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Even before the Battle of Britain began we boys were aware that a new and faster fighter named the Whirlwind was in the making at Westland's aircraft factory. It had been much talked of for awhile and was expected to our-perform anything the Luftwaffe possessed and even our own Spitfires. Any day now the first batch of these single-seater high speed merchants with a pair of Rolls Royce engines and multiple guns were expected from the assembly lines and put into squadron service alongside our Hurricanes and Spitfires.

Natually the Germans also knew of this new miracle plane and, with Westland already noted for their quality aircraft, the Yeovil factory was already scheduled for early bombing. Having high regards for their twin engined Messerschmitt II0 Destroyer fighter, then naturally they too were expecting a masterpiece to compete with.

A Westland Wallace biplane was the first plane to fly over Mount Everest, and at 92,000 feet it was no man feat for an un-heated open cockpit plane. The Wallace was accompanied by a similar machine that, while recording the record breaking flight, was also photographing mountain heights never previously seen by man. These photo revelations to the World's leading mountaineers would prove invaluable in the years ahead. A bomber biplane of similar shape and named Wapiti was supplied to the RAF during the 1930's, most of which served in the Middle East and India.

By the time WAR came in 1939 Westlands were turning out a steady stream of their distinctive looking Lysander Army co-operation machines. Bristol engined, this trapezoidal high wing monoplane with a large 'greenhouse' cockpit for its pilot and observor/navigator was a joy to see and watch, and just before WAR began one flew low over my sister and I out in our local fields. Both crew members returned our waves as they flew past, then after a swinging 360 degree turn, toured past even lower to repeat our uniting greetings.

On July 15th three German bombers managed a small raid on the Westlands Works, damaging hangers and runways. Only a few Whirlwinds had so far been produced, and they were giving trouble and in need of further development. The B of B was already into its first phase, so the Spits and Hurris would have to manage without them. Our other B of B fighter - the four-gun, turrett behind the pilot Defiant - was proving a liability, for with no guns firing forward and only good for 300 mph, they had become death traps once the Jerry pilots realised their weakness. By the end of the month they were converting to night fighter squadrons where, in due months they'd prove of temporary value. Our Blenheim twin engined day fighter was just as useless, and that too had to resort to after dark work. Only good for 260 mph, meant it was fully seventy miles an hour slower than the Messerschmitt II0.
British War analists have consistantly underestimated the Me110s capacity purely because it was no dog-fighter. With a wingspan of 53 feet, then being drawn into twisty manoevres obviously wasn't the done thing with any large twin-engined aircraft, and since dog-fighting was really a tactic of the past, the period of 100 mph biplanes, then getting involved in fighter v fighter conflicts was no way to fight a modern war. Our fastest twin in 1940 and of comparable size was the Blenheim; and I'd put my money on the spectacular and much faster Me110 any day. And speed for speed they could match Hurricanes too. The drawback with all twins was - inability to accelerate quickly. And that stands to reason for there's more weight involved, plus wingspan and air resistance. All these factors would in due course be seen in the De Havilland Mosquito, the twin RR job of similar size to the Me110. And who'd want to dog fight with a Mosquito!! And if they went escorting daylight Flying Fortress's the Jerry Me 109s would knock 'em down like nine pins. Doing a job they were best at the Mossies were brilliant! And so was the Me110. Just a dozen of these Destroyers of the sky made a shambles of Croydon Airport with bombs, bullets and cannon shells. Other airfields felt their 'last' too.

The 330mph Me110 used as fighter bombers also had a 'sting' in their rear, and that's something the Mossie didn't have. The Me pilot also had a much better all round visibility too, thus enhancing both its day and night fighter potential. So all in all, and with twice the range of its little brother, the Me110 was a masterpiece. The fact that it could tackle any job - except dog fighting - and were Germany's best night fighter, with a thousand Lancaster and Halifax 'kills' to their credit, made it a classic aircraft. And the Germans knew that, so when they were aware that a twin-engined fighter was nearing its debut in the RAF colours - it was time to sit up and take notice.

By August there was still no sign of Whirlwinds; nor by the end of the month, at the height of the B of B. The factory had been raided again, setting back production. There was still talk though; but what good was that? September's end still saw Spits and Hurris doing all the fighting. Perhaps Whirlwinds were just a myth - a ruse to whip up patriotism. Our Lysanders took an awful knock in France - before Dunkirk. We'd had several squadrons based in France, along with Battle bombers and the Blenheims. Nothing could match the Germans there. Lysanders were just asking for trouble if they took off, let alone go near the German guns; and to meet a Messerschmitt big or small bought them instant death. Thereafter they were communications machines or helped with the Channel rescue of downed airmen. Target towing was another back area task, but in due time a Lysander delivered a spy into occupied France at night. Now this the aircraft excelled in for its slow landing and take off characteristics made it a winner in darkness: on soft grass the fat tyres proved a boon, while underneath the fuselage stores could be carried. So Lysanders became known as S O E planes - the Secret Operations Executive best friend. A lovely lovely aeroplane.

So where was the Whirlwind? Were they in reserve for the expected Invasion? Were they all dud? Have the Heinkels wrecked the factory? Were they doing SOE work on the sly? Nobody knew, and nobody had seen one. Soon the B of B would be of the past. Lord Haw Haw was laughing about them; he said they were all dud, and the factory was bombed to ruins. Could he be right? Soon it was time to start school again, regardless of a few air raids.

I saw a Spitfire going towards the airfield one afternoon as I emerged from school. It was flying straight and level yet I felt drawn to watch its progress. As it reached the aerodrome area the engine began spluttering, then stopped. The Spit then lost speed quickly before dropping its port wing it nosed over and into a dive for the ground. There was no parachute to be seen.

Another day we emerged from school to begin looking for shrapnel: there had been an air raid and we'd been pushed to the shelters in the playing field. We'd heard the detonations alright but surrounded by brick walls the noise wasn't great. Sure enough, just a few roads away were the ruined houses: a bedroom was open to the sky, while the floor, having sagged, had tipped furniture into the garden. One boy said his bit of bomb splinter was still warm. Yeah, I bet!

Another afternoon as I neard the Clifton Arms, a great roaring sound in the aerodrome direction drew my instant attention. Then suddenly, climbing steeply from behind the intervening trees on Kenley 'drome's south side came a twin engined plane at full throttle. YES - at last a WHIRLWIND!! Instantly recognisable, this latest thing in fighters stormed over the watching heads like a full blooded racer on a demonstration run to prove its claimed top speed. My goodness it was a pretty and welcome sight. This customer of course was the morale 'booster' for the 'doubting Thomas' and any flagging B of B pilots. Whatever, it proved my first and last siting of this interesting conception that lived up to its name, only. It was fast, but no dog-fighter. Only two squadrons were formed, with aircraft used in the fighter-bomber role.

It transpired that poor engine reliability caused long delays in development. Due to demand for Merlin engines, the Whirlwind had to have Peregrines; a poor substitute as they proved. However - when they worked OK, they were very fast. Only 110 were produced, so the Germans had little to fear from them: - the ruse or 'riddle' of the Yeovil Whirlwind was just a Westland 'flop' from Somerset.

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