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Supermarine Spitfire
- mawganmad
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13 Dec 2011 10:31 #11
by mawganmad
James Thomas
Replied by mawganmad on topic Supermarine Spitfire
Paul, post #7 has been amended to give some more of the info you require.
Be interesting to know more about the ORB entries Paul?
Be interesting to know more about the ORB entries Paul?
James Thomas
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13 Dec 2011 15:10 #12
by Paul Francis
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
Replied by Paul Francis on topic Supermarine Spitfire
Thanks MM.
Well some of the entries are very disturbing MM, but here is one example, but Warning: If you find the scrapping of historic aircraft very upsetting then read no further.
31-01-51 - A total of 24 aircraft were produced during the month, 21 for issue and three for reserve tasks: Issue Task – six Mosquito FB.6s; ten Prentice T.1s; one Spitfire PR.19; one Spitfire F.22; two Tiger Moth IIs and one Wellington T.10. Reserve Task – one Spitfire FR.18; one Spitfire F.22 and one Spitfire F.24. The burning of 121 NEA Horsa II gliders is now practically complete and a cleaning up operation now underway. A total of 24 aircraft were produced during the month, leaving nine in arrears. Of the arrears, one Lancaster B1 (PA396) is still outstanding as work on this aircraft is a low priority. Local steel work contractors opened the unserviceable ‘D’ type hangar door sufficiently on 29 January to release the Lancaster which is trapped inside this hangar. Two Spitfire F.18 arrears are still not completed, of these (SM987) is almost complete but has a leaking fuel pump. The other (TP232) is waiting for a replacement engine, after the failure of an oil pump drive but no Griffon 65s are available. Good progress was made on the current issue task, of those not completed Lancaster BI (PA340) has not been commenced as it is a low priority. All Mosquito FB.6, Prentice T.1 and Spitfire F.22 aircraft on issue task were completed. Of the four Tiger Moths, two were completed and the other two were being camouflaged prior to being air tested. Of the two Wellington T.10s, one is ready for UID Primary Star Inspection and the other is nearing completion. On the current reserve task, consisting of one Wellington T.10, it was not completed owing to a corroded fuel tank. Personnel strength – officers: nine, civilian officers three, civilians: 295 and AM Constabulary: 28. No flying was carried out during the month, owing to the absence of the only test pilot during the first seven days and the bad weather.
Well some of the entries are very disturbing MM, but here is one example, but Warning: If you find the scrapping of historic aircraft very upsetting then read no further.
31-01-51 - A total of 24 aircraft were produced during the month, 21 for issue and three for reserve tasks: Issue Task – six Mosquito FB.6s; ten Prentice T.1s; one Spitfire PR.19; one Spitfire F.22; two Tiger Moth IIs and one Wellington T.10. Reserve Task – one Spitfire FR.18; one Spitfire F.22 and one Spitfire F.24. The burning of 121 NEA Horsa II gliders is now practically complete and a cleaning up operation now underway. A total of 24 aircraft were produced during the month, leaving nine in arrears. Of the arrears, one Lancaster B1 (PA396) is still outstanding as work on this aircraft is a low priority. Local steel work contractors opened the unserviceable ‘D’ type hangar door sufficiently on 29 January to release the Lancaster which is trapped inside this hangar. Two Spitfire F.18 arrears are still not completed, of these (SM987) is almost complete but has a leaking fuel pump. The other (TP232) is waiting for a replacement engine, after the failure of an oil pump drive but no Griffon 65s are available. Good progress was made on the current issue task, of those not completed Lancaster BI (PA340) has not been commenced as it is a low priority. All Mosquito FB.6, Prentice T.1 and Spitfire F.22 aircraft on issue task were completed. Of the four Tiger Moths, two were completed and the other two were being camouflaged prior to being air tested. Of the two Wellington T.10s, one is ready for UID Primary Star Inspection and the other is nearing completion. On the current reserve task, consisting of one Wellington T.10, it was not completed owing to a corroded fuel tank. Personnel strength – officers: nine, civilian officers three, civilians: 295 and AM Constabulary: 28. No flying was carried out during the month, owing to the absence of the only test pilot during the first seven days and the bad weather.
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
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13 Dec 2011 16:28 #13
by mawganmad
James Thomas
Replied by mawganmad on topic Supermarine Spitfire
Me, I love aircraft scrappings! I can see why you asked the question about Roman numerals now, as this apears to be an early '50s entries the aircraft are being refered to in Arabic, the Spitfires are mainly late Mk anyway so would be known in Arabic, Wellington T.10s started out as T.Xs.
Looks an interesting read.
Looks an interesting read.
James Thomas
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13 Dec 2011 18:52 #14
by Paul Francis
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
Replied by Paul Francis on topic Supermarine Spitfire
Heres a few around the time of D-Day unfortunately the ORB is very limited in its content from 1943 to 1945.
30-04-44 Normal preparation during the month continued satisfactory and the target period on the 14 April showed 172 aircraft completed against the target of 149. Horsa production for the latter half of the month showed a decrease owing to the lack of components. Apart from normal work, the unit commenced engine installations in Spitfire IX airframes held in storage and by 30 April, 23 aircraft had been completed.
31-05-44 Commitments 491 and 492 were all completed by the required dates. Glider targets were also completed. Merlin engines were installed into Spitfire IX airframes. Personnel strength – officers: 35, airmen: 118, officer civilians: three and civilians: 758.
30-06-44 Aircraft preparation continued satisfactory during the month and all commitments of a special nature were met. Horsa production still suffers from lack of certain components. Installation of Merlin engines in Spitfire IVs being carried out and it is anticipated completion of the 120 aircraft by the end of July.
31-07-44 Aircraft preparation proceeded very satisfactory during the month, the target period ending on 14 July, with 180 aircraft being produced against a target of 181. This included the installation of 30 Merlin 66s in Spitfire IXs, also ten sets of main planes were removed from Spitfire IXs which were required for transfer to 2nd TAF, personnel worked all night of the 10 July to achieve this. For the six months ending 14 July, the unit has produced 947 aircraft.
31-08-44 Aircraft preparation for the month was very satisfactory; for the target period ending 14 August, 177 operational aircraft were prepared against a commitment of 161. This included the installation of ten Merlin 66 engines in Spitfire IX aircraft. The glider commitment of 60 was met in spite of shortage of components in the early part of the month. This is the highest figure so far recorded for the unit and the total number erected to date is 809 completed gliders. Personnel strength – officers: 34, other ranks: 113. Civilian officers: three and civilians: 750.
30-09-44 The preparation of aircraft continued satisfactory for the target period ending 14 September 1944. The commitment for Spitfire IX aircraft equipped to column 9 was not met owing to insufficient aircraft being available. Glider production of 62 for the period was a record for the unit, bringing the grand total of gliders produced to 871. A total of 157 aircraft and gliders were prepared against the target of 158.
30-04-44 Normal preparation during the month continued satisfactory and the target period on the 14 April showed 172 aircraft completed against the target of 149. Horsa production for the latter half of the month showed a decrease owing to the lack of components. Apart from normal work, the unit commenced engine installations in Spitfire IX airframes held in storage and by 30 April, 23 aircraft had been completed.
31-05-44 Commitments 491 and 492 were all completed by the required dates. Glider targets were also completed. Merlin engines were installed into Spitfire IX airframes. Personnel strength – officers: 35, airmen: 118, officer civilians: three and civilians: 758.
30-06-44 Aircraft preparation continued satisfactory during the month and all commitments of a special nature were met. Horsa production still suffers from lack of certain components. Installation of Merlin engines in Spitfire IVs being carried out and it is anticipated completion of the 120 aircraft by the end of July.
31-07-44 Aircraft preparation proceeded very satisfactory during the month, the target period ending on 14 July, with 180 aircraft being produced against a target of 181. This included the installation of 30 Merlin 66s in Spitfire IXs, also ten sets of main planes were removed from Spitfire IXs which were required for transfer to 2nd TAF, personnel worked all night of the 10 July to achieve this. For the six months ending 14 July, the unit has produced 947 aircraft.
31-08-44 Aircraft preparation for the month was very satisfactory; for the target period ending 14 August, 177 operational aircraft were prepared against a commitment of 161. This included the installation of ten Merlin 66 engines in Spitfire IX aircraft. The glider commitment of 60 was met in spite of shortage of components in the early part of the month. This is the highest figure so far recorded for the unit and the total number erected to date is 809 completed gliders. Personnel strength – officers: 34, other ranks: 113. Civilian officers: three and civilians: 750.
30-09-44 The preparation of aircraft continued satisfactory for the target period ending 14 September 1944. The commitment for Spitfire IX aircraft equipped to column 9 was not met owing to insufficient aircraft being available. Glider production of 62 for the period was a record for the unit, bringing the grand total of gliders produced to 871. A total of 157 aircraft and gliders were prepared against the target of 158.
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
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13 Dec 2011 19:40 #15
by Bradlad
Replied by Bradlad on topic Supermarine Spitfire
Interesting reports there Norwichpaul but I have a question, I have never come across the term " Civilian Officer " before, what is a civilian officer?
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13 Dec 2011 20:22 #16
by mawganmad
James Thomas
Replied by mawganmad on topic Supermarine Spitfire
I'm guessing they were the heads of the various CWP (Civilian Working Party) units?
These were used extensively through the war on ASUs & MUs and post-war until the great scrapping days were over in the early 1960s.
It is interesting stuff, was this from a Cosford MU did you say?
These were used extensively through the war on ASUs & MUs and post-war until the great scrapping days were over in the early 1960s.
It is interesting stuff, was this from a Cosford MU did you say?
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13 Dec 2011 22:53 #17
by Paul Francis
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
Replied by Paul Francis on topic Supermarine Spitfire
The majority of ASUs were staffed by civilians, with a few RAF officers and other ranks, but the work force by and large were civilians. as far as I know, civilian officers were equivellent to RAF officers. Also Warant Officer = Principal Foreman, Sergeant = Foreman, Corporal = leading storeman (for example) and so on. Yes MM Cosford.
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
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14 Dec 2011 18:46 #18
by canberra
Replied by canberra on topic Supermarine Spitfire
Some of the civil service grades equate to commissioned officer status, examples are HEOs. My sister was a clerical officer and she was the equivalent of a Sergeant.
We had a civilain PRO at Pitreavie, and boy did he like his officer status!
We had a civilain PRO at Pitreavie, and boy did he like his officer status!
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15 Dec 2011 07:58 #19
by WJT
Replied by WJT on topic Supermarine Spitfire
NP's parallel thread on Key Historic has so far gleaned 40 replies and 1,600 hits, although I'm not sure if there was more heat than light.
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15 Dec 2011 09:02 #20
by Paul Francis
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
Replied by Paul Francis on topic Supermarine Spitfire
Oh dear it might be getting out of hand and off topic over there. Just when I have similar questions on the Tiger Moth and Mosquito. Well the Tiger one is straight forward. Can anyone tell me what the differences are between a Tiger II EIC and Tiger II NFE, please? Ta
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
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