The land on which Fairoaks is now situated was originally called Dolley's Farm but at some point, believed to be in 1931, the name changed to Fair Oaks. It is understood that this was when flying started, on a strip prepared by Louis Strange.
In 1936 the Air Ministry requisitioned it for an airfield. Work started on converting a motley collection of small fields and a farmhouse to an airfield in June 1937, and it was only two months before the hanger, control tower, parachute tower etc, were finished.
The airfield was operated by General Aircraft Ltd on behalf of the Air Ministry and the first squadron arrived in October 1937 with six De Havilland 82A Tiger Moths and completed 3000 hours in the first year.
After the outbreak of war the number of students increased to over 50, each on a six week course and training for about one hour a day each. At the end of the course they were assessed for further training and sent elsewhere, to train for either fighters, bombers or transport.
After a raid on Brooklands in 1940, Hurricanes being manufactured there were flown in to Fairoaks and dispersed in the wooded area around the airfield for comparative safety.
By November 1941 the pilot shortage was becoming more acute - to increase output at Fairoaks, 15 instructors had 36 pupils per flight on 18 aircraft.
By June 1943 the school was logging over 2000 flying hours per month and the ATC gliding school had been started. More than 6000 pilots were trained at Fairoaks during the second world war.
