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Anti-Aircraft Command

February 16, 2024

Anti-Aircraft Command (AA Command, or "Ack-Ack Command") was a British Army command of the Second World War that controlled the Territorial Army anti-aircraft artillery and searchlight formations and units defending the United Kingdom.

Anti-Aircraft Command
Active1 April 1939 – 10 March 1955
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeCommand
RoleGround Based Air Defence
Garrison/HQBentley Priory
EngagementsBattle of Britain
The Blitz
Baedeker Raids
Baby Blitz
Operation Diver
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Lt-Gen Alan Brooke
Lt-Gen Sir Frederick Pile

Origin edit

 
Sir Frederick Pile, GOCinC, AA Command, during the Second World War

The formation of a Command-level body of anti-aircraft defences had been announced in 1938, but Anti-Aircraft Command was not formed until 1 April 1939 under General Sir Alan Brooke, who had been commander of Anti-Aircraft Corps. He then passed control to Sir Frederick Pile, who remained in command until the end of the war.[1][2][3]

AA Command was under the operational direction of RAF Fighter Command as part of Air Defence of Great Britain, and occupied a headquarters known as Glenthorn in the grounds of Bentley Priory, home of Fighter Command.[1][4]

The majority of AA Command's guns and searchlights were operated by Territorial Army units. Some Regular Army units joined after they returned from the Dunkirk evacuation. Later, as the war progressed, Regulars and TA were freed up for overseas service by the use of men of the Home Guard (loading and firing the guns) and women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (handling ammunition and operating gun directors).[1][5]

Organisation edit

Divisional edit

 
Maj-Gen Robert Whittaler, GOC 1st AA Division 1940–42, MGGS at AA Command HQ 1942–44.

Divisions under the command were:[2][5][6][7][8]

AA Command was also responsible for the Orkney and Shetland Defences (OSDEF).

Corps edit

At the end of 1940, the Command created three Corps to supervise this expanding organisation:[2][5][7][9]

Groups edit

In October 1942, the corps and divisions were abolished and replaced by seven flexible AA Groups more closely aligned with the operational structure of Fighter Command:[2][5][13]

(1st and 2nd AA Groups coincided with No. 11 Group RAF)

Later events edit

 
ATS 'Ack-Ack Girls' memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum. The badges depicted are those of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, Royal Artillery and AA Command.

Later, the 6th AA Group took over the Solent area to cover the preparations for Operation Overlord and was replaced in NE England by a new 8th Anti-Aircraft Group.[2][14]

A new 9th Anti-Aircraft Group was formed to cover southern East Anglia during the flying bomb offensive (Operation Diver).[2][15]

On 1 April 1943, AA Command took over control of smoke screens from the Ministry of Home Security. These installations were manned by the Pioneer Corps.

In November 1944, the 3rd, 4th and 7th Anti-Aircraft Groups were disbanded, with the areas covered by the 2nd and 5th Anti-Aircraft Groups extended.[2]

Postwar edit

When the TA was reformed after the Second World War in 1947, AA Command was generously provided for, with a large number of units, some of them including members of the Women's Royal Army Corps (successors of the ATS). It was structured in five regional AA Groups, each commanding a number of TA and Regular AA Brigades:[16][17][18]

On 1 December 1954, it was announced that AA Command would be disbanded with effect from 10 March 1955.[19][20]

Senior staff edit

The following officers held senior posts in AA Command:[2][21]

General Officers Commanding-in-Chief edit

Major-General, General Staff edit

 
Senior Controller Christian Fraser-Tytler, DDATS at AA Command HQ from 1943.
  • Major-General Thomas Newton (8 May 1939 – 31 December 1941)[29]
  • Major-General Robert Whittaker (1 January 1942 – 21 February 1944[30]
  • Major-General Frank Lejeune (22 February 1944 – 22 May 1944)[31]
  • Major-General Stephen Lamplugh (19 June 1944 – 24 June 1945)[32]

Brigadier, General Staff edit

  • Brigadier B. P. Hughes (1 October 1942 – 1943)[33]
  • Brigadier Stephen Lamplugh (25 June 1945 – 30 July 1946)
  • Brigadier Geoffrey Thompson (1 July 1946 – 31 December 1946)

Chief of Staff edit

  • Brigadier Geoffrey Thompson (1 January 1947 – April 1948)[34]

Deputy Director, Auxiliary Territorial Service edit

  • Controller V. P. Farrow (12 May 1942 – 14 October 1942)
  • Controller The Hon. Lady M. Lawrence (15 October 1942 – 27 June 1943)
  • Senior Controller Christian Fraser-Tytler (28 June 1943 – 1944/45)

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c Routledge, Chapter 26.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Robert Palmer, 'A Concise History of Anti-Aircraft Command (History & Personnel)' at British Military History.
  3. ^ Farndale, p. 5.
  4. ^ Wykeham
  5. ^ a b c d Sir Frederick Pile's despatch.
  6. ^ AA Command Orbat 3 September 1939 at Patriot Files
  7. ^ a b "RA 39–45 UK 1940". Ra39-45.co.uk.
  8. ^ Farndale, Annex D.
  9. ^ Routledge, Chapter 28.
  10. ^ "RA 39–45 1 AA Corps". Ra39-45.co.uk.
  11. ^ "RA 39–45 2 AA Corps". Ra39-45.co.uk.
  12. ^ "RA 39–45 3 AA Corps". Ra39-45.co.uk.
  13. ^ Routledge, Chapter 29.
  14. ^ Routledge, p. 409.
  15. ^ Routledge, p. 417.
  16. ^ Litchfield, pp. 332–5.
  17. ^ Routledge, p. 430.
  18. ^ Watson, TA 1947.
  19. ^ Routledge, p. 439.
  20. ^ Beckett, p. 178.
  21. ^ Farndale, Annex J.
  22. ^ Brooke at Generals of World War II
  23. ^ Pile at Generals of World War II
  24. ^ Green at Generals of World War II
  25. ^ Lund at Generals of World War II
  26. ^ Thomas at Generals of World War II
  27. ^ Loewen at Generals of World War II
  28. ^ Chilton at Generals of World War II
  29. ^ Newton at Generals of World War II
  30. ^ Whittaker at Generals of World War II
  31. ^ Lejeune at Generals of World War II
  32. ^ Lamplugh at Generals of World War II
  33. ^ Hughes at Generals of World War II
  34. ^ Thompson at Generals of World War II

References edit

  • I. F. W. Beckett, Territorials: A Century of Service, TA100, 2008.
  • Gen Sir Martin Farndale, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: The Years of Defeat: Europe and North Africa, 1939–1941, Woolwich: Royal Artillery Institution, 1988/London: Brasseys, 1996, ISBN 1-85753-080-2.
  • Norman E. H. Litchfield, The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988 (Their Lineage, Uniforms and Badges), Nottingham: Sherwood Press, 1992, ISBN 0-9508205-2-0.
  • Sir Frederick Pile's despatch: 'The Anti-Aircraft Defence of the United Kingdom from 28 July 1939, to 15 April 1945' London Gazette 18 December 1947.
  • Brig N. W. Routledge, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Anti-Aircraft Artillery 1914–55, London: Royal Artillery Institution/Brassey's, 1994, ISBN 1-85753-099-3.
  • Peter Wykeham, Fighter Command: A Study of Air Defence, 1914–1960, accessed 30 May 2008.

External links edit

  • British Military History
  • Generals of World War II
  • Orders of Battle at Patriot Files
  • Royal Artillery 1939–1945
  • Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth
  • Graham Watson, The Territorial Army 1947

February 16, 2024
anti, aircraft, command, command, command, british, army, command, second, world, that, controlled, territorial, army, anti, aircraft, artillery, searchlight, formations, units, defending, united, kingdom, active1, april, 1939, march, 1955country, united, king. Anti Aircraft Command AA Command or Ack Ack Command was a British Army command of the Second World War that controlled the Territorial Army anti aircraft artillery and searchlight formations and units defending the United Kingdom Anti Aircraft CommandActive1 April 1939 10 March 1955Country United KingdomBranchBritish ArmyTypeCommandRoleGround Based Air DefenceGarrison HQBentley PrioryEngagementsBattle of BritainThe BlitzBaedeker RaidsBaby BlitzOperation DiverCommandersNotablecommandersLt Gen Alan BrookeLt Gen Sir Frederick Pile Contents 1 Origin 2 Organisation 2 1 Divisional 2 2 Corps 2 3 Groups 3 Later events 4 Postwar 5 Senior staff 5 1 General Officers Commanding in Chief 5 2 Major General General Staff 5 3 Brigadier General Staff 5 4 Chief of Staff 5 5 Deputy Director Auxiliary Territorial Service 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksOrigin edit nbsp Sir Frederick Pile GOCinC AA Command during the Second World WarThe formation of a Command level body of anti aircraft defences had been announced in 1938 but Anti Aircraft Command was not formed until 1 April 1939 under General Sir Alan Brooke who had been commander of Anti Aircraft Corps He then passed control to Sir Frederick Pile who remained in command until the end of the war 1 2 3 AA Command was under the operational direction of RAF Fighter Command as part of Air Defence of Great Britain and occupied a headquarters known as Glenthorn in the grounds of Bentley Priory home of Fighter Command 1 4 The majority of AA Command s guns and searchlights were operated by Territorial Army units Some Regular Army units joined after they returned from the Dunkirk evacuation Later as the war progressed Regulars and TA were freed up for overseas service by the use of men of the Home Guard loading and firing the guns and women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service handling ammunition and operating gun directors 1 5 Organisation editDivisional edit nbsp Maj Gen Robert Whittaler GOC 1st AA Division 1940 42 MGGS at AA Command HQ 1942 44 Divisions under the command were 2 5 6 7 8 1st Anti Aircraft Division Existing division at start of the war headquartered in Uxbridge 2nd Anti Aircraft Division Existing division at the start of the war headquartered at RAF Hucknall Nottinghamshire 3rd Anti Aircraft Division Existing division at the start of the war headquartered in Edinburgh 4th Anti Aircraft Division Existing division at the start of the war headquartered in Chester 5th Anti Aircraft Division Existing division at the start of the war headquartered in Reading 6th Anti Aircraft Division Existing division at the start of the war headquartered in Uxbridge 7th Anti Aircraft Division Existing division at the start of the war headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne 8th Anti Aircraft Division Formed November 1940 covering South West England headquartered in Bristol 9th Anti Aircraft Division Formed November 1940 covering South Wales headquartered in Cardiff 10th Anti Aircraft Division Formed November 1940 covering Yorkshire and the Humber Estuary 11th Anti Aircraft Division Formed November 1940 covering the West and Central Midlands 12th Anti Aircraft Division Formed November 1940 covering southwestern Scotland AA Command was also responsible for the Orkney and Shetland Defences OSDEF Corps edit At the end of 1940 the Command created three Corps to supervise this expanding organisation 2 5 7 9 I Anti Aircraft Corps covering the South 1 5 6 8 and 9 AA Divisions corresponding with 10 and 11 Groups RAF 10 II Anti Aircraft Corps covering the Midlands 2 4 10 and 11 AA Divisions corresponding with 9 and 12 Groups RAF 11 III Anti Aircraft Corps covering the North 3 7 and 12 AA Divisions and OSDEF corresponding with 13 and 14 Groups RAF 12 Groups edit In October 1942 the corps and divisions were abolished and replaced by seven flexible AA Groups more closely aligned with the operational structure of Fighter Command 2 5 13 1st Anti Aircraft Group covering London 2nd Anti Aircraft Group covering the Solent South East England and southern East Anglia 1st and 2nd AA Groups coincided with No 11 Group RAF 3rd Anti Aircraft Group covering South West England and South Wales coinciding with No 10 Group RAF 4th Anti Aircraft Group covering North Wales and North West England coinciding with No 9 Group RAF 5th Anti Aircraft Group covering northern East Anglia and the East Coast as far as Scarborough North Yorkshire coinciding with No 12 Group RAF 6th Anti Aircraft Group covering North East England and Scotland coinciding with No 13 Group RAF except Northern Ireland and No 14 Group RAF 7th Anti Aircraft Group covering Northern Ireland the Orkney and Shetland Defences remained separateLater events edit nbsp ATS Ack Ack Girls memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum The badges depicted are those of the Auxiliary Territorial Service Royal Artillery and AA Command Later the 6th AA Group took over the Solent area to cover the preparations for Operation Overlord and was replaced in NE England by a new 8th Anti Aircraft Group 2 14 A new 9th Anti Aircraft Group was formed to cover southern East Anglia during the flying bomb offensive Operation Diver 2 15 On 1 April 1943 AA Command took over control of smoke screens from the Ministry of Home Security These installations were manned by the Pioneer Corps In November 1944 the 3rd 4th and 7th Anti Aircraft Groups were disbanded with the areas covered by the 2nd and 5th Anti Aircraft Groups extended 2 Postwar editWhen the TA was reformed after the Second World War in 1947 AA Command was generously provided for with a large number of units some of them including members of the Women s Royal Army Corps successors of the ATS It was structured in five regional AA Groups each commanding a number of TA and Regular AA Brigades 16 17 18 1st AA Group London 2nd AA Group Aldershot 3rd AA Group Edinburgh 4th AA Group Warrington 5th AA Group NottinghamOn 1 December 1954 it was announced that AA Command would be disbanded with effect from 10 March 1955 19 20 Senior staff editThe following officers held senior posts in AA Command 2 21 General Officers Commanding in Chief edit Lieutenant General Alan Brooke 1 April 28 July 1939 GOC AA Corps 15 July 1938 31 March 1939 22 Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Pile 12 October 1939 14 April 1945 23 Lieutenant General Sir William Green 15 April 1945 30 April 1946 24 Lieutenant General Otto Lund 1 May 1946 May 1948 25 Lieutenant General Sir Ivor Thomas May 1948 27 May 1950 26 Lieutenant General Charles Loewen 28 May 1950 16 April 1953 27 Lieutenant General Sir Maurice Chilton 17 April 1953 15 May 1955 28 Major General General Staff edit nbsp Senior Controller Christian Fraser Tytler DDATS at AA Command HQ from 1943 Major General Thomas Newton 8 May 1939 31 December 1941 29 Major General Robert Whittaker 1 January 1942 21 February 1944 30 Major General Frank Lejeune 22 February 1944 22 May 1944 31 Major General Stephen Lamplugh 19 June 1944 24 June 1945 32 Brigadier General Staff edit Brigadier B P Hughes 1 October 1942 1943 33 Brigadier Stephen Lamplugh 25 June 1945 30 July 1946 Brigadier Geoffrey Thompson 1 July 1946 31 December 1946 Chief of Staff edit Brigadier Geoffrey Thompson 1 January 1947 April 1948 34 Deputy Director Auxiliary Territorial Service edit Controller V P Farrow 12 May 1942 14 October 1942 Controller The Hon Lady M Lawrence 15 October 1942 27 June 1943 Senior Controller Christian Fraser Tytler 28 June 1943 1944 45 See also editBalloon Command Bomber Command Fighter Command 7th Air Defence Group current successor organisation to AA Command Army Air Defense Command United States successive US organizations named Army Antiaircraft Command 1950 1957Notes edit a b c Routledge Chapter 26 a b c d e f g h Robert Palmer A Concise History of Anti Aircraft Command History amp Personnel at British Military History Farndale p 5 Wykeham a b c d Sir Frederick Pile s despatch AA Command Orbat 3 September 1939 at Patriot Files a b RA 39 45 UK 1940 Ra39 45 co uk Farndale Annex D Routledge Chapter 28 RA 39 45 1 AA Corps Ra39 45 co uk RA 39 45 2 AA Corps Ra39 45 co uk RA 39 45 3 AA Corps Ra39 45 co uk Routledge Chapter 29 Routledge p 409 Routledge p 417 Litchfield pp 332 5 Routledge p 430 Watson TA 1947 Routledge p 439 Beckett p 178 Farndale Annex J Brooke at Generals of World War II Pile at Generals of World War II Green at Generals of World War II Lund at Generals of World War II Thomas at Generals of World War II Loewen at Generals of World War II Chilton at Generals of World War II Newton at Generals of World War II Whittaker at Generals of World War II Lejeune at Generals of World War II Lamplugh at Generals of World War II Hughes at Generals of World War II Thompson at Generals of World War IIReferences editI F W Beckett Territorials A Century of Service TA100 2008 Gen Sir Martin Farndale History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery The Years of Defeat Europe and North Africa 1939 1941 Woolwich Royal Artillery Institution 1988 London Brasseys 1996 ISBN 1 85753 080 2 Norman E H Litchfield The Territorial Artillery 1908 1988 Their Lineage Uniforms and Badges Nottingham Sherwood Press 1992 ISBN 0 9508205 2 0 Sir Frederick Pile s despatch The Anti Aircraft Defence of the United Kingdom from 28 July 1939 to 15 April 1945 London Gazette 18 December 1947 Brig N W Routledge History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery Anti Aircraft Artillery 1914 55 London Royal Artillery Institution Brassey s 1994 ISBN 1 85753 099 3 Peter Wykeham Fighter Command A Study of Air Defence 1914 1960 accessed 30 May 2008 External links editBritish Military History Generals of World War II Orders of Battle at Patriot Files Royal Artillery 1939 1945 Regiments org Land Forces of Britain the Empire and Commonwealth Graham Watson The Territorial Army 1947 Portals nbsp United Kingdom nbsp Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Anti Aircraft Command amp oldid 1206159110, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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