The Division was created in 1939 to control the anti-aircraft defences of North East England, Yorkshire and Humberside. It took over brigades from 2 Anti-Aircraft Division and 3 Anti-Aircraft Division
When Anti-Aircraft Command re-organised in October 1942, 7 Anti-Aircraft Division was split between 5 and 6 Anti-Aircraft Groups
HQ Newcastle upon Tyne
Order of Battle 1939–40
| 30 (Northumbrian) Anti-Aircraft Brigade at Sunderland – from 2 Anti-Aircraft Division |
| 63 (Northumbrian) Anti-Aircraft Regiment – converted from medium artillery 1936 |
| 64 (Northumbrian) Anti-Aircraft Regiment – converted from medium artillery 1936 |
| 87 Anti-Aircraft Regiment – raised Apr 39 |
| 37 (Tyne Electrical Engineers) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – searchlight unit |
| 5th Battalion Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (53 Searchlight Regiment) – converted from infantry 1938 |
| 31 (North Midland) Anti-Aircraft Brigade at York – from 2 Anti-Aircraft Division |
| 66 (Leeds Rifles) Anti-Aircraft Regiment – converted from infantry 1936 |
| 96 Anti-Aircraft Regiment – raised April 1939 |
| 43 (Duke of Wellington’s Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – Searchlight unit converted from infantry 1936 |
| 49 (West Yorkshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – Searchlight unit converted from infantry 1936 |
| 39 Anti-Aircraft Brigade at RAF Digby – from 2 Anti-Aircraft Division; did not actually transfer |
| 62 (Northumbrian) Anti-Aircraft Regiment – converted from field artillery 1936 |
| 67 (York and Lancaster Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Regiment – converted from infantry 1936 |
| 91 Anti-Aircraft Regiment – raised Apr 39 |
| 40 (Sherwood Foresters) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – Searchlight unit converted from infantry 1936 |
| 46 (Lincolnshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – Searchlight unit converted from infantry 1936 |
| 43 Anti-Aircraft Brigade at West Hartlepool – from 3 Anti-Aircraft Division |
| 85 (Tees) Anti-Aircraft Regiment – raised 1938 |
| 47 (Durham Light Infantry) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers – Searchlight unit converted from infantry 1936 |
| 1/5th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (54 Searchlight Regiment) – Searchlight unit converted from infantry 1938 |
| 2/5th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (55 Searchlight Regiment) – duplicate Searchlight unit raised Apr 39 |
| 57 Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade – new brigade forming at Newcastle |
| 13 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – raised 1938 |
| 28 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – raised Aug 39 |
| 29 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – raised Aug 39 |
| 30 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – raised Aug 39 |
Order of Battle 1940–41
| 30th Anti-Aircraft Brigade |
| 63 (Northumbrian) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 64 (Northumbrian) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 37 (Tyne Electrical Engineers) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 38 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (part) – unit shared with the 10 Anti-Aircraft Division |
| 68 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment– new unit raised in Dec 40 |
| 7 Anti-Aircraft Z Regiment |
| 43 Anti-Aircraft Brigade |
| 8 (Belfast) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – returned from Dunkirk and re-equipped |
| 73 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – returned from Dunkirk and re-equipped |
| 50 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new unit raised in Jul 40 |
| 72 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment– new unit raised in Jan 41 |
| 47 (Durham Light Infantry) Searchlight Regiment |
| 55 (Durham Light Infantry) Searchlight Regiment |
| 57 Anti-Aircraft Brigade |
| 41 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new unit raised in Jan 41 |
| 46 (Lincolnshire Regiment) Searchlight Regiment |
| 53 (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Searchlight Regiment |
Order of Battle 1941–42
| 30 Anti-Aircraft Brigade |
| 63 (Northumbrian) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – left for War Office Control Dec 41 before embarking for Ceylon |
| 64 (Northumbrian) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – left Apr 42 before joining Operation Torch |
| 135 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new unit raised in Oct 41 |
| 136 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – joined from 2 Anti-Aircraft Division Apr 42; returned Jun 42 |
| 146 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new unit raised in Jan 42; left May 42 |
| 153 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new unit raised in Mar 42 |
| 37 (Tyne Electrical Engineers) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – left for Middle East Jun 41 |
| 50 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – left for 6 Anti-Aircraft Division Feb 42 |
| 68 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – to 43 Anti-Aircraft Brigade by May 42; left Jun 42 |
| 124 (Highland) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – converted from 51 Searchlight Regiment and joined May 42 |
| 7 Anti-Aircraft Z Regiment – to 43 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Feb 42 |
| 36 (Scottish) Anti-Aircraft Brigade covering Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth – joined from 3 Anti-Aircraft Division Aug 42 |
| 114 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 129 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 158 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 135 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 43 Anti-Aircraft Brigade |
| 8 (Belfast) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – left for GHQ Reserve Nov 41 before embarking for India |
| 73 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – left for 12 Anti-Aircraft Division May 41 |
| 72 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – left for 3 Anti-Aircraft Division Summer 41 |
| 123 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new unit raised in Feb 41 |
| 145 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new unit raised in Jan, joined Apr 42 |
| 31 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – from Orkney and Shetland Defences Jun 42; left for 6 Anti-Aircraft Division Jun 42 |
| 41 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – left for War Office Control Apr 42 before embarking for Middle East |
| 136 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new unit raised in Feb 42; joined Jun 42 |
| 53 (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Searchlight Regiment – to 30 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Aug 42 |
| 57 Anti-Aircraft Brigade |
| 46 (Lincolnshire) Searchlight Regiment – left for 3 Anti-Aircraft Division Dec 41 |
| 47 (Durham Light Infantry) Searchlight Regiment – left for conversion to 122 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Feb 42 |
| 55 (Durham Light Infantry) Searchlight Regiment – left for conversion to 113 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Jan 42 |
| 56 (5th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)) Searchlight Regiment – joined from 3 Anti-Aircraft Division Dec 41; left for conversion to 125 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Mar 42 |
| (The brigade had no units under command from March to May 1942) |
| 60 (City of London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – joined from 12 Anti-Aircraft Division May 42; left Jun 42 |
| 100 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – joined from 12 Anti-Aircraft Division May 42; left Jun 42 |
| 155 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – new unit raised in Mar 42; joined May, left for 12 Anti-Aircraft Division Aug 42 |
| 134 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – joined from 4 Anti-Aircraft Division Aug 42 |
| 4 Anti-Aircraft Z Regiment – joined from 4 Anti-Aircraft Division Aug 42 |