Crashed in sea, 8th May, 1941 Balloon Command motto: VI ET ICTU The balloon sheds were also used to host the Titchfield Carnival Dance where the carnival queen was chosen. Unknown 2, March There were more serious incidents too related to the balloons under Titchfields command. balloons caused 25 hostile crashes with 1 hostile aircraft being forced to land. Southampton III. The 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion served for almost 150 days in France following the invasion. Another visitor was the late Dennis Noble, the well-known singer, who appeared one evening as the guest artist with the nearby Park Gate Choir. The barrage balloons were stationed all over anywhere they thought there'd be bombing to stop the planes. One of the Confederates most-used balloons was eventually captured. 8 For more information on the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, please read Forgotten by Linda Hervieux. He only had a service number of just three figures. Norman Gardiner helped in delivering the gas cylinders for these balloons. I believe that the only remaining part of RAF Titchfield could be the Officers Mess and a hangar area. 13 There were also accounts of weekend courses being held at the base for local air cadets. Barrage balloons were large, unmanned tethered balloons whose cables created a hazard for aircraft, forcing them to fly higher and reducing the effectiveness of strafing and bombing, according to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. -, July While dive-bombing was a devastatingly effective tactic against undefended targets, such as Guernica and Rotterdam, dive-bombers were very vulnerable to attack by fighter aircraft when pulling up after having completed a bombing dive. 1, 278 is the effectiveness of barrage balloons as a potential threat to enemy Individual balloons would form a barrage as a collective and could be flown as high as 5,000 feet. Earlier in the same year, there was a notice in the Portsmouth Evening News that the Sergeants Mess at RAF Titchfield would not be responsible for any debts incurred by those other than creditors who had written authority to deal with the Commanding Officer. design shown to be more effective than the unarmed cable design. It was to get even worse for him. 2, March It was eventually decided that the Air Service would be placed in charge of developing barrage balloon technology, but the Coast Artillery Corps would actually operate the balloons. Runcorn Crashed and burnt out. Bristol London 1, October As a result, members of the WAAF would be needed to take over the operation. They provided critical protection to the ships and soldiers below them from attacks by enemy aircraft, and continue to provide us a glimpse into the U.S. militarys use of balloon technology. Floating barrage balloons over a specific area prevented enemy aircraft from flying close enough to target the area from directly overhead with bombs or strafing fire. . 1, May Uncertain, 5th Jan., 1941 I remember the trouble that always occurred at the dances that were held there; an explosive mix of alcohol and young people during a vicious war. What The 1350 (Fareham & District) Squadron, Air Training Corps have a hut on Farm Road. Aside from the Hydrogen Pool there were other areas on the base including: Whilst I dont know what the exact male to female split was at RAF Titchfield, its very possible that the women outnumbered the men at some points. 2 The British balloon-bomb plan happened by accident. General Porter was close to General George B. McClellan. Gardiner said that the hydrogen gas convoys would sometimes be the only motor traffic aside from military vehicles on the streets in those days. Amanda Holpuch is a general assignment reporter. 1 Barrow The crash resulted in 4 fatalities: Lieutenant Richard Heriot Mackay Heriot-Hill, Pilot Officer Michael Fortnum, Leading Airman Michael McLoughlin and Air Mechanic Louis Moorhead. [2] History 60,000 to 70,000 Per Year + 60,000 - 70,000, GDPR Consent: Do Not Sell My Personal Information or Change Consent, BFBS, Chalfont Grove, Narcot Lane, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, SL9 8TN It was in 1938 that Balloon Command was set up with the job of creating a barrage of huge balloons aimed at protecting our towns and cities, and key targets such as industrial areas, ports and harbours. If an enemy aircraft was determined to attack, the balloons forced them to fly at higher altitudes (to fly over the balloons) making them more susceptible to larger caliber anti-aircraft gunfire. A barrage balloon is a type of airborne barrage, a large uncrewed tethered balloon used to defend ground targets against aircraft attack, by raising aloft steel cables which pose to hostile aircraft a severe risk of collision, making the attacker's approach difficult and hazardous. Unknown During this period, the men and women of the Titchfield base were required to operate and deploy tethered hydrogen filled barrage balloons over strategic locations along the Hampshire coastline. This simple mission provided three major benefits: (1) it forced aircraft to higher altitudes, thereby decreasing surprise and bombing accuracy; (2) it enhanced ground-based air defenses and the. of Harwich Floating above most of the ships, stretching into the distance, are silver oval shaped balloons. Gurdier said he had stomach pains during the night, and they were so bad that he got dressed and cycled towards sick quarters. London and gave them increased speed and fuel to try to outrun the. Some Afghans said that the balloons were an intrusion into their private lives and a sign of American oppression, while others complained they did not do enough to fend off violent threats. Barrage balloons helped to defend cities, ports and industrial areas (Picture: Barretts via PA). Crashed and burnt out. Birmingham Proceeded, 14th Jan., 1942 Barrage balloons were primarily placed on the edge of an area which needed defending. However, there were obvious disadvantages to any barrage as the balloons also provided an obvious bomb aiming aid to the enemy, by highlighting the very areas they were meant to defend. The barrage balloons were necessary; even though It was not always the Germans that they threatened. [5], Barrage balloons were partly filled with highly pure hydrogen. It was important to have the barrage balloons airborne before night, when it was expected that most enemy aerial attacks would come. Hydrogen-filled balloons were crucial during World War I to help direct artillery fire, spot troop movements and note enemy positions like depots and trenches. They were on average about 62 feet long and 25 feet in diameter and were sent up to heights of 5,000 feet to force bombers to fly higher. Practical experience was gained at Southampton before going to an operational Barrage balloon site at Yeovil; Somerset to protect the Westland Aircraft factory. As a documenter, Read More Marchwood Inclosures Concrete Base or PlinthContinue. So NARA 342-FH-3A16622-3A16622. RM2JRFJAN - The Home Front in Britain 1939-1945 A barrage balloon of Balloon Command attached to a winching lorry and anchored to the ground near Biggin Hill, Kent. American surveillance balloons equipped with infrared and color video cameras, known as aerostats, were a constant presence in Afghanistan during the war. If you enjoyed this, you might also like reading some other local history accounts I have produced: The site of the WW2 Ashley Walk bombing range covers more than 5,000 acres in a northwest area of the New Forest. Billingham There were 37 officers and 648 enlisted men at Camp Tyson. RAF Titchfield was the Balloon Command Centre for Southampton and Portsmouth and housed many Womens Auxiliary Air Force personnel (WAAFs). Just after midnight he heard a noise outside and saw Gurdier, who was moaning. One tip quickly picked up was to not fly balloons in winds in excess of 35 miles per hour, as this could quickly result in a lost balloon more about those later though. Ege, L. "Balloons and Airships", Blandford (1973). She was to become Corporal Jennie Gauntlett Hill in the Motor Transport Division of the WAAF, spending considerable time at Titchfield. Entertainers would visit the station from time to time. This had also happened to me, I felt terrible. Heinkel III Barrage balloons are not practical against high-altitude aircraft. After the Dieppe Raid failure, he recalls seeing some of the cylinders recovered, bombs having split their iron casing from end to end. Whatever its intended use, the balloon offers a reminder of how for more than a century, governments have used balloons for surveillance and observation, most often during times of war. Updated on Jul 23, 2022 1 minute read SUMMARY For World War I pilots, the most terrifying song that relates to their experience may not be Seven Nation Army but 99 Luftballoons, because going against barrage and observation balloons in the Great War was terrifying. Crashed, Collisions between friendly Bristol 6, 82 In the fifth, there is much activity. Successful experiments in 1941 proved that women were capable of handling barrage balloons, despite initial doubts, and in 1942 approval was given for 1,246 sites to be staffed by WAAF crews, and 853 by RAF crews. Balloon Command operated the UK's barrage balloon defences during the Second World War. 115 Crashed, 12th March, 1941 many aircraft were brought down by barrage balloons in WWII is shown above. friendly aircraft in the air over Britain per day was much. Proceeded 13th Sept., 1940 Roberta Blevins November 17, 2022 DIY Advertisement Barrage balloons were first used in London during the First World War, as a means of defending the city against Zeppelin attacks. around and below it lay something worth bombing. Struck two cables, 31st July, 1942 Hull aircraft who hit a cable crashed. Proceeded, 4th May, 1941 3, April 1, October The leading edges of the V-1's wings were fitted with Kuto cable cutters, and fewer than 300 V-1s are known to have been brought down by barrage balloons. Large numbers of barrage balloons were located across the south-eastern approaches to London to combat the growing threat from V-1 flying bombs launched from Pas de . [4], In January 1945, during Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm raids on the Palembang oil refineries, the British aircrews were surprised by the massive use of barrage balloons in the Japanese defences. An aircraft caught in a cable could be slowed down enough to stall or have a wing torn off. The unit was headed by Air Vice Marshall OT Boydwith the title of Air Officer Commanding. Military Vehicles World War 2 Jan 11, 2017 Nikola Budanovic, Guest Author US Marine Corps barrage balloon, Parris Island, May 1942 Sometimes a relatively simple solution is the best one. Crashed, 14th May, 1943 Crashed, 22nd Feb., 1941 Many of the balloons were shot up and destroyed before they could even be brought off the ships, and the soldiers of the 320th did what they could to survive. 2021 to 2023 New Forest & Hampshire Wartime Association, The Ashley Walk Bombing Range Observation Shelter, RAF Beaulieus Battle Headquarters: Bunker Remains Found, The New Forests Secret Underground Army & Hidden Bunkers, Lepe ROC Post (Stone Point): Memories of a ROC Observer in the Lepe Beach Bunker, Marchwood Inclosures Concrete Base or Plinth, The Day the Hindenburg Flew over Southampton & Portsmouth, A History of Beaulieu Airfield in the Second World War (video), Gerhard Zucker and his Lymington Rocket Launch to the Isle of Wight, Buccaneer Prototype (XK490) Crash at Busketts Lawn, October 1959, Armoury in charge of which were two WAAFs, Norman Gardiner and the Hampshire Magazine, Titchfield Spirit: Village Voices 1914 to 1964 (you can, https://www.solentsky.org/post/the-balloon-goes-up, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1081602X.2021.1944895, https://hampshirearchivesandlocalstudies.wordpress.com/2020/05/08/this-is-your-victory-film-and-photographic-exhibition/, https://www.forces.net/news/aviation-history/barrage-balloons-what-were-raf-squadrons-which-defended-wwii-britain, https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/09/a8962509.shtm, https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/202861. During the war 310 friendly aircraft hit balloon. striking two cables, 11th March, 1941 They also learned how to attach and arm a small explosive charge to the cable that anchored the balloons to the ground. Inquiries made elicited information that the Air Ministry intend shortly to carry out certain important work and that it is proposed to make a concrete road. There are many stories of barrage balloons coming astray in the local area, with cables wrapping round chimneys and other projecting parts of buildings as far away as the Isle of Wight. From November 1944 to April 1945, Japan launched around 9,000 balloons carrying bombs to travel more than 6,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean to the United States, according to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. February of 1953 was a scandalous time at RAF Titchfield. On Utah beach, the men of the 320th did not face as much of a maelstrom as on Omaha, but lost their balloons nonetheless. Unknown 5 Balloons proved to be of little use against the German high-level bombers with which the dive-bombers were replaced, but continued to be manufactured nonetheless, until there were almost 3,000 in 1944. In Europe, Americans used untethered blimps called K-Ships for observation and in a few cases for attacks. Prior to the war, the village was best-known for the historic abbey, where its said Shakespeare stayed and even wrote some of his works. Charity Registered in England No. Enemy soldiers took a few unsuccessful shots at him, but the general and his balloon eventually floated back over to the Union side. A4551383 Contributed on: 26 July 2005 This story was submitted to the People,s War site by Wendy Young and has been added on behalf of Dorothy Brannan with her permission she fully understands the. Forced The balloons issued to these troops were known as very low altitude (VLA) balloons, which were about 35 feet in length and operated below 2,000 feet. was so unknown, equally if a pilot saw a balloon barrage he could assume that 6 1, August World War II was the catalyst for many . Barrage balloons first saw wide use in 1938, the objective being the protection of cities and key Allied targets like ports and factories. The only people to die in an attack on the continental United States during World War II were six people who encountered a Japanese balloon bomb, known as a Fu-Go, during a picnic in Oregon in May 1945. cables Crashed in Estuary, 9th Nov., 1940 Marie, Mich., to protect Soo canal against possible air raids" [photo caption], "Barrage Balloons for Low-Level Air Defense", "#VEDay75: How thousands of gas-filled balloons helped defend the UK from enemy attack", "WWII Liberation of Europe - Into Nazi Germany", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barrage_balloon&oldid=1165130090, This page was last edited on 13 July 2023, at 05:21. The Portsmouth Evening News reported the following: Hangars used for storing barrage balloons at No. This webinar is appropriate for grades K-12. It took 30 full bottles of hydrogen to fill one balloon so you can imagine what a continuous task this would have been between Titchfield and Poole during World War 2. 16th Oct., 1940 The By the end of 1942, however, what was needed most was new recruits; this is where the story of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion begins. Expeditionary HQ deploys to nuclear bunker in Iceland, RAF Atlas flies non-stop for 22 hours in its longest-ever flight, George Russell swaps F1 seat for 'experience of a lifetime' in a Typhoon fighter jet, NHS at 75: The mutually beneficial relationship between health service and Armed Forces, Two killed in explosions on Crimea's Kerch Bridge, Russia says, RAF 'ready to fly and fight' Russia and Moscow 'will lose', head of service says. 7 I've read accounts that the balloons were taken down on some beaches as they were used by German artillery observers as easy to spot target markers. Sheffield Christmas Day at the Station was always celebrated, as indeed it was at all Royal Air Force bases. [citation needed] Lessons learned from breakaway balloons led to Operation Outward, intentional release of balloons trailing conductive cables to disrupt power supplies on the occupied European mainland. A child had broken the glass on a fire alarm. They were used to lift heavy loads, to transport troops and supplies, and to drop bombs on enemy targets. Protecting the Beaches with Balloons: D-Day and the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion. badly and were able to carry on flying. were never going to reach their primary target. Sadd, F. Russell; "Eyes for the Artillery". It had served as a vital part of countrys air defences during the Second World War, with over 450 personnel dying on active service. Unknown Unknown Canterbury The rope snapped. Throughout those opening weeks of the invasion, the 320th continued its mission to ensure that balloons were raised over the landing beaches, especially at night, to continue to protect ships bringing the critical soldiers, materials, and supplies needed for Allied success. And of course, as with any RAF base, both then and in the modern era, there would be occasional trouble. . Image of cow and pillbox taken at Taddiford Gap in Hampshire by Mel Port. Coventry A handful men have just completed building large pulverizing unit. -, June These smaller balloons would be flown from the stern of ships in the Channel convoys and were said to be a deterrent against machine gunning by low flying enemy aircraft. The heavy mooring cable would separate at the balloon and fall to the ground under a parachute; at the same time a panel would be ripped away from the balloon causing it to deflate and fall independently to the ground. So what is the deal with the Barrage Balloons? Canadian military historical records indicate that one of the more serious incidents, known as "The October Incident", caused an estimated loss of 400 tonnes of steel and 10 tonnes of ferro-alloys. What this does not, show Hull How many planes did barrage balloons bring down? But overall, operations and personnel were wound down considerably, with some building in this period being handed over for commercial and social use. Birmingham It was also to become No.23 Reserve Centre during this period. They learned how to camouflage the balloons, repair them, and generally maintain them on the battlefield. The former was triggered by the shock of an enemy bomber snagging the cable, causing that section of cable to be explosively released complete with parachutes at either end; the combined weight and drag bringing down the aircraft. Crashed, 31st March, 1941 Successful experiments in 1941 proved that women were capable of handling barrage balloons, despite initial doubts, and in 1942 approval was given for 1,246 sites to be staffed by WAAF crews, and 853 by RAF crews. Ive also been told a story by a gentleman in 2021 who recalls Southampton docks being protected by barrage balloons with the chains attached. RAF Titchfield was to become the base for the barrage balloon squadrons covering the local coastal areas: Gosport, Portsmouth, and Southampton had docks and naval bases, and Eastleigh was home to aircraft production and an airfield. Proceeded, 9th May, 1942 6 Barrage Balloon Cables this shows that barrage balloons were effective at damaging or bringing aircraft Uncertain, 15th Dec., 1940 Much of the station would remain under the control of the RAF up until 1959. The latter was intended to render the balloon safe if it broke free accidentally. The first inkling that there would be barrage balloon station created at Titchfield was heard in early 1939. Following the attack, Chief of the Coast Artillery General Joseph A. Despite hitting a cable, 172 friendly aircraft were not. I have been shot. He went on to say something about an attack and that there was somebody wandering about the camp. During the day, the balloons were lowered as Allied aircraft patrolled the skies, and the men of the 320th assisted in off-loading supplies from the never-ending stream of ships arriving at the beachhead each day. Unknown Museum educator Kelly Goodner will also walk you through how barrage balloons worked and why they were used during the war. He managed to survive the suicide attempt, but then fabricated a story about a gun wielding assailant attacking him and the base. Those logistical challenges were evidenced during the siege of Yorktown in April 1862, when Union General Fitz John Porter decided to do some surveillance using only one tether rope, instead of the three or four recommended, according to the National Park Service. As with any RAF base during the Second World War, Titchfield would host events and facilities to entertain the servicemen and women. Proceeded, 18th Nov., 1940 From left to right, PFC Arko Shaw, PFC Alvin Smith, Cpl. Over 600 men of the 320th would be part of the assault force to accomplish this task, and a majority would land on Omaha beach. As many 1,000 balloons reached German airspace, the use of planes got . The future of the RAF Titchfield site was debated hotly in the local press. 3 Off base, many local residents would billet servicemen and women from Titchfield. Focke-Wulf out. They were intended to protect everything at ground level from the terror of the time - low-flying dive-bombers. Despite hitting a cable 21 hostile aircraft were not, damaged With your help, we can continue to preserve and safeguard the worlds most comprehensive collection of artifacts representing the great achievements of flight and space exploration. -, August 20 As a result, Britain embarked on a program of, Read More The New Forests Secret Underground Army & Hidden BunkersContinue, You might already be aware of the underground bunker position that overlooks the Solent in Lepe Country Park in Hampshire, but if youre not, its, Read More Lepe ROC Post (Stone Point): Memories of a ROC Observer in the Lepe Beach BunkerContinue, This week I visited Holton Heath and Sandford to explore the two light anti-aircraft Bofors gun tower sites. Controlling the 35-foot balloons in sharp winds or bad weather could be incredibly difficult, if not dangerous, so recruits needed to know how to predict what to expect. James Shrapshire hauling a barrage balloon through a partly cleared mine field to a new site in France, 22 August 1944. 2, June Crashed I believe this was connected to a RAF competition taking place which had been won by servicemen of RAF Titchfield. They were among the early adopters of parachutes. Barrage balloons over the Normandy beaches. Heinkel III All they could do for us was bathe our wounds and tell us Titchfield was coming to collect us. Despite the overwhelming odds against them, the 320th had one balloon aloft over the eastern end of Omaha beach by 11:15 pm on the night of June 6, and would have 12 balloons aloft by dawn the next morning. 1, September There were 285 balloons found in states, including Michigan, Wyoming and Texas. As Allied infantry forces moved further inland from the original invasion beaches, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion helped keep the vital artery of supplies open to keep the soldiers fed, armed, and bandaged, and protected both the living and the dead who remained on the Normandy beaches. height, 19th Nov., 1940 "Protecting Steel Lifeline / Barrage balloon goes aloft at Sault Ste. Impacts The hydrogen pool at RAF Titchfield would also supply gas to the army to use at Stonehenge. Each battalion consisted of 1,100 men and over 50 balloons. Some examples carried small explosive charges that would be pulled up against the aircraft to ensure its destruction. In the background a number of airborne balloons are visible. As the Allied forces began to take hold of beachheads, Colonel Leon J. Reed, the commander of the 320th, struggled to find his soldiers scattered amongst the chaos, as well as any equipment that survived the initial attacks. Britain invested in them as a means of defending London and other cities from German bombing raids, while France used them to protect strategically important areas, such as railroads and aqueducts, from aerial attacks. Billingham Japan sent 9,000 balloons with bombs over the United States in World War II. TYPE OF AIRCRAFT Humber 25th March 1941 Here are some key moments in RAF Titchfields post war history. Many never did. In the Hampshire Magazine article, Gardiner further explained how Curtis found little favour amongst many of those who came under his command. Unknown In July 1940, at the start of the Battle of Britain, Balloon Command consisted of 1,466 balloons, including around 450 over London. One such WAAF at RAF Titchfield was Jennie Hill. Several of the tests in the Operation Plumbbob series were lifted to altitude using barrage balloons.[10]. Below you can see a recruitment ad that was placed in a local newspaper for the station. He was also found guilty of stealing a half bottle of gin. Proceeded, 31st Oct., 1942 Unknown Plymouth It could be very hazardous when balloons were flying. After completing training, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion boarded ships to England in preparation of the invasion of continental Europe. Some versions carried small explosive charges that would be pulled up against the aircraft to ensure its destruction. Crashed, 24th Feb., 1941 This meant daily journeys between Titchfield and Poole by convoys of sometimes six or more specially adapted vehicles. How barrage balloons were used in WW2 Barrage balloons would be tethered to the ground and then suspended into the air by heavy wire cables. Incidents such as this would cause panic at the Titchfield barrage balloon station which, among other things, necessitated journeys to and from Poole Gas Works far into the night for hydrogen to get new balloons up and flying again.