 In February 1935, the airfield temporarily became known as Bournemouth Airport not to be confused with nearby Bournemouth Airport at Hurn.In World War II, the airfield became RAF Christchurch.The Air Defence Research and Development Establishment was built at the northeastern end of the airfield, and in May 1940, the RAF Special Duties Flight, operating an assortment of aircraft arrived to take part in the experiments with radar.