page_title: 44th Anti-Aircraft Brigade (United Kingdom)
section_title: Later war
hierarchical_section_title: 44th Anti-Aircraft Brigade (United Kingdom) / Later war
caption_attribution_description: The formation patch for Anti Aircraft Command, a British Army formation that was responsible for ground based air defence in the UK during WW2.
context_page_description: 44th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army. Formed in 1938, it was responsible for protecting Manchester and later the Isle of Wight during World War II. It was reformed postwar under a new title, and continued until 1955.
context_section_description: At the end of September 1942, AA Command disbanded the AA Corps and Divisions and replaced them with new AA Groups, whose areas of responsibility coincided with the Groups of RAF Fighter Command. 44 AA Brigade came under 4 AA Group, with its HQ at Preston, which covered NW England and N Wales and operated with No. 9 Group RAF. 4 AA Group's area was quiet throughout the following year, and in May 1943 4 AA Bde had to 'un-man' some of its VPs to provide LAA guns and crews to 5 AA Group in Eastern England, which was dealing with 'hit and run' raids by the Luftwaffe. When in September 1943 AA Command was required to release manpower to 21st Army Group forming for the planned invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord), the group began to lose units by transfer and disbandment. On 14 January 1944, Brigadier Kane was transferred to command 45 AA Bde and was replaced by Brig J.W. Barker, TD.
caption: AA Command formation sign, worn after 1942