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WWII Barrage Balloon Sites

P

Phil Bonner

Guest
:) I am researching the Birmingham Barrage Balloon Squadrons, formed in 1939 and manned by the local population as part of the Auxiliary Air Force.  For the North Birmingham Barrage there were 3 Squadrons, 911, 912 & 913, under No 5 Balloon Centre at Sutton Coldfield.  For the South Barrage, the 3 Squadrons were 914, 915 & 916 Sqn, under No 6 Balloon Centre at RAF Wythall.  They were all called up in August 1939.   No history of their existence has been recorded, and I hope to put this right by writing up a record for all to  have access to. 
  Looking through the Squadron Operational records, there is no reference to where a balloon site was.  There is only a reference to a site number, eg 914 Sqn site No 15, sometimes abbreviated to 14/15.  By 1942 there were 150 balloon sites in Birmingham.   If anyone knows the location of any of the sites, I would be grateful for any information, or reminiscences.
      Phil Bonner
 
Phil, Nice to see you are intrested in keeping the memory of the forgotten men alive
RAF Balloon Barrage unit was stationed at Ridgeacre Rd Quinton 1940, another was opposite the corner of Swinford rd and Stonehouse Hill which was a site in 1941. In March 1939 a big barrage balloon demonstration was held at Aston Park.
 
I can recall walking down Park Rd ASTON towards the Parish Church & seeing a Barrage Balloon in what later became the cricket field in ASTON PARK. Some time In later years I remember playing on a very large area of concret with big  bent over metal hooked bars around the edges, This must have been were the Balloon had been held down.

ASTON
 
The Oaklands Soho road Handsworth opposite Booth street there used to be a large grassed area this was known as the Oaklands the balloon used to be inside the entrance on the right hand site the concrete moorings were there for years
 
:) Thanks for the replies.  I believe I might have a site number for the Ridgeacre Rd site, possibly 915 Sqn.  The photo of the balloon demonstration in Aston Park is a real gem.  I believe the demonstration was put on by personnel from 905 Sqn, from No 2 Balloon Centre at Hook Surrey.  The London Balloon Squadrons had been formed about 12 months earlier.  Representatives from the Birmingham Squadrons were present to recruit new members.   It would be great to find a site where the concrete stowage block is still in the ground.   
 
Phil,
There must have been a unit some where in Witton,
as I can remember one breaking loose and trailing wires over the roofs of houses,
and also one being struck by lightning and bursting into flames
 
Phil, If you haven't already tried it Google Barrage Balloons there's a lot of links to sites ,some with a reference to Birmingham

Colin
 
Yes Dennis the one in Witton was at the back of the allotments on Brookvale Road, on the Erdington side of the canal. Brian says there was also an anti aircraft gun.
 
Di I think the Anti Aircraft Gun may have been on the GEC Magnet Club Grounds, as Iremember my Dad telling me about the GEC have in a Gun based on site, Can any one confirm?
ASTON
 
:)  Concerning the Balloon site in Witton, would that have been in Brookvale Park?  Does anyone know if there was also a site in Witton Park as well?
     I had a letter from a former WAAF who was based on a site in Witton, and she spoke of collecting water from a lake, but that description could fit both Witton & Brookvale Parks.
    Thanks for the replies.  Have made good use of Google search & the Balloon Barrage Reunion Club, but right now I'm dependent on local knowledge for the actual balloon sites.
 
Phil,
Dunno ifthis is any good, it's taken from the main Handsworth site "Defending Handsworth" and shows a balloon in Handsworth that I believe is in addition to the one mention by John H.
 
Phil I have one or two photo of the barrage Balloons which I was not going to post, but as you are intrested I will scan them and post them in a day or two,where they were taken is anyones guess as it even says on one the height they can go to is top secret (I suppose it was then)
 
Hi Phill, the Balloon in Witton was on the allotment which runs along from the canal towards Marsh Hill, and my husband is certain there was a gun, which was guarded by the royal artillery, and there were Italian prisoners of war who loaded the gun. His dad kept a pig about 150yards away.

At one point the balloon was relocated to Witton Lakes, and never returned to the allotments.
 
Oisin, Thanks for that contact from the Handsworth site, another one for the list.

 Cromwell, I look forward to seeing the photos.  Everything was classified in those days, which is possibly one reason why the site locations weren't always given in the Squadron Operational Records.  The records for the Squadrons were kept classified up until the 1970s.  Incidentally, each balloon was given a serial number, similar to the way aircraft have a serial number.  In the records, the balloons at particular sites are often mentioned by their serial number.  So, if the balloons in the photos have a serial number there is an outside chance they can be referenced to a site.
 
Di.Poppitt   Thanks for the clarification on the Witton site, the 2 locations looked too close to each other to be separate sites. Do you know when the site was relocated?
    I am using the Allday's Map Of Birmingham printed in 1938 to plot out the sites, as that was the map 914 & 915 Squadrons used to reference their sites.  Amazing how the City has changed.
 
Phil
Have a look at the shadow by the chap on the left,I am sure it is a balloon transporter, cab and the two large blocks of concrete
 
Hi Phill, sorry Brian can't tell me the date the ballon relocated to Witton Lakes. But he does think that it was due to the flight path of the German bombers.
 
Di.Poppitt   Thanks for the feedback from Brian.  The site belonged to either 911 or 913 Sqn.  The next time I get access to their records I'll look out for references to a site relocation, which might enable me to put a site number to the location.

Cromwell.  I am intrigued by the last photo of the WAAFs making the balloon.  It looks too small to be an LZ (Low Zone) barrage balloon, so I'll do some checking up.

     Thanks for the replies
               Phil
:)
 
THERE WAS A BARRAGE BALLOON SITE ON THE GROUNDS OF THE THEN NAMED" SALTLEY SECONDARY SCHOOL" IN BELCHERS LANE BETWEEN BORDESLEY GREEN EAST ("THE BROADWAY" ) PUB AND ALUM ROCK ("THE PELHAM") PUB, THE BALLON CAME DOWN ONE AFTERNOON IN THE EARLY PART OF THE WAR AND DAMAGED A NUMBER OF HOUSE ROOFS IN CALDWELL ROAD WERE I LIVED. GEFF
 
Thanks Geff.  Can you remember which year, and approximately which month?  Were there any huts on the site?
 
Phil how many of these did we have, do you know ? Mobile's so they could be moved around from place to place to be used on a street corner, factory yard etc.
 
Hi Phil, found this on the web.



No. 31 (BALLLON BARRAGE) GROUP, BIRMINGHAM.

(Air Commodore J. C. Quinnell)



No. 5 Balloon Centre, Sutton Coldfield.

911 48 balloons West Bromwich

913 40 balloons Sutton Coldfield

962 24 balloons Milford Haven

(9 waterborne)



No. 6 Balloon Centre, Wythall Near Alvechurch, Birmingham.

914 40 balloons Northfield

915 40 balloons Rowkeath

916 32 balloons Coventry

917 24 ballons Coventry
 
brummie nick. Thanks for searching the web about the Squadrons. I had come across that page. It gives the balloon states for August 1940, by which time 912 Sqn had been sent to France & evacuated in the May. On return to England they did not return to Birmingham, which is why they did not feature in the list. I believe 962 was formed after the start of the war from elements of the Birmingham Squadrons, which is why it is probably shown as coming under No 5 BC. The place Rowkeath for 915 Sqn really confused me, I couldn't find it anywhere. In fact it was the Bourneville Lido at ROWHEATH! No 31 (Barrage Balloon) Group controlled all the Balloon Centres in Liverpool and Derby as well as Birmingham. It was based at Forhill House near Hopwood, not far from RAF Wythall. In November 1941 following reorganisation in Balloon Command, 31 (BB) Group disbanded and the Birmingham Squadrons came under 32 (BB) Group. Forhill House was a pretty impressive mansion, so I was not surprised to find out that 914 Sqn took it over as their Squadron HQ. Still standing, it has just been converted into private flats, so I could not get a photo of it.
The list of the Squadrons you found was compiled by Len Bacon from Hull. He has researched No 17 Balloon Centre in Hull, and the 2 Balloon Squadrons based there. My project is a bit grander, with 2 Balloon Centres, & 7 Squadrons. As I no longer live in Birmingham, I would just like to say how much I appreciate all the help you are providing.
 
cromwell. Nice picture of the mobile site. To date I have not come across any reference in the Squadron records to such a set up. There is reference to a mobile unit being formed from elements of the Birmingham Squadrons, but that got sent to East Anglia, and like the reference to the 'Rover site', I got the impression it was a normal balloon set up which was just packed up and moved around. One of the Squadrons does talk about a 'Rover site', but it just seemed to move to normal static sites. I will investigate further. Thanks for the prompt.
 
The name of Forhill House,came up in some research I did regarding Borstal Institutes,By the location it must be the same one


Colin
 
Colin B. That's correct. After the war I believe it was handed over by the Trustees of the House (which I believe was the Bourneville Trust) for use as Borstal Institute. It is relatively isolated, and had its own estate, so I asume was suitable. Not so sure if the Company that did the conversion into the apartments mentioned that fact in the sales brochure. You wouldn't by chance have a photograph of the house would you?
 
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