North Queensferry Barrage Balloons – 2

Destination Fife

 
Rumours that volunteers were sought for barrage balloon postings to unspecified destinations crystalized to reality in mid-October when a large company of volunteers were assembled at Chigwell in Essex. From there they were dispatched to various sites – in Bob’s case by train to Inverkeithing where he was one of 115 other ranks, a Flying Officer and a Flight Lieutenant who was Commanding Officer of ‘B’ Flight, 948 Squadron, RAF, with responsibility for operating nine barrage balloon sites around the North Queensferry area.

The proper war had begun with a bang in the Forth on 15th October 1939 when German planes attacked naval ships in the First Air Raid of WWII

948 squadron arrived on 25th October 1939, a mere nine days after the raid. Whether their arrival was a reaction to the raid, or un untimely planned arrival is unknown, but a barrage balloon flight had already been transferred from Glasgow to protect Edinburgh on 17th October.

The Squadron comprised 4 Flights – A, B, C & D – with responsibility for barrage balloons on the north shore of the Forth from Rosyth Dockyard to Methil. [No. 948 Balloon Squadron RAF is listed as having 24 balloons in Aug 1940.]

‘B’ Flight’s mission was to protect area round the north end of the Forth Bridge.

Within 4 days balloon beds had been constructed, winches were in place and balloons were flying at each of the nine sites. Each site was manned by a crew of a corporal and eight or nine airmen.

Late October 1939.  Preparing balloon bed at Carlingnose Quarry.
Villagers Paddy McGinty and John Picthall (on crutches) look on.

‘B’ Flight HQ Staff occupied Sycamore Bank, Ferryhills Road, North Queensferry, where a box room was set up as a telephone switchboard, and other rooms became the Orderly Room and Meeting Room. Squadron HQ was at Park Road School in Rosyth.

The nine sites were:

8 Castlandhill Road
9 Spencerfield (a)
10 Spencerfield (b)
11 Preston Crescent
12 Tilbury Quarry
13 Ferryhills Golf Club
14 Welldean
15 Carlingnose Quarry
16 Ferrybarns

Balloon flying at Site 16 (Ferrybarns)
From an RAF Christmas Card 1939.