The Barrage Balloon destroyed 24 piloted enemy aircraft and 278 (231 confirmed) non piloted enemy 'missiles'. 91 of our own aircraft also collided with balloon cables, causing 38 of them to crash, the latter figure does not appear to be true, researchers have found the actual figure to be much higher, however, they say that the deterrent value of the balloon barrage was incalculable, they certainly represent a symbolic part of World War II to many people and were a comforting sight to many more.
this barrage balloon above Washington Terrace, North Shields
had slipped its moorings at Tynemouth Golf Course and caused roof damage to houses from its cables. Note the painted tree trunk to help people in the black-out.
One of the most remarkable escapes from a balloon 'strike' happened on Monday July 22nd 1940 over Plymouth and was made by Hauptmann Hajo Hermann, Staffelkapitan of 7/KG30 who, in trying to avoid a balloon, actually stalled on top of it, but with unbelievable luck was able to gain control of his Junkers Ju 88 again after falling off the balloon upside down.
Training in balloon handling was given at Cardington where No 1 Balloon Training Unit was formed on January 9th 1937 - Balloon Command was formed on November 1st 1938 under the auspices of Fighter Command - The Balloon Training Unit when it closed down in 1943 had trained some 10,000 RAF and WAAF operators and 12,000 operator drivers - In September 1944 Balloon Squadrons began to disband and Balloon Command as a whole stood down in February 1945.
Balloons when inflated measured 66 feet long, 30 feet high and needed 20,000 cubic feet of hydrogen per fill, the gas inlet valve was situated at the rear of the upper left stabilising fin. The three stabilising fins were inflated by air flowing in through scoops on the fins. A large valve on left side of the balloon released hydrogen automatically as it expanded in the rarefied air and a rip-line pulled out a panel at the top rear of the balloon if it became unmanageable on the ground. Manageability in the air was a different matter, at the end of September 1939 a storm tore loose many of the balloons and some 60 of them got as far as Sweden.
source: 'North East Diary 1939-45': by Roy Ripley and Brian Pears
photo: courtesy of Mrs Gwyneth Johnston