The benign appearance of the Barrage balloon was at odds with the danger they imposed on low flying aircraft from the web of steel cables that extended below them. They were used to push enemy aircraft to greater heights so as to disrupt their aim. In particular, they were useful in protecting airfields and other civilian targets that were vulnerable to strafing fighters and divebombers

They were deployed from small, mobile, winch lorries and could be relocated as needed in a fairly easy manner.