In what year did the government nationalize Power Jets Ltd., shifting control from Whittle?
Answer
1944
As the strategic importance of the jet engine became undeniable during the progression of the war, the government's tentative support for Power Jets Ltd. evolved into a desire for direct operational control. This shift occurred in 1944 when the government officially decided to nationalize the company. This action effectively converted Frank Whittle, the inventor, founder, and primary driving force, from an independent entrepreneur leading his creation into an employee under direct state ownership. This move generated substantial professional and personal friction for Whittle, fundamentally altering his relationship with the entity he had built from the ground up.
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