39 Anti-Aircraft Brigade was raised in September 1938 at Retford, Nottinghamshire. The Brigade served in AA Command in Eastern England from Yorkshire to Norfolk. 39 Anti-Aircraft Brigade was re-designated as 103 Anti-Aircraft Brigade in May 1943.
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.
Sep 38 | Raised Retford, Nottinghamshire | | 2 Anti-Aircraft Division |
Feb 39 | Yorkshire under control of 2 AA Division | | 7 Anti-Aircraft Division |
Sep 39 | RAF Digby Lincolnshire under control of 2 AA Division | | 7 Anti-Aircraft Division |
May 40 | RAF Kirton in Lindsey Lincolnshire | | 7 Anti-Aircraft Division |
Nov 40 | RAF Kirton in Lindsey Lincolnshire | | 10 Anti-Aircraft Division |
Apr 42 | Re-organised as a Light Brigade | | 10 Anti-Aircraft Division |
Oct 42 | Yorkshire | | 5 Anti-Aircraft Group |
Feb 43 | Great Yarmouth, Norfolk | | 5 Anti-Aircraft Group |
May 43 | Re-designated 103 Anti-Aircraft Brigade | | GHQ Reserve |
Order of Battle 1939
62 (Northumbrian) Anti-Aircraft Regiment (172, 173, 266 Batteries) |
67 (The York & Lancaster Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Regiment (187, 188, 198 Batteries) |
91 Anti-Aircraft Regiment (221, 270, 286 Batteries) |
40 (The Sherwood Foresters) AA Battalion RE (358, 359, 360, 361 Companies) – Searchlights |
46 (The Lincolnshire Regiment) AA Battalion RE (382, 383, 384, 385 Companies) – Searchlights |
The above is the published Order of Battle. However, the Brigade War Diary gives a different deployment for the Searchlight units given below.
42 (Robin Hoods, Sherwood Foresters) AA Battalion RE (366, 368, 369 Companies) – Searchlights |
44 (Leicestershire Regiment) AA Battalion RE (374, 377 Companies) – Searchlights |
46 (The Lincolnshire Regiment) AA Battalion RE (382, 383, 384, 385 Companies) – Searchlights |
49 (West Yorkshire Regiment) AA Battalion RE (397 Company) – Searchlights |
Order of Battle Winter 1940-41
1 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment ( 1 Battery) |
62 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment ( 172, 173, 242, 266, 407 Batteries) |
91 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment ( 221, 270, 286, 395 Batteries) |
39 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (72, 103, 109, 110, 111 Batteries) |
30 (Surrey) Searchlight Regiment (315, 316, 318, 323, 370, 511 Batteries) – Left March 1941 |
40 Searchlight Regiment (358, 359, 360, 361 Batteries) |
46 Searchlight Regiment (382, 383, 384, 385 Batteries) – Left May 1941 |
84 Searchlight Regiment (512, 517, 518, 519 Batteries) |
2 AA Z Regiment (119, 120, 121 Batteries) |
Order of Battle 1941-42
62 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment ( 172, 173, 266, 407 Batteries) – Left February 1942 |
91 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment ( 221, 270, 286, 395, 421, 478 Batteries) – Left April 1942 |
113 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment ( 366, 391, 439 Batteries) – Joined February left April 1942 |
29 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (108, 121, 237 Batteries) – Joined February left April 1942 |
39 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (109, 110, 111 Batteries) – Left August 1941 |
78 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (236, 238, 241, 265, 304, 469 Batteries) – Joined August 1941 left March 1942 |
82 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (102, 216, 282, 473 Batteries) – Joined March 1942 |
109 (Royal Sussex Regiment) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (358, 359 Batteries) – Joined March 1942 |
30 (Surrey) Searchlight Regiment (323, 567 Batteries) – Re-joined October 1941 left January 1942 |
40 Searchlight Regiment (358, 359, 360, 361 Batteries) |
84 Searchlight Regiment (370, 512, 517, 518, 519 Batteries) |
2 AA Z Regiment (119, 120, 121 Batteries) – Left May 1942 |
Order of Battle April 1942 (as a Light Brigade)
82 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (102, 216, 282, 473 Batteries) – Left May 1942 |
121 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (396, 397, 398, 399 Batteries) – Re-joined April 1942 |
40 Searchlight Regiment (358, 359, 360, 361 Batteries) |
84 Searchlight Regiment (370, 512, 517, 518, 519 Batteries) |
114 Sector Operations Room |
Order of Battle February 1943
161 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment ( 447, 448, 558 (M) & 383, 432 Batteries) |
126 (Middlesex) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (415, 429, 430 Batteries) |
118 Independent Z Battery |
425 Battery 58 Searchlight Regiment |
333 Gun Operations Room |