2 Anti-Aircraft Division

2 AA Div

 

In December 1935 the 46 (North Midland) Division was disbanded and its headquarters was converted into 2 Anti-Aircraft Division. At first it administered all Anti-Aircraft units in Great Britain outside London and the Home Counties, which were covered by 1 Anti-Aircraft Division. The new division was first organised at York, but shortly afterwards took over 46 Division’s HQ at Normanton, Derby.

 

When the Anti-Aircraft Corps and Divisions, were disbanded and replaced in October 1942 by a new Anti-Aircraft Group structure, the Midlands and East Anglia including 2 Anti-Aircraft Division’s responsibilities were covered by the 5 Anti-Aircraft Group, headquartered at Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.

 

HQ York

 

Order of Battle 1937

 

Note that at this time Brigades were known as Anti-Aircraft Groups and Regiments as Brigades. Unless noted otherwise the Brigades are gun equipped units.

 

 

 

30 (Northumbrian) Anti-Aircraft Group – organised 1 November 1936 in Sunderland
62 (North and East Riding) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
63 (Northumbrian) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
64 (Northumbrian) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
37 (Tyne) Anti-Aircraft Battalion (Tyne Electrical Engineers), Royal Engineers – searchlights
47 (The Durham Light Infantry) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – searchlights

 

31 (North Midland) Anti-Aircraft Group – organised 1 November 1936 in Retford
66 (Leeds Rifles) (The West Yorkshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
67 (The York and Lancaster Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
43 (The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – searchlights
46 (The Lincolnshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – searchlights

 

32 (South Midland) Anti-Aircraft Group – organised 1 November 1936 at Normanton
69 (The Royal Warwickshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
40 (The Sherwood Foresters) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – searchlights
42 (The Robin Hoods, Sherwood Foresters) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – searchlights
44 (The Leicestershire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – searchlights
45 (The Royal Warwickshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – searchlights

 

33 (Western) Anti-Aircraft Group – organised at Chester
65 (The Manchester Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
38 (The King’s Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – searchlights
39 (The Lancashire Fusiliers) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – searchlights
41 (5th North Staffordshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – searchlights

 

HQ: RAF Hucknall

 

Order of Battle 1939–40

 

32 (South Midland) Anti-Aircraft Brigade – at Derby
68 (North Midland) Anti-Aircraft Regiment
42 (Robin Hoods, Sherwood Foresters) Anti-Aircraft Battalion Royal Engineers – searchlights
44 (Leicestershire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion Royal Engineers – searchlights
50 (Northamptonshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion Royal Engineers – searchlights

 

39 Anti-Aircraft Brigade – at RAF Digby
62 (Northumbrian) Anti-Aircraft Regiment
67th (York and Lancaster Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Regiment
91st Anti-Aircraft Regiment
40 (Sherwood Foresters) Anti-Aircraft Battalion Royal Engineers – searchlights
46 (Lincolnshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion Royal Engineers – searchlights

 

40 Anti-Aircraft Brigade – organised 29 September 1938 at South Ealing, London
33 (St Pancras) Anti-Aircraft Battalion Royal Engineers
36 (Middlesex) Anti-Aircraft Battalion Royal Engineers
58 (Middlesex) Anti-Aircraft Battalion Royal Engineers
9th Battalion Middlesex Regiment (60 Searchlight Regiment)
10th (3rd City of London) Battalion. Royal Fusiliers (69 Searchlight Regiment)

 

41 (London) Anti-Aircraft Brigade – organised 29 September 1938 in Chelsea, London
78 (1st East Anglian) Anti-Aircraft Regiment
32 (7th City of London) Anti-Aircraft Battalion Royal Engineers
1/6th Battalion Essex Regiment (64 Searchlight Regiment)
2/6th Battalion Essex Regiment (65 Searchlight Regiment)

 

50 Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade – organised 24 August 1939 at Hucknall, Nottinghamshire
26 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – mobile reserve

 

 

Order of Battle 1940-41

 

32 Anti-Aircraft Brigade – covering the East Midlands
78th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (part)
113th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (part) – formed Nov 40
27 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
38 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (part)
64 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (part)
41 Searchlight Regiment
44 Searchlight Regiment
58 Searchlight Regiment

 

40 AA Brigade – covering airfields
78 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (part)
30 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
36 Searchlight Regiment
64 Searchlight Regiment
72 (Middlesex) Searchlight Regiment

 

41 Anti-Aircraft Brigade – covering East Anglia
78 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (part)
29 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
60 Searchlight Regiment
65 Searchlight Regiment
69 Searchlight Regiment
121 Anti-Aircraft Z Battery – formed by May 41

 

50 Anti-Aircraft Brigade – covering Derby & Nottingham
67 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment
113 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (part)
28 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
38 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (part)
64 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (part)
42 Searchlight Regiment
38 Searchlight Regiment (part)
50 Searchlight Regiment

 

In the Spring of 1941, The 50 Anti-Aircraft Brigade was split up, keeping the Searchlight regiments while a new 66 Anti-Aircraft Brigade took the guns and rockets.

 

50th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
28 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
42 Searchlight Regiment
50 Searchlight Regiment

 

66 Anti-Aircraft Brigade
67 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment
113 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment
38 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
64 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
15 AA Z Regiment

 

Order of Battle 1942

 

32 Anti-Aircraft Brigade
136 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new regiment formed Oct 41; left Mar–Apr 42; returned Jun 42
45 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – from 41 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Aug 42; left Sep 42
64 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – to 41 Anti-Aircraft Brigade by May 42
120 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – converted from Searchlight; joined Sep 42
134 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new regiment joined Feb–Mar 42; left May–Jun 42
41 Searchlight Regiment
44 Searchlight Regiment – to 66 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Dec 41
58th Searchlight Regiment
60 Searchlight Regiment – from 41 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Jan 42; left and converted to 126 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Feb–Mar 42
65 Searchlight Regiment

 

40 Anti-Aircraft Brigade
30 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – left Dec 41
33 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – left Dec 41
96 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new regiment joined Dec 41; left by May 42
138 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new regiment joined Jun 42
36 Searchlight Regiment
64 Searchlight Regiment – to 32 Anti-Aircraft Brigade, May–Jun 42

 

41 Anti-Aircraft Brigade
78 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – left Apr 42
82 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment
106 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – from 66 Anti-Aircraft Brigade May 42; left Jul 42
128 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – joined Jul 42; left Aug 42
161 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new regiment joined Aug 42
64 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – from 32 Anti-Aircraft Brigade by May 42; left Jun 42
113 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – converted from 55 Searchlight Regiment, joined Mar–Apr 42
126 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – converted from 60 Searchlight Regiment, joined May 42
60 Searchlight Regiment – to 32 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Jan 42
69 Searchlight Regiment
72 Searchlight Regiment

 

50 Anti-Aircraft Brigade
144 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – from 66 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Aug 42
20 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – joined Aug 42
111 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – left Jul 42
139 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new regiment joined Aug 42; left Sep 42
42 Searchlight Regiment
50 Searchlight Regiment – left May–Jun 42
15 Anti-Aircraft Z Regiment – from 66 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Aug 42

 

66 Anti-Aircraft Brigade
106 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – to the 41 Anti-Aircraft Brigade May 42
113 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – left Mar 42
144 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new regiment joined by May 42; to 50 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Aug 42
38 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – left Dec 41
45 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – joined by May 42; to 32 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Aug 42
44 Searchlight Regiment – from 32 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Dec 41; left by May 42
15th Anti-Aircraft Z Regiment – to 50 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Aug 42

 

 

The Royal Artillery 1939-45