World War II was to prove a boom time for Prestwick as the Airport became the major shipment point for aircraft coming to Britain from American factories. This facet of the airport’s history, which had a major impact – and provided the basis for the post-war work at Prestwick – happened by chance, when an American aircrew, destined for Ireland, lost their way and landed at the Ayrshire base instead.
The Allied command realised that the excellent weather conditions at Prestwick made it an ideal base for transatlantic flights and Scottish Aviation continued to manage the site on behalf of the RAF throughout the war years. The Lend Lease programme, where American arms were sent to Britain without America actually entering the war, facilitated the arrival of American aircraft for RAF service, and after 1942 U.S. bombers also arrived to form the huge air armadas used to bomb Germany, with many of these planes arriving on British soil at Prestwick - sometimes as many as 300 in one day. This increase in traffic meant a substantial upgrade in airport facilities and a terminal was established at Orangefield House with a trans-atlantic air traffic control centre opened at the nearby Redbrae House.
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