Interview with Stanley Grainger

British apprentice with Rolls-Royce Ltd in Derby and Nottingham, GB, 1942-1946; aircraftman served as flight mechanic with Royal Air Force in GB, 1946-1948; fitter worked with Rolls-Royce Ltd in Derby, GB, 1948-1952; fitter and draughtsman worked with Flight Development Establishment, Rolls-Royce Ltd at Hucknall, GB, 1952-1971; Test Support Engineer with Flight Development Establishment, Rolls-Royce Ltd at Hucknall, GB, 1971-1988

REEL 1 Background in Heanor, GB, 1928-1942: family; question of not choosing mining as a career. Recollections of period as apprentice with Rolls-Royce Ltd in GB, 1942-1946: different types of apprentices employed by company; selection interview and reasons for choosing Rolls-Royce Ltd; reporting for work; attending Rolls-Royce Engineering College in Derby; work in research laboratory; mailroom work; size and character of wartime factory; types of engines being produced; foundry work; invitation to work as fitter on tank engines at Rover Company Ltd's plant in Nottingham; stripping down tank engines; attitude to working on tank engines and behaviour of older fitters; work on engines and tools; ease with which engines could be stripped down; leaving factory, 5/1945; move to factory repairing and overhauling Rolls-Royce Merlin Engines. REEL 2 Continues: production testing of Rolls-Royce Merlin Engine; experience gained within the company as apprentice; disposal of Packard built Merlin Engines in 1945; obtaining tool kits from Packard built Merlin Engines; contrast in manufacturing of Merlin Engine by Rolls-Royce and the Packard; taking job in Component Department; assembling dual drive; differing oil pressures in Rolls-Royce Merlin Engine; attitude to working in component department. Recollections of period as aircraftman in RAF in GB, 1946-1948: call-up to Royal Air Force for National Service; attitude to training; accommodation; engine training course at RAF Cosford; duration and pattern of training course; posting to No 38 Group, Transport Command, RAF at RAF Syerston; first flight in Handley Page Halifax over Nottingham; nature of servicing work; engine lifespans. REEL 3 Continues: move to RAF North Luffenham, 1948; obtaining work as petrol bowser driver. Aspects of period as fitter with Rolls-Royce in GB, 1948-1952: return to Rolls-Royce, 8/1948; work assembling Rolls-Royce RB.37 Derwent Engine; use of blueprint drawings; size of teams employed during production of jet engine; reorganisation of company; reaction to production shift work, 1950; reasons for move to Hucknall, 5/1952. Recollection of period as fitter and draughtsman with Flight Development Establishment, Rolls-Royce Ltd at Hucknall, GB, 1952-1971: character of site at Hucknall; obtaining employment as fitter; nature of rig testing; method of rig testing pump; work on fuel cooled oil cooler; nature of bypass jet engine; problems with bypass duct on Rolls-Royce Conway RB.80 Engine; method of pressurising bypass duct of Rolls-Royce Conway RB.80 Engine on test rig and measuring results. REEL 4 Continues: organisation of rig testing work; different types of rigs; dangers of working on fuel rig; operating fuel rig; pressure work; becoming draughtsman, 1957; work on Rolls-Royce Flying Thrust Measuring Rig, 'The Flying Bedstead'; character of Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig, 'The Flying Bedstead'; fatal accident with Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig, 'The Flying Bedstead'; involvement in drawing work for test rigs; designing rig to test components; how previous experience. Recollections of period as Test Support Engineer with Flight Development Establishment of Rolls-Royce Ltd at Hucknall, GB, 1971-1988: role of Test Support Engineer and organisation of work; meeting civil aviation regulations; organisation of ingestion testing; ingestion testing with birds. REEL 5 Continues: method of directing firing of birds into engines; ingestion testing with ice; method of X-ray testing of jet engines and method of recording results; attitude to work as Test Support Engineer; work in community measuring noise made by rig testing; attitude to solving problems and aiding younger engineers; attitude to working for Rolls-Royce Ltd in GB, 1942-1988.