In 1938, land between the current Thomas Tallis school and Kidbrooke railway station was the location of the RAF No. 1 Balloon Centre. During WW2 it flew barrage balloons to defend targets from German bombing.
RAF Balloon Command had twenty Centres that flew thousands of balloons in the British Isles and abroad. No1 Centre was the first to come into operation, with its Squadrons 901, 902 and 903. Personnel and support were needed for round the clock operation in all weathers.
It was a dangerous home-front service. Around 50, of the Balloon Command's 500 servicemen and women who lost their lives, died serving in this Centre.
Along the path to placing memorials at the site, its historic importance was recognised by the grant of a Heritage Award of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Described here are the creation of the Centre, its facilities, record books and its post-war use. This book gives insight into life at the Centre. More detail, across national WW2 balloon use, is available in the numerous articles posted on www.bbrclub.org.
Peter Sydenham
10 January 2024
