Minister of Aircraft Production
Encyclopedia
The Minister of Aircraft Production was the British government position in charge of the Ministry of Aircraft Production, one of the specialised supply ministries set up by the British Government during World War II
. As the name suggests, it was responsible for aircraft production for the British forces; primarily the Royal Air Force
, but also the Fleet Air Arm
.
in response to the production problems that winning the Battle of Britain
posed. The first minister was Lord Beaverbrook
and under his control the Ministry presided over an enormous increase in British aircraft production.
. It eventually came to be replaced by a quota system, with each supply ministry being allocated a certain amount of raw materials imports to be distributed amongst various projects within the ministries' purviews. Beaverbrook still continued to push hard for increases in aircraft production until he left the Ministry to become Minister of Supply
.
One controversial feature of Beaverbrook's tenure was the fact that the aircraft programs set bore little comparison to actually expected aircraft production. Beaverbrook deliberately inserted an extra margin of 15% over and above the very best that British industry could be expected to produce. The theory of inserting the extra margin was to provide an out of reach target to British industry so that it would push as hard as possible to increase production. It was not until the 'realistic' programme of 1943 that aircraft production programmes were actually brought back into line with actual levels of production that could be expected from British factories.
The Ministry was characterised by, for its time, highly unorthodox methods of management, that included its initial location at Beaverbrook's own home (Stornoway House). The personnel was personally recruited from outside the Air Ministry, interaction was informal, characterised by personal intervention, crisis management and application of will power to improve output. "Few records were kept, the functions of most individuals were left undefined and business was conducted mainly over the telephone."
One important change made within days of the creation of the Ministry was it taking over the RAF's storage units which were found to have accepted 1,000 aircraft from the industry, but issued only 650 to squadrons. These management and organisational changes bore results almost immediately. In the first four months of 1940 2,729 aircraft were produced, of which 638 were fighters, while in the following four months crucial to the Battle of Britain
combat during May to August 1940, production rose to 4,578 aircraft, of which 1,875 were fighters. This production rate was two and a half times the Germany's fighter production at the time. This production was augmented by the ability of the Ministry, also responsible for repair of damaged aircraft, to return to service nearly 1,900 aircraft.
The result of this effort and management style was that while German fighters available for operations over England fell from 725 to 275, that of the RAF rose from 644 at the beginning of July 1940 to 732 at the beginning of October.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. As the name suggests, it was responsible for aircraft production for the British forces; primarily the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, but also the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
.
History
The department was formed in 1940 by Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
in response to the production problems that winning the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
posed. The first minister was Lord Beaverbrook
Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook
William Maxwell "Max" Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, Bt, PC, was a Canadian-British business tycoon, politician, and writer.-Early career in Canada:...
and under his control the Ministry presided over an enormous increase in British aircraft production.
Beaverbrook
The first minister, Lord Beaverbrook, pushed for aircraft production to have priority over virtually all other types of munitions production for raw materials. This was needed in the summer and autumn of 1940, but it distorted the supply system of the war economyWar economy
War economy is the term used to describe the contingencies undertaken by the modern state to mobilise its economy for war production. Philippe Le Billon describes a war economy as a "system of producing, mobilising and allocating resources to sustain the violence".Many states increase the degree of...
. It eventually came to be replaced by a quota system, with each supply ministry being allocated a certain amount of raw materials imports to be distributed amongst various projects within the ministries' purviews. Beaverbrook still continued to push hard for increases in aircraft production until he left the Ministry to become Minister of Supply
Minister of Supply
The Minister of Supply was the minister in the British Government responsible for the Ministry of Supply, which existed to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to the national armed forces...
.
One controversial feature of Beaverbrook's tenure was the fact that the aircraft programs set bore little comparison to actually expected aircraft production. Beaverbrook deliberately inserted an extra margin of 15% over and above the very best that British industry could be expected to produce. The theory of inserting the extra margin was to provide an out of reach target to British industry so that it would push as hard as possible to increase production. It was not until the 'realistic' programme of 1943 that aircraft production programmes were actually brought back into line with actual levels of production that could be expected from British factories.
The Ministry was characterised by, for its time, highly unorthodox methods of management, that included its initial location at Beaverbrook's own home (Stornoway House). The personnel was personally recruited from outside the Air Ministry, interaction was informal, characterised by personal intervention, crisis management and application of will power to improve output. "Few records were kept, the functions of most individuals were left undefined and business was conducted mainly over the telephone."
One important change made within days of the creation of the Ministry was it taking over the RAF's storage units which were found to have accepted 1,000 aircraft from the industry, but issued only 650 to squadrons. These management and organisational changes bore results almost immediately. In the first four months of 1940 2,729 aircraft were produced, of which 638 were fighters, while in the following four months crucial to the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
combat during May to August 1940, production rose to 4,578 aircraft, of which 1,875 were fighters. This production rate was two and a half times the Germany's fighter production at the time. This production was augmented by the ability of the Ministry, also responsible for repair of damaged aircraft, to return to service nearly 1,900 aircraft.
The result of this effort and management style was that while German fighters available for operations over England fell from 725 to 275, that of the RAF rose from 644 at the beginning of July 1940 to 732 at the beginning of October.
Post-war demise
The Ministry of Aircraft Production did not long survive the end of the war. A minister with responsibility for both aircraft production and the Ministry of Supply was appointed in August 1945, and the Ministry of Aircraft Production was fully merged into the Ministry of Supply on 1 April 1946.Ministers of Aircraft Production, 1940–1945
- Max Aitken, 1st Baron BeaverbrookMax Aitken, 1st Baron BeaverbrookWilliam Maxwell "Max" Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, Bt, PC, was a Canadian-British business tycoon, politician, and writer.-Early career in Canada:...
(14 May 1940 – 1 May 1941) - John Moore-BrabazonJohn Moore-Brabazon, 1st Baron Brabazon of TaraJohn Theodore Cuthbert Moore-Brabazon, 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara, GBE, MC, PC was an English aviation pioneer and Conservative politician...
(1 May 1941 – 22 February 1942) - John LlewellinJohn Jestyn Llewellin, 1st Baron LlewellinColonel John Jestyn Llewellin, 1st Baron Llewellin GBE, PC, MC, TD was a British army officer, Conservative Party politician and minister in Winston Churchill's war government.-Background:...
(22 February 1942 – 22 November 1942) - Sir Stafford CrippsStafford CrippsSir Richard Stafford Cripps was a British Labour politician of the first half of the 20th century. During World War II he served in a number of positions in the wartime coalition, including Ambassador to the Soviet Union and Minister of Aircraft Production...
(22 November 1942 – 25 May 1945) - Ernest BrownErnest BrownAlfred Ernest Brown CH was a British politician who served as leader of the Liberal Nationals from 1940 until 1945.-Biography:...
(25 May 1945 – 26 July 1945)