ABSTRACT
The British aircraft industry at the beginning of 1917 showed all the signs of two and a half years of unplanned growth under competing Admiralty and War Office procurement authorities. The Board went on to explain the other shortcomings of the aircraft and engine procurement system as it had found it, stressing that present failures were due to mistakes in 'the development of aircraft during last summer and autumn'. The level of dilution in the aircraft industry had already reached 31 per cent by August 1916. British aircraft and aero engine procurement in 1918 did experience continued growth. The most obvious victim of the shortfall in production was the independent strategic bombing force, which never achieved more than a fraction of its intended strength.
