From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Letter from the Ministry of Aircraft Production concerning the testing of aircraft armaments and ammunition supply.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 176\1\ img135 | |
| Date | 27th January 1941 | |
| COPY. SECRT. MINISTRY OF AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION, D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} ARM. D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} MILLBANK, S.W.1. 27th January, 1941. Dear Lappin, Please forgive me for not writing to you earlier, but I have been laid up with 'flu, and there has been a great deal to decide on the policy as regards the 40 mm guns. I have now got a decision from Sir Henry Tizard that your gun will be tested as soon as possible in a Beaufighter, which, I understand, you have now at Hucknall. The object of these trials is to test the performance of the gun at high altitudes. I have asked my Air Gunnery Technical Board to write to you officially on the subject. Owing to the shortage of Beaufighters, I hope you will not object to me fitting on the other side of the aircraft a Vickers 40 mm. gun at the same time, as I am very anxious to test these two guns against each other. If you are coming to London shortly, will you please call in and have a word about this project. I have spoken to Wingate about your .5 ammunition and I am afraid there is a very acute shortage, in fact it is so bad that we cannot get enough for our trials at the moment. However, Wingate is doing his best and will try to get 2,000 or 3,000 rounds for you as soon as possible. Regarding the question of Besa ammunition, and your .5 gun, I am now carrying out trials with this ammunition, and until we have a report, I am afraid I can give you no further information regarding our talk of converting the calibre of your gun to take this ammunition. Yours sincerely, (Sgd) P.Huskinson, Air Commodore. | ||