From buses to bombers: the London Aircraft Production Group

During both world wars, Britain had to repurpose much of its industry to the manufacture of weapons, munitions and other vital materials. During the Second World War, London Transport was able to adapt its manufacturing capacity for the war effort and produce bomber aircraft instead of buses. 

In 1941, the London Aircraft Production Group (LAPG) was set up by the Ministry of Aircraft Production to produce Handley Page Halifax four-engined heavy bomber aircraft. London Transport was charged with overall responsibility for the group and for using three of its manufacturing facilities. Four other companies in and around London also built key elements before all components were brought together at Leavesden airfield near Watford. 

The first completed aircraft was officially handed over on 6 January 1942. The last, named ‘London Pride’, took off from Leavesden on 16 April 1945. Over that period the LAPG manufactured over 700 aircraft, representing a serious contribution to the war effort. 

The Halifax bomber was designed to be built in sections that could be assembled quickly. This allowed London Transport and the other four companies in the LAPG to concentrate their resources on specific elements of the aircraft. In 1942, London Transport converted exhibition halls at White City in west London to a manufacturing facility. It was here that the Halifax engine covers, known as cowlings, were made before being brought together with the numerous other elements. White City was also used for stores and spares. 

Chiswick Works in west London was one of London Transport’s prominent manufacturing and engineering facilities. As part of the LAPG it was responsible for making the detailed parts for the front fuselage and centre section of the Halifax bombers. Its workforce was kept informed and amused by this internal publication that was put up and circulated among the staff.  

Aldenham Works, near Elstree in Hertfordshire, was at the heart of the LAPG. Another of the companies working with the Group, Duple Motor Bodies Ltd of Hendon, built the front fuselage shell of the Halifax bombers. Aldenham Works then had responsibility for installing the front fuselage and engines and for making the complete centre section. As can be seen in the photo, it was here that the aircraft really began to take shape.  

The last stop in the chain of the LAPG was Leavesden airfield, near Watford. All of the elements constructed by London Transport facilities came here by road. In addition, complete rear fuselages came from Chrysler Motors Ltd of Kew, tailplane and intermediate wings came from Express Motor and Body Works Ltd at Enfield and the outer wings and engine cowlings came from Park Royal Coachworks Ltd.  

All of these various components were assembled at Leavesden aerodrome, a huge airfield and manufacturing facility that had been built from 1940 by the de Havilland Aircraft Company, Air Ministry and Ministry of Supply. Parts of the enormous site were leased to the LAPG and were a vital site for the completion of the Group’s Halifax bombers. By the end of the Second World War, Leavesden was the biggest factory, by volume, in the world. Today it is a Warner Brothers Studios, where the Harry Potter films were made. 

This relatively small object, made by staff as a token of appreciation for their boss, stands as a symbol of the combined efforts of London Transport and the four other companies of the LAPG. Between the time when the first completed Halifax was handed over to the Royal Air Force in January 1942 and the last took off from Leavesden in April 1945, the LAPG manufactured 710 aircraft. The aircraft built during this period also incorporated improvements in design. This represented a significant contribution to the war effort, particularly as for London Transport it was in addition to its recognised role of keeping the transport network in the capital moving amid the challenges of wartime. 

These objects can be seen in our London’s transport at war gallery