ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi, fˈɑːloʊɪŋ ðɪ ˈaʊtbɹeɪk ʌvðə sˈɛkənd wˈɜːld wˈɔːɹ, plˈeɪfɛɹ wʌz ɐpˈɔɪntᵻd dᵻɹˈɛktɚɹ ʌv plˈænz æt ðə wˈɔːɹ ˈɑːfɪs.
In 1940, following the outbreak of the Second World War, Playfair was appointed director of plans at the War Office.