Work on rocket propulsion was begun by the de Havilland Engine Co. in 1946, almost exactly a year after the end of the Second World War. For about the first year activities were confined largely to a general appreciation of rocket problems and techniques and to an assessment of the experience which had been obtained elsewhere. At that time “elsewhere” meant almost exclusively Germany, from where many technical reports were then becoming available.

In 1946 the policy in this country regarding guided weapons was, to say the least, obscure and the part which the liquid propellant rocket engine was to play in that field, even more obscure. It was not surprising, therefore, that the de Havilland Engine Co., being already well established in the field of aircraft propulsion, should very soon tend to concentrate its rocket propulsion efforts to manned aircraft applications. They were encouraged in this policy by the successful German use of the Me. 163 and of rocket take-off units fitted to the He.lll, Ju.88 and other aircraft. In particular, it was foreseen that the defence requirements of the United Kingdom might necessitate at an early date the use of a fast climbing rocket-propelled fighter.