It defended South West England during The Blitz and the Luftwaffe 'hit and run' raids, but only had a short career.

[7][8] The division formed part of I AA Corps, which was created at the same time to cover Southern England and Wales.

[13] The division's composition during the Blitz was as follows:[3][14][15][16][17] By October 1941 the availability of S/L control radar was sufficient to allow AA Command's S/L sites to be 'declustered' into single-light sites spaced at 10,400-yard intervals in 'Indicator Belts' along the coast and approaches to the GDAs, and 'Killer Belts' at 6,000 yards (5,500 m) spacing to cooperate with the RAF's Night-fighters.

[47] Early in 1942 the Luftwaffe began a new wave of attacks on British cities (the Baedeker Blitz): Exeter and undefended Bath were hit in March, April and May, and Weston-super-Mare in June.

[51][52] In West Cornwall the main threat was from low level daylight 'hit and run' raids by single engined Luftwaffe aircraft (such as attacks by pairs of Focke-Wulf Fw 190s on St Ives on 28 August and Truro on 7 September), which were difficult for HAA guns to engage.

[53] During this period the division was composed as follows (temporary attachments omitted):[17][53][54][55] The increased sophistication of Operations Rooms and communications was reflected in the growth in support units, which attained the following organisation by May 1942: The RAOC companies became part of the new Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) during 1942.