52 Anti-Aircraft Brigade formed in August 1939 at Stirling as part of 3 Anti-Aircraft Division. It was responsible for searchlight provision. In 1942, it changed its role from purely searchlights to a standard AA Brigade. The Brigade left Anti-Aircraft Command in August 1942 and mobilised for overseas service.
52 Anti-Aircraft Brigade became part of 1 Army for the invasion of Algeria. Its task along with 22 AA Brigade was to follow 1 Army on its advance eastwards. It remained in North Africa defending bases until moving to Italy in April 1944. Here they were employed in defending airfields.
Post war, the Brigade was re-numbered in January 1947 as 78 Anti-Aircraft Brigade at Perth.
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.
| Aug 39 | Stirling |  | 3 Anti-Aircraft Division |
| Aug 42 | UK |  | War Office Control |
| Nov 42 | Algiers |  | 1 Army |
| Mar 43 | Philippville, Algeria | | 1 Army |
| Apr 44 | Foggia, Cerignola & Spinazzola, Italy |  | Allied Forces HQ |
Order of Battle 1939
| 51st (Highland) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers (319, 320, 404 Companies) – Searchlights |
| 5th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (56th Searchlight Regiment) (417, 418, 419 Btys) |
| 5th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (56th Searchlight Regiment) (417, 418, 419 Btys) |
| 8th Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (57th Searchlight Regiment) (420, 421, 422, 423 Btys) |
Order of Battle 1940 (Units transferred to RA)
| 51 (Highland) Searchlight Regiment |
| 52 (Queen’s Edinburgh, Royal Scots) Searchlight Regiment |
| 56 (Cameronians) Searchlight Regiment |
| 57 (Glasgow) Searchlight Regiment |
Order of Battle November 1940
| 51 (Highland) Searchlight Regiment (319, 320, 404 Btys) |
| 52 (Queen’s Edinburgh, Royal Scots) Searchlight Regiment (406, 407, 531 Btys) |
| 56 (Cameronians) Searchlight Regiment (417, 418, 419, 535 Btys) |
Order of Battle 1942
| 147 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 19 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 67 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 130 (Queen’s Edinburgh) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 135 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
Order of Battle January 1943
| 1 Battery from 68 (Kent) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – Bougie Port |
| 1 Battery from 76 (Gloucestershire) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – Bougie Port |
| V Anti-Aircraft Operation Room – Bougie Port |
| 1 Battery from 72 (Hampshire) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – Constantine airfield |
| 1 Battery from 71 (Forth) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – Djidjelli airfield |
| 1 Battery from 72 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment + 1 Troop 71 HAA – Philippville port & airfield |
| 1 Battery from 72 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – Youks-les-Bains airfield |
| 1 Battery from 72 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – Thelepte airfield |
| 1 Troop from 71 (Forth) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – Ain Beida airfield |
Order of Battle April 1944
| 55 (Kent) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 62 (Northumbrian) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 76 (Gloucestershire) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 79 (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 100 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 106 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 29 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 64 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 66 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 6 (United States) Searchlight Battalion |
| 20 Anti-Aircraft Operations Room |
| 52 Anti-Aircraft Operations Room |
