Rolls-Royce could not despatch the first production Peregrine engine until February 1940, so the first production Westland Whirlwind did not fly until May 22; deliveries commencing in June. North Weald in Essex was due to be the first base to take on the new type when P6966 and P6967 arrived to join 25 Squadron on June 3 for night-fighting trials, but these plans were changed. Instead 263 Squadron at Drem, Scotland, became the initial unit. The night-flying capabilities of the Whirlwind were good, however, and later a 137 Squadron pilot described it as "infinitely better than a Spitfire on the score of view and ease of flying at night". Deliveries were slow and by November 7,263 had received just eight, an embarrassing situation when fighters were urgently needed for the Battle of Britain. Such was the controversy that the type received considerable criticism from senior RAF personnel.
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