RAF Balloon Command and the V1 Flying Bomb

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Anthony Clarke, Jan 19, 2021.

  1. Anthony Clarke

    Anthony Clarke New Member

    I am researching on the V1 campaign. I am seeking information on the experiences of Men and Women who served on Balloon sites in 1944-45 during the V1 Flying Bomb campaign. I am interested in particular in the great move south to Kent of balloon squadrons and personal experiences of living and flying balloons on the sites. Any on-line links or library locations will be helpful. I have located memoirs from people who served on AA gun sites at the time and life was pretty tough for many - a question was even asked in the House of Commons.
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

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  3. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    get yourself a copy of the below about £30 very interesting and has a lot of information about the weapons

    [​IMG]
     
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  4. Anthony Clarke

    Anthony Clarke New Member

  5. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    Hi, No 942/3 Squadron was one of those redeployed south in late ‘44 to reinforce V1 countermeasures. Some context is at:

    RAF Sutton on Hull - Wikipedia

    Additional snippets on the Squadron are at:
    17 Balloon Centre - RAF Sutton on Hull : 1943 - Explosion at Paull
    including the incident when a balloon crashed on the school in Paull and the award of a DSM to Corporal Thomas Mould,

    I recall a balloon still in use in the early 1960s, supporting TA static line parachute training at the former Hedon aerodrome.
     
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2021
  6. barrageballoon

    barrageballoon Junior Member

    Yes but that was a bigger balloon than the wartime LZ balloon.
     
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  7. James Harvey

    James Harvey Senior Member

    My Nan was based Dover, in 1944 in what is now De Bradley Wharf.

    She was 901/902 Sqn Balloon Command
     
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