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 to Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd. seeking clarification on drawings for a Spitfire's 1/2' gun ammo box.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 176\1\ img165 | |
| Date | 24th April 1941 | |
| [ C. TO Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} ] Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/JD.{J. Draper - Frames} Ve. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}10/JH. 24th. April, 1941. Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd., Supermarine Works, Hursley Park, Winchester. Hants. For the attention of J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Smith Esq. Dear Sirs, We regret that yesterday we wrote saying that the drawings of the ammo. box for the 1/2" gun in the Spitfire had not come to hand. They have however, arrived today having gone to Hucknall in mistake. We thank you very much indeed for the drawings which you have sent and the help which they will give to us. There are one or two points upon which we are not quite clear, and we will enumerate them. (1) We take it that the ammo. box enters the wing from below and extends right up to the top skin. Is the box permanently in the 'plane or is it removed for filling. We gather the former is the case. (2) We presume that there is a trap door in the wing above the box to enable the belt to be threaded into the chute and subsequently into the gun. We would be glad if you could enlighten us on these points. As soon as we have got our gun fixed up with suitable ammo. box and chutes, we will let you know when you can see it firing. Since the writer is evacuated some distance from the factory, we suggest that in future it would - ^ - | ||