[3][4] The crucial situation in the Battle of the Atlantic meant that RAF Bomber Command had to loan squadrons of bombers to Coastal Command to aid in the anti-submarine effort, and on 25 October 1942, the Handley Page Halifax-equipped 405 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, together with a flight of five more Halifaxes of 158 Squadron arrived at Beaulieu, supplementing 224's Halifaxes in anti-submarine patrols.

[8] The airfield was used by the following units:[9] For security reasons, the USAAF referred to Beaulieu as Station AAF 408 during the war.

Between 1 and 21 July the Martin B-26 Marauders of the 323d Bombardment Group arrived from RAF Earls Colne.

In December 1944, the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment (AFEE) moved to the airfield, where it remained for nearly six years using a variety of aircraft, including unusual ones such as the General Aircraft GAL.55 glider "Trixie" — the nickname derived from its Air Ministry Specification "TX.3/43", the Supermarine Type 322 "Dumbo", the Hafner Rotachute and Rotabuggy, and the Hamilcar X, along with various Handley Page Halifaxes used for supply-dropping experiments.

[22] On 14 September 1950, AFEE was disbanded, and most of its equipment and personnel were transferred to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at RAF Boscombe Down.

[22] Beaulieu airfield was then without any flying units, placed under Care and Maintenance status, and then declared inactive.

Finally, on 8 September 1955 Beaulieu airfield was handed back to the Air Ministry, in whose care it remained until November 1959 when it relinquished control of the land.

With the facility released from military control, it once again became part of the New Forest Crown lands managed by the Forestry Commission.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency