wiki/William_Gell_(RAF_officer)" title="William Gell (RAF officer)">W C C Gell</a></li> <li>13 February 1945 <a href="/wiki/Air_Commodore" class="mw-redirect" title="Air Commodore">Air Commodore</a> <a href="/wiki/Philip_Lincoln" title="Philip Lincoln">P L Lincoln</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Pre-war_organization">Pre-war organization</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=RAF_Balloon_Command&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Pre-war organization"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Before the second world war the command had one group - No. 30 (Balloon) Group at four stations: </p> <dl><dt>No. 1 Balloon Centre at Kidbrooke</dt></dl> <ul><li>No. 901 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron <a href="/wiki/Royal_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Royal Auxiliary Air Force">Auxiliary Air Force</a></li> <li>No. 902 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron <a href="/wiki/Royal_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Royal Auxiliary Air Force">Auxiliary Air Force</a></li> <li>No. 903 (County of London) (Balloon) Squadron <a href="/wiki/Royal_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Royal Auxiliary Air Force">Auxiliary Air Force</a></li></ul> <dl><dt>No. 2 Balloon Centre at Hook</dt></dl> <ul><li>No. 904 (County of Surrey) (Balloon) Squadron <a href="/wiki/Royal_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Royal Auxiliary Air Force">Auxiliary Air Force</a></li> <li>No. 905 (County of Surrey) (Balloon) Squadron <a href="/wiki/Royal_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Royal Auxiliary Air Force">Auxiliary Air Force</a></li></ul> <dl><dt>No. 3 Balloon Centre at Stanmore</dt></dl> <ul><li>No. 906 (County of Middlesex) (Balloon) Squadron <a href="/wiki/Royal_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Royal Auxiliary Air Force">Auxiliary Air Force</a></li> <li>No. 907 (County of Middlesex) (Balloon) Squadron <a href="/wiki/Royal_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Royal Auxiliary Air Force">Auxiliary Air Force</a></li></ul> <dl><dt>No. 4 Balloon Centre at Chigwell</dt></dl> <ul><li>No. 908 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron <a href="/wiki/Royal_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Royal Auxiliary Air Force">Auxiliary Air Force</a></li> <li>No. 909 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron <a href="/wiki/Royal_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Royal Auxiliary Air Force">Auxiliary Air Force</a></li> <li>No. 910 (County of Essex) (Balloon) Squadron <a href="/wiki/Royal_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Royal Auxiliary Air Force">Auxiliary Air Force</a></li></ul> <p>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. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Second_world_war_organization">Second world war organization</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=RAF_Balloon_Command&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Second world war organization"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Barrage_Balloon_Organisations_of_the_Royal_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Barrage Balloon Organisations of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force">Barrage Balloon Organisations of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force</a></div> <p>During World War II, the command had the following organization: </p> <ul><li>Headquarters at Old Church Lane, <a href="/wiki/Stanmore" title="Stanmore">Stanmore</a> in <a href="/wiki/Middlesex" title="Middlesex">Middlesex</a>. This in turn directly controlled: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/RAF_Cardington" class="mw-redirect" title="RAF Cardington">RAF Cardington</a></li> <li>RAF Chessington</li></ul></li></ul> <p>The command consisted of five <a href="/wiki/Group_(air_force)" class="mw-redirect" title="Group (air force)">groups</a><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> which were in turn subdivided into balloon centres (equivalent to <a href="/wiki/Wing_(military_aviation_unit)" class="mw-redirect" title="Wing (military aviation unit)">wings</a> of heavier-than-air aircraft). The organization was as follows: </p> <ul><li>No. 30 Group headquartered at <a href="/wiki/Chessington" title="Chessington">Chessington</a>, near <a href="/wiki/Surbiton" title="Surbiton">Surbiton</a>, <a href="/wiki/Surrey" title="Surrey">Surrey</a> (1 November 1938 to 7 January 1945) <ul><li>No. 1 Balloon Centre</li> <li>No. 2 Balloon Centre</li> <li>No. 3 Balloon Centre</li> <li>No. 4 Balloon Centre</li> <li>No. 12 Balloon Centre</li></ul></li> <li>No. 31 Group (1 April 1939 to 13 November 1941), Birmingham</li> <li>No. 32 Group headquartered at <a href="/wiki/Claverton_Manor" class="mw-redirect" title="Claverton Manor">Claverton Manor</a>, <a href="/wiki/Claverton,_Somerset" title="Claverton, Somerset">Claverton</a>, near <a href="/wiki/Bath,_Somerset" title="Bath, Somerset">Bath, Somerset</a> (1 March 1939 to 15 November 1944) <ul><li>No. 6 Balloon Centre (earlier in 33 Group)</li> <li>No. 11 Balloon Centre</li> <li>No. 13 Balloon Centre</li> <li>No. 14 Balloon Centre</li></ul></li> <li>No. 33 Group headquartered at <a href="/wiki/Parkhead_Hall" title="Parkhead Hall">Parkhead House</a>, Abbey Lane, <a href="/wiki/Sheffield" title="Sheffield">Sheffield</a>, <a href="/wiki/Yorkshire" title="Yorkshire">Yorkshire</a> (1 March 1939 to 4 September 1944) <ul><li>No. 5 Balloon Centre</li> <li>No. 6 Balloon Centre (later in 32 Group)</li> <li>No. 8 Balloon Centre</li> <li>No. 9 Balloon Centre</li> <li>No. 10 Balloon Centre</li> <li>No. 15 Balloon Centre (earlier in 34 Group)</li> <li>No. 16 Balloon Centre</li> <li>No. 17 Balloon Centre</li></ul></li> <li>No. 34 Group headquartered at Tor House, Corstorphine Road, <a href="/wiki/Edinburgh" title="Edinburgh">Edinburgh</a> (7 April 1940 to 19 July 1943) <ul><li>No. 15 Balloon Centre (later in 33 Group)</li> <li>No. 18 Balloon Centre</li></ul></li></ul> <p>The dates indicated give the periods for which each group existed as part of Balloon Command. No. 30 and 31 groups also existed in World War I as part of different formations. </p><p>The balloon centres in turn consisted of balloon <a href="/wiki/Squadron_(aviation)" title="Squadron (aviation)">squadrons</a> which were numbered from 900 to 994. </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Barrage_ballons.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="WAAF Barrage Balloon crews at RAF Cardington."><img alt="WAAF Barrage Balloon crews at RAF Cardington." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Barrage_ballons.jpg/120px-Barrage_ballons.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="109" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Barrage_ballons.jpg/180px-Barrage_ballons.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Barrage_ballons.jpg/240px-Barrage_ballons.jpg 2x" data-file-width="550" data-file-height="501" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Women%27s_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Women's Auxiliary Air Force">WAAF</a> Barrage Balloon crews at <a href="/wiki/RAF_Cardington" class="mw-redirect" title="RAF Cardington">RAF Cardington</a>.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:RAF_Sussex_balloon_winch_tender.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Restored Fordson Sussex Balloon Winch Tender"><img alt="Restored Fordson Sussex Balloon Winch Tender" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/RAF_Sussex_balloon_winch_tender.JPG/120px-RAF_Sussex_balloon_winch_tender.JPG" decoding="async" width="120" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/RAF_Sussex_balloon_winch_tender.JPG/180px-RAF_Sussex_balloon_winch_tender.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/RAF_Sussex_balloon_winch_tender.JPG/240px-RAF_Sussex_balloon_winch_tender.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2848" data-file-height="2136" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Restored Fordson Sussex Balloon Winch Tender</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Fordson_Sussex_ballon_Winch_tender_rear_view.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Rear view of Fordson Sussex on display at the RAF Museum Hendon."><img alt="Rear view of Fordson Sussex on display at the RAF Museum Hendon." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Fordson_Sussex_ballon_Winch_tender_rear_view.JPG/90px-Fordson_Sussex_ballon_Winch_tender_rear_view.JPG" decoding="async" width="90" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Fordson_Sussex_ballon_Winch_tender_rear_view.JPG/135px-Fordson_Sussex_ballon_Winch_tender_rear_view.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Fordson_Sussex_ballon_Winch_tender_rear_view.JPG/180px-Fordson_Sussex_ballon_Winch_tender_rear_view.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2136" data-file-height="2848" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Rear view of Fordson Sussex on display at the RAF Museum Hendon.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Barrage_balloons_over_London_during_World_War_II.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Balloons over London."><img alt="Balloons over London." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Barrage_balloons_over_London_during_World_War_II.jpg/120px-Barrage_balloons_over_London_during_World_War_II.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="75" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Barrage_balloons_over_London_during_World_War_II.jpg/180px-Barrage_balloons_over_London_during_World_War_II.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Barrage_balloons_over_London_during_World_War_II.jpg/240px-Barrage_balloons_over_London_during_World_War_II.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1212" data-file-height="754" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"> Balloons over London.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Cardington_Shed_BW.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="RAF Cardington near Bedford was home to a large Balloon Command unit."><img alt="RAF Cardington near Bedford was home to a large Balloon Command unit." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Cardington_Shed_BW.jpg/120px-Cardington_Shed_BW.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="76" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Cardington_Shed_BW.jpg/180px-Cardington_Shed_BW.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Cardington_Shed_BW.jpg/240px-Cardington_Shed_BW.jpg 2x" data-file-width="640" data-file-height="407" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">RAF Cardington near Bedford was home to a large Balloon Command unit.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Balloon_Command,_1939-1945._CH8330.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Dodge Type 'H' LHD cradle carrier, loaded with gas bottles."><img alt="Dodge Type 'H' LHD cradle carrier, loaded with gas bottles." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Royal_Air_Force_Balloon_Command%2C_1939-1945._CH8330.jpg/120px-Royal_Air_Force_Balloon_Command%2C_1939-1945._CH8330.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="91" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Royal_Air_Force_Balloon_Command%2C_1939-1945._CH8330.jpg/180px-Royal_Air_Force_Balloon_Command%2C_1939-1945._CH8330.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Royal_Air_Force_Balloon_Command%2C_1939-1945._CH8330.jpg/240px-Royal_Air_Force_Balloon_Command%2C_1939-1945._CH8330.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="604" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Dodge Type 'H' LHD cradle carrier, loaded with gas bottles.</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=RAF_Balloon_Command&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Royal Auxiliary Air Force">Royal Auxiliary Air Force</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_commands" title="List of Royal Air Force commands">List of Royal Air Force commands</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=RAF_Balloon_Command&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFPine1983" class="citation book cs1">Pine, L. G. (1983). <i>A Dictionary of mottoes</i>. London: Routledge & K. Paul. p. 250. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7100-9339-X" title="Special:BookSources/0-7100-9339-X"><bdi>0-7100-9339-X</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=A+Dictionary+of+mottoes&rft.place=London&rft.pages=250&rft.pub=Routledge+%26+K.+Paul&rft.date=1983&rft.isbn=0-7100-9339-X&rft.aulast=Pine&rft.aufirst=L.+G.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ARAF+Balloon+Command" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100328153100/http://www.rafweb.org/Grp04.htm">"No. 4 Group"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.rafweb.org/Grp04.htm">the original</a> on 28 March 2010.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=No.+4+Group&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rafweb.org%2FGrp04.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ARAF+Balloon+Command" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-air-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-air_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-air_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-air_3-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.rafweb.org/Cmd_H3.htm">Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - RAF Home Commands formed between 1936 and 1938</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20020109165945/http://www.rafweb.org/Cmd_H3.htm">Archived</a> 9 January 2002 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.rafweb.org/Grp04.htm">Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Groups 30 - 48</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100328153100/http://www.rafweb.org/Grp04.htm">Archived</a> 28 March 2010 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=RAF_Balloon_Command&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.bbrclub.org/development_of_balloon_command.htm">Balloon Barrage Reunion Club Website - Development of Balloon Command</a></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist 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.navbox-title{background-color:#ddf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-abovebelow{background-color:#e6e6ff}.mw-parser-output .navbox-even{background-color:#f7f7f7}.mw-parser-output .navbox-odd{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ul,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ul{padding:0.125em 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbar{display:block;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title .navbar{float:left;text-align:left;margin-right:0.5em}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .navbox-image img{max-width:none!important}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .navbox{display:none!important}}</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Air_Defence_of_Great_Britain_during_the_Second_World_War" style=";wide;padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:WW2AirDefenceUK" title="Template:WW2AirDefenceUK"><abbr title="View this template" style="color:inherit">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:WW2AirDefenceUK" title="Template talk:WW2AirDefenceUK"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style="color:inherit">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:WW2AirDefenceUK" title="Special:EditPage/Template:WW2AirDefenceUK"><abbr title="Edit this template" style="color:inherit">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Air_Defence_of_Great_Britain_during_the_Second_World_War" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Air_Defence_of_Great_Britain" title="Air Defence of Great Britain">Air Defence of Great Britain</a> during the <a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">Second World War</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Overview</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force" title="Royal Air Force">Royal Air Force</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Air_Force" title="Royal Canadian Air Force">Royal Canadian Air Force</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Strategic_bombing" title="Strategic bombing">Strategic bombing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Night_fighter" title="Night fighter">Night fighter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Big_Wing" title="Big Wing">Big Wing formation</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">People</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;;wide"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force" title="Royal Air Force">RAF</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hugh_Dowding" title="Hugh Dowding">Hugh Dowding</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Charles_Portal,_1st_Viscount_Portal_of_Hungerford" title="Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford">Charles Portal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cyril_Newall,_1st_Baron_Newall" title="Cyril Newall, 1st Baron Newall">Cyril Newall</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trafford_Leigh-Mallory" title="Trafford Leigh-Mallory">Trafford Leigh-Mallory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Keith_Park" title="Keith Park">Keith Park</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sholto_Douglas,_1st_Baron_Douglas_of_Kirtleside" title="Sholto Douglas, 1st Baron Douglas of Kirtleside">Sholto Douglas</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/British_Army" title="British Army">Army</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Frederick_Alfred_Pile" title="Frederick Alfred Pile">Frederick Pile</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;font-weight:normal;">Scientists</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Reginald_Victor_Jones" title="Reginald Victor Jones">R. V. Jones</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Robert_Watson-Watt" title="Robert Watson-Watt">Robert Watson-Watt</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Organisation</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;;wide"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Command_(military_formation)" title="Command (military formation)">Commands</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/RAF_Fighter_Command" title="RAF Fighter Command">RAF Fighter Command</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">RAF Balloon Command</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RAF_Coastal_Command" title="RAF Coastal Command">RAF Coastal Command</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anti-Aircraft_Command" title="Anti-Aircraft Command">Anti-Aircraft Command</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RAF_Bomber_Command" title="RAF Bomber Command">RAF Bomber Command</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Group_(military_unit)" title="Group (military unit)">Groups</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/No._9_Group_RAF" title="No. 9 Group RAF">No. 9 Group RAF</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/No._10_Group_RAF" title="No. 10 Group RAF">No. 10 Group RAF</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/No._11_Group_RAF" title="No. 11 Group RAF">No. 11 Group RAF</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/No._12_Group_RAF" title="No. 12 Group RAF">No. 12 Group RAF</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/No._13_Group_RAF" title="No. 13 Group RAF">No. 13 Group RAF</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/No._14_Group_RAF" title="No. 14 Group RAF">No. 14 Group RAF</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Army_Corps" class="mw-redirect" title="Army Corps">AA Corps</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/I_Anti-Aircraft_Corps_(United_Kingdom)" title="I Anti-Aircraft Corps (United Kingdom)">I AA Corps</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/II_Anti-Aircraft_Corps_(United_Kingdom)" title="II Anti-Aircraft Corps (United Kingdom)">II AA Corps</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/III_Anti-Aircraft_Corps_(United_Kingdom)" title="III Anti-Aircraft Corps (United Kingdom)">III AA Corps</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Division_(military)" title="Division (military)">AA Divisions</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1st_Anti-Aircraft_Division_(United_Kingdom)" title="1st Anti-Aircraft Division (United Kingdom)">1 AA Division</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2nd_Anti-Aircraft_Division_(United_Kingdom)" title="2nd Anti-Aircraft Division (United Kingdom)">2 AA Division</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/3rd_Anti-Aircraft_Division_(United_Kingdom)" title="3rd Anti-Aircraft Division (United Kingdom)">3 AA Division</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/4th_Anti-Aircraft_Division_(United_Kingdom)" title="4th Anti-Aircraft Division (United Kingdom)">4 AA Division</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/5th_Anti-Aircraft_Division_(United_Kingdom)" title="5th Anti-Aircraft Division (United Kingdom)">5 AA Division</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/6th_Anti-Aircraft_Division_(United_Kingdom)" title="6th Anti-Aircraft Division (United Kingdom)">6 AA Division</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/7th_Anti-Aircraft_Division_(United_Kingdom)" title="7th Anti-Aircraft Division (United Kingdom)">7 AA Division</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/8th_Anti-Aircraft_Division_(United_Kingdom)" title="8th Anti-Aircraft Division (United Kingdom)">8 AA Division</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/9th_Anti-Aircraft_Division_(United_Kingdom)" title="9th Anti-Aircraft Division (United Kingdom)">9 AA Division</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/10th_Anti-Aircraft_Division_(United_Kingdom)" title="10th Anti-Aircraft Division (United Kingdom)">10 AA Division</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/11th_Anti-Aircraft_Division_(United_Kingdom)" title="11th Anti-Aircraft Division (United Kingdom)">11 AA Division</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/12th_Anti-Aircraft_Division_(United_Kingdom)" title="12th Anti-Aircraft Division (United Kingdom)">12 AA Division</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;font-weight:normal;">Other units</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Battle_of_Britain_airfields" title="List of Battle of Britain airfields">Battle of Britain airfields</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Eagle_Squadrons" title="Eagle Squadrons">Eagle Squadrons</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Observer_Corps" title="Royal Observer Corps">Royal Observer Corps</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Women%27s_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Women's Auxiliary Air Force">Women's Auxiliary Air Force</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;"><div style="line-height:1.2em;padding:0.25em 0;">Campaigns and<br />operations</div></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Battle_of_Britain" title="Battle of Britain">Battle of Britain</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Blitz" title="The Blitz">The Blitz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Baedeker_Blitz" title="Baedeker Blitz">Baedeker raids</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Operation_Steinbock" title="Operation Steinbock">Operation <i>Steinbock</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Operation_Crossbow" title="Operation Crossbow">Operation <i>Crossbow</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Operation_Diver" title="Operation Diver">Operation <i>Diver</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Operation_Gisela" title="Operation Gisela">Operation <i>Gisela</i></a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Aircraft</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bristol_Beaufighter" title="Bristol Beaufighter">Beaufighter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Boulton_Paul_Defiant" title="Boulton Paul Defiant">Defiant</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hawker_Hurricane" title="Hawker Hurricane">Hurricane</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gloster_Meteor" title="Gloster Meteor">Meteor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/De_Havilland_Mosquito" title="De Havilland Mosquito">Mosquito</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire" title="Supermarine Spitfire">Spitfire</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hawker_Tempest" title="Hawker Tempest">Tempest</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hawker_Typhoon" title="Hawker Typhoon">Typhoon</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Technology</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Barrage_balloon" title="Barrage balloon">Barrage balloon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Battle_of_the_Beams" title="Battle of the Beams">Battle of the Beams</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_radar" title="History of radar">Radar</a> (<a href="/wiki/Chain_Home" title="Chain Home">Chain Home</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/V-weapons" title="V-weapons">German V weapons</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Related topics</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Air_Raid_Precautions" title="Air Raid Precautions">Air Raid Precautions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Template:RAF_WWII_Strategic_Bombing" class="mw-redirect" title="Template:RAF WWII Strategic Bombing">RAF strategic bombing offensive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Forces" title="United States Army Air Forces">United States Army Air Forces</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Royal_Air_Force" style=";wide;padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Royal_Air_Force" title="Template:Royal Air Force"><abbr title="View this template" style="color:inherit">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Royal_Air_Force" title="Template talk:Royal Air Force"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style="color:inherit">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Royal_Air_Force" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Royal Air Force"><abbr title="Edit this template" style="color:inherit">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Royal_Air_Force" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force" title="Royal Air Force">Royal Air Force</a></div></th></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;"><div><a href="/wiki/Ministry_of_Defence_(United_Kingdom)" title="Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)">Ministry of Defence</a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">formations<br />and units</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;;wide"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">units</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_commands" title="List of Royal Air Force commands">Commands</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_groups" title="List of Royal Air Force groups">Groups</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_wings_of_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="List of wings of the Royal Air Force">Wings</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_aircraft_squadrons" title="List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons">Squadrons</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_aircraft_independent_flights" title="List of Royal Air Force aircraft independent flights">Flights</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_conversion_units_of_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="List of conversion units of the Royal Air Force">Conversion units</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_Operational_Training_Units" title="List of Royal Air Force Operational Training Units">Operational Training units</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_schools" title="List of Royal Air Force schools">Schools / Training units</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_ferry_units_of_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="List of ferry units of the Royal Air Force">Ferry units</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_Glider_units" title="List of Royal Air Force Glider units">Glider units</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_units_%26_establishments" title="List of Royal Air Force units & establishments">Misc units</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">stations</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_stations" title="List of Royal Air Force stations">Active</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_former_Royal_Air_Force_stations" title="List of former Royal Air Force stations">Former</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_Satellite_Landing_Grounds" title="List of Royal Air Force Satellite Landing Grounds">Satellite Landing Grounds</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Regiment</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_RAF_Regiment_units" title="List of RAF Regiment units">Wings</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_RAF_Regiment_units" title="List of RAF Regiment units">Squadrons</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_RAF_Regiment_units" title="List of RAF Regiment units">Flights</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">branches and<br />components</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Air_Force_Board" title="Air Force Board">Air Force Board</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RAF_Regiment" title="RAF Regiment">RAF Regiment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Chaplains_Branch" title="Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch">RAF Chaplains Branch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RAF_Intelligence" title="RAF Intelligence">RAF Intelligence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RAF_Legal_Branch" title="RAF Legal Branch">RAF Legal Branch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RAF_Medical_Services" title="RAF Medical Services">RAF Medical Services</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Princess_Mary%27s_Royal_Air_Force_Nursing_Service" title="Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service">Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Service</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Police" title="Royal Air Force Police">RAF Police</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_ground_trades" title="List of Royal Air Force ground trades">RAF ground trades</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Music_Services" title="Royal Air Force Music Services">RAF Music Services</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RAF_Search_and_Rescue_Force" title="RAF Search and Rescue Force">RAF Search and Rescue Force</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Mountain_Rescue_Service" title="Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service">RAF Mountain Rescue Service</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Marine_Branch" title="Royal Air Force Marine Branch">RAF Marine Branch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Air_Cadets" title="Royal Air Force Air Cadets">RAF Air Cadets</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_operations" title="List of Royal Air Force operations">Operations</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">reserve forces</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Royal Auxiliary Air Force">Royal Auxiliary Air Force</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Volunteer_Reserve" title="Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve">RAF Volunteer Reserve</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">equipment</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_aircraft_of_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force">List of RAF aircraft</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_active_United_Kingdom_military_aircraft" title="List of active United Kingdom military aircraft">current</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Future_of_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="Future of the Royal Air Force">future</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_missiles_of_the_RAF" title="List of missiles of the RAF">List of RAF missiles</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_equipment_of_the_RAF_Regiment" title="List of equipment of the RAF Regiment">List of equipment of the RAF Regiment</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">personnel</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/RAF_officer_ranks" title="RAF officer ranks">Officer ranks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RAF_other_ranks" title="RAF other ranks">Other ranks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_personnel" title="List of Royal Air Force personnel">List of notable personnel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_serving_senior_officers_of_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="List of serving senior officers of the Royal Air Force">List of serving senior officers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Personnel_numbers_in_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="Personnel numbers in the Royal Air Force">Personnel numbers</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">appointments</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(United_Kingdom)" title="Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)">Chief of Air Staff</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Assistant_Chief_of_the_Air_Staff" title="Assistant Chief of the Air Staff">Assistant Chief of the Air Staff</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Air_Member_for_Personnel" title="Air Member for Personnel">Air Member for Personnel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Air_Secretary" title="Air Secretary">Air Secretary</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Air_Member_for_Materiel" title="Air Member for Materiel">Air Member for Materiel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commandant-General_of_the_RAF_Regiment" title="Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment">Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Warrant_Officer_of_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force">Warrant Officer of the RAF</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">symbols and uniform</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Ensign" title="Royal Air Force Ensign">Ensign</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Badge_of_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="Badge of the Royal Air Force">Badge</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_roundels" title="Royal Air Force roundels">Roundels</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uniforms_of_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="Uniforms of the Royal Air Force">Uniform</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Heraldic_badges_of_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Force">Heraldic badges</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">associated civil<br />organisations</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Air_Training_Corps" title="Air Training Corps">Air Training Corps</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Combined_Cadet_Force" title="Combined Cadet Force">Combined Cadet Force (RAF section)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Forces_Association" title="Royal Air Forces Association">RAF Association</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RAF_Centre_of_Aviation_Medicine" title="RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine">RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RAF_Benevolent_Fund" title="RAF Benevolent Fund">RAF Benevolent Fund</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Football_Association" title="Royal Air Force Football Association">RAF Football Association</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Museum" title="Royal Air Force Museum">RAF Museum</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;"><div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="History of the Royal Air Force">history</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="Timeline of the Royal Air Force">timeline</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Future_of_the_Royal_Air_Force" title="Future of the Royal Air Force">future</a></li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Commons page"><img alt="" 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