Does anyone know if 965 Squadron Balloon Barrage (UK) was stationed in Belgium in 1945? If so, where? Thanks for any assistance. Doc
Hi Doc, belated response - don't know if you ever found the info: Belgium 1944 Holland Nov 1944- June 1945 Balloon Barrage Reunion Club Website Welcome to the Balloon Barrage Reunion Club Website New Page 1
Kyt, thanks. Do you have any specific locations, either in Belgium or Holland? I am trying to locate the site of a photograph taken of members of the unit, and will need to visit towns near where they were stationed. Thanks for the assistance. Doc
I'm afraid I don't have anymore information other than that they were based at Terneuzen (spelt Ternauzern in the above site). However, the town has erected a monument to the squadron: http://www.oorlogsmonumenten.nl/mmbase/images/91138 And information on the monument can be found here: Oorlogsmonumenten (it's in Dutch so here's a Babel translation): Name Terneuzen, ' Raf-monument ' Place Boulevardboulevard boulevard 4531 EJ, Terneuzen (municipality Terneuzen), sea country Revealing 27 November 1979 Remaining information The monument has been placed along the foot path between the car park of he town hall and the boulevardboulevard boulevard at Terneuzen. Information originating from Mr Theo cutters. Information originating from the publication: Terneuzen, imagined you... of P.E. the Blaeij (1992). Description ' Raf-monument ' in Terneuzen are a gedenkplaat, bricked in in a barge base. On the gedenkplaat the emblem of the Royal air Force has been introduced. On the base a metal object has been placed. Left of the base houten a bank has been placed. The base is 1 meter 30 high and 90 centimetres broad. The text on the gedenkplaat sounds: BY ARDUA AD ASTRA NOVEMBER 1944 - MAY 1945 THIS TABLET COMMEMORATES THE STAY OR 965 SQUADRON ROYAL AIR FORCE IN THIS TOWN. The Latin rule means: ' fight to victory '. The metal object is a valve of an installation with which were blown a balloon. That vulstation has stood at the former feather port. It was not possible original use vulventiel, but there was an original drawing. Therefore the company has Philips terneuzen reduceerventiel, which seems made available a lot on vulventiel. Because the original ' valves or the barrage foresee ball remunerations ' were of rotating afsluitknoppen, on the valves door buds were ordered, so that the original external form is approached. History ' Raf-monument ' in Terneuzen remind 1945th this regiment to the stay of the British 965ste R.A.F. squadron in the city of November 1944 up to May had using cable balloons the westerschelde against air attacks protect. It was therefore sperballonnen squadron. In latter days of the battle for the mouthmouth mouth by the German Luftwaffe several air attacks and mijnenleg raid were carried out. The monument has been revealed on 27 November 1979 by wing-commander R.F.Mudge, luchtmachtattaché for United Kingdom in the Netherlands, in the company of its spouse and forty-seven genodigden. The gedenkteken was a present of the British royal air power (Royal air Force). The gedenkplaat had been bricked in initially in the gevel of the office of the provincial steam boat services, established to the foot of the quayquay quay at the present yacht-basin. Then the province governing board the feather connection terneuzen hoedekenskerke in 1972, beÃ"indigde, the office building because of dike weighting gesloopt became. The gedenkplaat remained intact and seven years of age in the magazijn of the service public work was kept. In June 1972 public work at B&W a proposal had in replace the stone, but the college entered on this not. In February 1979 public work a request to redeployment of the monument submitted again. In reply to the letter of public work the municipal authorities took over the initiative. The plate was placed in the buurt of the original spot. Private the plaquette in a base became build." As you can see, a rather imperfect translation, but I think you get the general picture.
Thanks again, Kyt. Great information! I can figure out the Dutch, so no problem. I'll have to go take a look. Greatly appreciate the help. Doc
