Petroleum Warfare Department

9 July 1940 - 31 March 1946

By mid-June 940, plans were made on the British coast to empty petrol stations, or disable pumps, so that, in the event of an invasion, fuel could not be used by enemy forces.

On 29 June 1940, Maurice Hankey, joined the Ministerial Committee on Civil Defence (CDC). Hankey suggested the use of burning oil for defensive purposes, as had been used during the First World War. Hankey believed oil should be used to impede an invading force, not merely denied to them.

Towards the end of June 1940 Hankey raised the scheme, at a meeting of the Oil Control Board, showing extracts from a paper on experiments with oil in the First World War.

On 5th June 1940, Churchill authorised Geoffrey Lloyd, the Secretary for Petroleum, to go ahead with experiments.

Donald Banks was summoned by Lloyd, in early July 1940, who explained his and Hankey’s idea of “flames across Britain” to Banks. After considering the idea for a few days, Banks was not initially keen, but was ordered to report for special duties. On the 9th July 1940, the Petroleum Warfare Department was created, with Banks as Director-General.

Initially the PWD investigated the use of petroleum as a weapon, introducing a wide range of flame warfare weapons. Starting in 1942, the department started work on Fido, the Fog Investigation, Dispersal Operation, using petrol burners to clear fog from airfield runways. Operation Pluto, (Pipeline Under the Ocean) was a construction of pipelines transporting oil between England and France in support of the Allied invasion in Normandy 1944.

Experimental work terminated in late 1945. Between October 1945 and January 1946, A temporary exhibition was held at the Imperial War Museum, showcasing the work of the PWD, across three sections – Flame Weapons, Pluto, and Fido.

The Petroleum Warfare Department closed on 31st March 1946.