North Queensferry Barrage Balloons – 12

The arrival of the WAAF

 
When plans for the Barrage Balloon system were formulate pre-war, it was intended to be manned by members of the Auxiliary Air Force – the factory, bank, local government and office workers who trained at weekends. However, inadequate preparation time and unexpected expansion of activities meant that a large number of regular airmen, especially NCOs, were pinned down to balloon crew activity.

The emergence of Volunteer Reserves who chose to join the RAF without compulsory call-up alleviated some of the pressure. Early in 1941, the Secretary of State for Air suggested that WAAF (Womens’ Auxiliary Air Force) personnel might take over the entire balloon flying operation.

The matter was investigated and after a set of volunteer fabric workers had been trained and tested on balloon handling tasks under adverse weather conditions, the scene was set for the gradual take-over of a large proportion of the nation’s balloon barrage defences.

10,000 airmen were removed from balloon sites to be replaced by 15,700 WAAF balloon operators.