The first real introduction to the war came in August 1940,at the height of the Battle of Britian. A small number of Luftwaffre bombers attacked the airfield causing minor damage to the airfield.Many of the bombs fell in the adjacent residential roads near the present collage.Although three members of the home guard were killed by a direct hit # on their bunker.These being the first Home Guard deaths.The attack resulted in some of the departments being dispersed in the local area.Also the establishment of a 'Battle Flight' comprised of Spitfires and Hurricanes used for testing.
Obviously at this time the British aircraft industry was working at full capacity.New prototypes arrived almost weekly for testing,many untried.The toll on test pilots was high at this time.There being no formal training for test pilots until 1944. Also many captured enemy aircraft,as well as aircraft purchased from abroad were under test.
Jet aircraft had been under development in Britian and Germany,despite official sceptisism,from the late 30's. The first British jet,the Whittle powered Gloster E25/39,first flew from RAF Cranwell in 1941.Shortly after it arrived at Farnborough under great secrecy. The first practical jet was the Gloster Meteor of 1943.This saw very limited war service intercepting V1 flying bombs. The Germans had a great lead in the operational use jets,and the arrival of captured jets gave the british aircraft industry a great lead in this technology.The main obstacle was the breaking of the sound 'barrier'.Research was carried out in Spitfires stripped of armamant and with special engines. One reached just over 600mph,the fastest ever speed by a piston engined aircraft,in a dive from 40,000 feet.Frequently the aircraft was destroyed by these tests.
Other work involved the introduction of catapults to aircraft carriers,several being tested at Farnborough. The first practical helicopters made their first appearance in 1944.
Some of the most interesting,and complex work undertaken during the war years was the testing of captured aircraft.The first arrivals were shot down and were pieced tougher,so to flying condition.As the war progressed into its final months German aerodromes became captured along with their aircraft.Several examples of each of type were despatched to Farnborough for test. These ranged from docile trainers,to the latest jet bombers capable of 600mph.Due to the lack of spares and lack of flying experience most were not flown. In November 1945 a exhibition of these aircraft took place for VIP's,and one one day RAE employees familys.Which at that time covered most of the local population. On the last day a captured Dornier 335 crashed into nearby Cove school,killing the pilot,but nobody on the ground.After this flying of all enemy aircraft was forbidden.
