Squadron 992
| Squadron 992 | |
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Title frame
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| Directed by | Harry Watt |
| Produced by | Alberto Cavalcanti (credited as Cavalcanti) |
| Written by | W.D.H. McCullough |
| Narrated by | Lionel Gamlin |
| Music by |
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| Cinematography | Jonah Jones |
| Edited by | R.Q. McNaughton |
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Running time
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22 minutes, 51 seconds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Squadron 992 is a 23-minute 1940 British propaganda film produced by the General Post Office GPO Film Unit of the Ministry of Information and re-distributed by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of their wartime Canada Carries On series. The film was directed by Harry Watt and produced by Alberto Cavalcanti.Squadron 992 describes the training and operations in 1940 of No. 992 (Barrage Balloon) Squadron RAF, a Royal Air Force (RAF) barrage balloon unit stationed in the United Kingdom. The film's French version title was Escadrille 992.
By 1940, in the Second World War, 40,000 RAF personnel are in the RAF Balloon Command, created to protect urban centres and key targets such as industrial areas, ports and harbours. Balloons were intended to defend against Luftwaffe dive bombers attacking from heights up to 5,000 feet (1,500 m). The balloons forced the bombers to fly higher and into the range of concentrated anti-aircraft fire. A third of the balloon barrage were deployed over the London area.
Specialized training was involved in learning about riggings, how to secure the rope ties, inflation and maintenance of the balloons that includes patching the outer skin when tears or leaks are detected. The entire Squadron 992 also has to be mobile and able to set up and maintain the balloons, using a converted Crossley lorry that not only carries the balloon but has the winch equipment to raise it to height.
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