80th Anti-Aircraft Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 80th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was a territorial unit of the British Army during World War II. Formed in 1940, it was part of Anti-Aircraft Command and was responsible for defending vital points in the United Kingdom from aerial attack.

The brigade’s initial composition typically consisted of a mix of heavy anti-aircraft (HAA) and light anti-aircraft (LAA) regiments, equipped with guns such as the 3.7-inch AA gun and the Bofors 40 mm gun, respectively. The specific regiments under its command varied over time as units were transferred between formations based on operational needs.

Throughout the war, the 80th Anti-Aircraft Brigade served in various locations across the UK, contributing to the anti-aircraft defense network. Its role involved engaging enemy aircraft, providing early warning of air raids, and protecting key infrastructure and population centers. The unit would coordinate with other anti-aircraft formations, fighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force (RAF), and civil defense organizations to provide comprehensive air defense.

As the threat from the Luftwaffe diminished in later years of the war, some anti-aircraft units, including those within the 80th Anti-Aircraft Brigade, were redeployed or reorganized. Some personnel were transferred to other roles within the military, including service in other theaters of war.

After the end of World War II, the Territorial Army was reconstituted, but many of the wartime anti-aircraft brigades were disbanded or restructured. Information on the specific fate of the 80th Anti-Aircraft Brigade in the immediate postwar period requires further research, but it is likely that the unit was disbanded or absorbed into other formations as part of the demobilization process.