The Gloster Aircraft Company was formed in the First World War, when aircraft production at Hendon reached capacity and new premises were required to fulfil orders. Waring and Gillows used their premises in North Kensington along with the newly formed company Gloucestershire Aircraft at Cheltenham.

After the end of the war, aircraft companies were forced to either cease trading or merge to survive. Glosters went on to build a number of aircraft for the RAF and were involved with early jet aircraft development. The E28/39 was the first jet aircraft to fly in England in 1941 and the twin engined Gloster Meteor the first twin engined jet fighter to enter service with the RAF followed by the Gloster Javelin.