American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
In 1940, following the outbreak of the Second World War, Playfair was appointed director of plans at the War Office. In early 1942, he was appointed deputy commander (and chief of staff) of land forces in the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command (ABDACOM), a short-lived, supreme command for Allied forces in Southeast Asia and the southwest Pacific. In 1943, Playfair was appointed to the general staff of the 11th Army Group, in the South East Asia Command.