Description
Object description
British civilian worked as electrical engineer at Vickers Supermarine, Stockbridge, Hampshire, GB, 1940-1944
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1923-1940: family background and childhood in Portsmouth; education; reaction to outbreak of war, 3/Sep/1939; description of air raids on Portsmouth, 1/1940 and 3/1940; method of dealing with incendiaries; use cellar in house as air raid shelter; moved from Portsmouth to Stockbridge, Hampshire, 3/1940. Recollections of period as electrical engineer at Vickers Supermarine, Stockbridge, Hampshire, GB, 1940-1944: description of factory and site; method of delivery of Spitfire wings and fuselage to final assembly unit; problem of missing parts; description of work bonding airlines for electrical wires; problem of static in Spitfire; role as under foreman; size of workforce in electrical squad and assembly unit; working hours; question of communal spirit and pride in work; description of assembling Spitfire.
REEL 2 Continues: further description of assembling Spitfire including method of attaching wings; opinion of Spitfire; problem of changing magneto and fitting radio harness; description of electrical systems; problem with undercarriage circuit and lights; opinion of test pilot Jeffrey Quill; description of checking and fitting radio into Spitfire; opinion of site manager David Burgess; liaison with Aircraft Inspection Department personnel; description of final electrical test and engine testing.
REEL 3 Continues: problem of towing and parking Spitfires in hangars during Battle of Britain; facilities for female employees; opinion of canteen; transport of staff to site in Ministry of Aircraft Production bus; story of buying own motor cycle and petrol ration for journey to work; wages and working hours; description of Spitfire camouflage schemes, method of spray painting and adding roundels; reason for polishing rivets on Photo Reconnaissance Unit aircraft; description of Spitfire armaments; method of operating cameras in Photo Reconnaissance Unit aircraft ; opinion of Air Transport Auxiliary pilots; number of Spitfires completed each day; description of German air attack; holidays; attitude to not being allowed to join RAF due to reserved occupation; duties as charge hand; description of final checking and cleaning of aircraft before test flight; reason for use of doped patches over machine gun ports on Spitfire; opinion of importance of work; question of making own tools; nature of work at Royal Naval Repair Yard in Gosport, 1945; reflections on Spitfire and variations between marks.