The
Balloon barrage manned by WAAFs was in Highters Heath Lane, near the Emanuel Church.
At one time, before joining that mainly Geordie regiment the Coldstream Guards, I served as an under-officer with V Company 3rd Battalion, Northumberland Army Cadet Force, based at the
Balloon Barrage Headquarters, Benton, Newcastle for up to nine months.
I AM researching the death of my grandfather, who died in a Wellington bomber when it crashed in Bristol on April 30, 1941, after colliding with
balloon barrage cables.
The
balloon barrage was flying at its normal operational height, which was determined by the weight of cable which each balloon had to carry, and which was meant to prevent low-level bombing.
"Sadly, the
Balloon Barrage Squadrons of Birmingham were not present at those celebrations.
She confessed, to our reporter that the girls, including herself, were flabbergasted when they were put on fabric repair work with the
Balloon Barrage.
During the Second World War RAF Wythall was a
balloon barrage centre.
