33 Anti-Aircraft Brigade was formed in Chester in November 1936 as 33 (Western) Anti-Aircraft Group. It served in the North West of England until the end of the war. The Brigade continued to serve until 1947 when it was reconstituted. The Regular units of 33 Anti-Aircraft Brigade formed 9 Anti-Aircraft Brigade and the TA units formed 59 Anti-Aircraft Brigade.
Illustrations of the formation badges under which a unit served or supported are given. This is no guarantee that the unit used this formations badge.
Nov 36 | Chester – formed as 33 (Western) Anti-Aircraft Group | | 2 Anti-Aircraft Division |
Sep 38 | Liverpool – 33 Anti-Aircraft Brigade | | 4 Anti-Aircraft Division |
Oct 42 | North West & Midlands | | 4 Anti-Aircraft Group |
Mar 45 | Controlling demobilisation of units | | 5 Anti-Aircraft Group |
1947 | Brigade split into 9 AA Brigade (Regulars) & 59 AA Brigade (TA) | | |
Order of Battle 1936
65 (The Manchester Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Brigade (181, 182, 183, 196 Batteries) |
38 (The King’s Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion RE (TA) (350, 351, 352, 353 Companies) – Searchlights |
39 (The Lancashire Fusiliers) Anti-Aircraft Battalion RE (TA) (354, 355, 356, 357 Companies) – Searchlights |
41 (The North Staffordshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion RE (TA) (362, 363, 364, 365 Companies) – Searchlights |
62 (4th Battalion The Loyal (North Lancashire) Regiment) Searchlight Regiment (435, 436, 437 Batteries) |
Order of Battle August 1939
70 (3rd West Lancashire) Anti-Aircraft Regiment (211, 212, 216, 309 Batteries) |
81 Anti-Aircraft Regiment (253, 254, 255 Batteries) |
93 Anti-Aircraft Regiment (267, 288, 289, 290 Batteries) |
38 (The King’s Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion RE (TA) (350, 351, 352, 353 Companies) – Searchlights |
62 (4th Battalion The Loyal (North Lancashire) Regiment) Searchlight Regiment (435, 436, 437 Batteries) |
Order of Battle October 1940
103 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
106 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
33 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
42 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
65 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Part) |
Order of Battle 1940-41
1 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (1, 2, 17 Batteries) |
93 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (267, 288, 289, 290 Batteries) |
103 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (322, 323, 324, 420 Batteries) |
107 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (334, 335, 337, 390 Batteries) |
33 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (67, 68, 132 Batteries) |
4 AA Z Regiment (104, 108, 122, 132, 139 Batteries) |
Order of Battle 1941-42
1 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (1, 2, 17 Batteries) – Left July 1941 |
93 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (267, 288, 289 Batteries) – Left June 1942 |
95 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (204, 293, 240 Batteries) – Joined September left October 1942 |
103 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (322, 323, 324, 420 Batteries) – Left May 1942 |
107 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (334, 335, 337, 390 Batteries) – Left December 1941 |
117 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (370, 371, 369, 392 Batteries) – Left December 1941, returned May left August 1942 |
137 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (476, 481, (M) Batteries, 477 (M) left Jan 42, 487 (M) joined Jan 42 ) – Joined December 1941 left October 1942 |
149 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (506, 507, 512 (M) Batteries) – Joined April 1942 |
154 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (522, 526, 552, 560 (M) Batteries) – Joined May 1942 |
29 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (108, 121, 237 Batteries) – Left February 1942 |
33 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (67, 68, 132 Batteries) – Left Autumn 1941 |
63 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (188, 189, 190, 457 Batteries) – Joined August 1942 |
98 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (304, 305, 306, 481 Batteries) – Joined February left May 1942 |
134 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (192, 275, 287, 475 Batteries) – Joined June left August 1942 |
4 AA Z Regiment (132, 139, 172, 194 Batteries) – Left August 1942 |
Order of Battle 1942-44
93 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (267, 288, 289, 290 Batteries) – Returned October 1942 left March 1943 |
149 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (506, 507, 512, 587 (M) Batteries) – Left May 1943 |
154 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (522, 526, 552, 560 (M) Batteries) – Left October 1943 |
157 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (505, 539, 550, 551 (M) Batteries) – Joined October 1943 |
179 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (584, 606, 607, 641 (M) Batteries) – Joined October 1943 |
184 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (616, 617, 625, 627 (M) Batteries) – Joined April & left August 1943 |
190 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (642, 664, 665, 667 (M) Batteries) – Joined May 1943 |
4 (Mixed) AA Z Regiment (104, 132, 214, 230 Batteries) – Returned May 1943 |
14 (Mixed) AA Z Regiment (108, 172, 201, 202, 226 Batteries) – Joined May 1943 |
Order of Battle November 1945
2 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (16, 20, 28 Batteries) |
4 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (5, 6, 258 Batteries) |
7 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (10, 13, 27 Batteries) |
130 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (442, 443, 448 Batteries) |
69 (3rd City of London) Searchlight Regiment (354, 456, 457 Batteries) |