The following is a personal account from Peter Weston who was an apprentice at
Supermarine as to what exactly happened within the Factory. Peter has also kindly provided
a number of photographs taken inside the factory showing the various stages of production
and to access these photographs please click on the link below. The page may take some
time to download to your browser so please be patient - the wait is worth it.
Supermarine Aviation Co. Ltd. Woolston Works 1938.
I commenced my apprenticeship in August 1938 for a seven year period after which I had
hoped to obtain a Ground Engineers License. My father had to pay Supermarine £60 up front
for the right to undertake this apprenticeship, this money being used to pay me a salary
of 5 shillings per week for the first year, 10 shillings per week for the second year, and
finally for the third year the company would add their share and I would receive the
princely sum each week of 17 shillings and sixpence! The equivalent these days of 25p,
50p, and 87.5p respectively.
The factory was located on the water front of the Itchen river, and after leaving home
it was only a short walk to the Floating Bridge which dropped us off right next to the
factory. The main gate was supervised by at least three uniformed Supermarine Policemen
who were closely watching the hoards of workers pouring in, very seldom was anyone stopped
on the way in, although it was different matter when leaving, the policemen would pick at
random a few workers now and again, especially those with bags or packages.
After entering the factory the first thing you did was to punch the time clock, from
there one would go to their area put on overalls and then a siren would signal 7.30 a.m.
which was the time we commenced work. Apprentice's had to attend a school in the main
office building now and again for technical lessons usually lasting 2 hours.
On entering the main floor of the factory it appeared to be one huge hall surrounded
by galleries on three sides, to the right you would see the large area where the flying
boats were being finished off, this was their exclusive domain with craftsmen riggers
swarming around setting the fabric covered mainplanes for the correct incidence and warp,
I never really got the job of rigging fully understood during my time in the flight shed
but I enjoyed very much talking to the pilots that were to test the Stranraers and
Walrus's, and scrounge a flight if I could.
Leaving the boat area one would see the Spitfire production lines. One part would have
the wing construction Jigs, at first there were 10 wing Jigs of each for Port and
Starboard aligned side by side, this was the first area in which I started my
apprenticeship. A short distance away from the wings site you would see rows of Spitfire
fuselage's in various stages of completion, often as many as 70 or so. The Tail units that
were made separately by sub contractors, would be near the end of the line for final
fitting to the fuselage. As a matter of interest the tail unit was bolted to the main
portion by 52 bolts! and 4 studs round a double frame.
The next step would be to fit the engine bearers in place and from here on small parts
and bits and pieces would be fixed in place and once all the different stages had been
inspected along the way and passed by Supermarine inspectors, it would be the final
inspection by the Air Ministry Inspection Dept (A.I.D) who were resident in the factory
and had their own office.
Once everything had been cleared the wings and fuselage's would go to the paint shop
for painting before being delivered to our Eastleigh Hangars for assembly and complete
finishing and finally flight testing. Other area's in the factory were numerous, stores
for so many items, bolts, rivets, washers and everything needed to complete the job, the
chemical baths for annealing metals, de-greasing baths, plating etc, metal
"bashers" forming the tops, sides and the underneath engine cowlings. There were
many different areas concerned with making smaller detail parts.
Prior to the start of WW2 panic had already been started by the powers that be during late
1938 and again more so in 1939 because of the looming possibility of a confrontation with
Germany. At that time it became very noticeable that the Woolston works started to work
full out,
more than before, extra nightshifts were introduced, more female workers were taken on,
they were very capable at the type of work they were trained to do, a great asset to our
workforce.
When September 3rd 1939 came and we were declared officially at war, we had already
increased our output of aircraft but the pressure was on for more more more! and in fact
at times we did exceed the number requested, all due to a loyal work force. I was very
proud to be a part of them.
Later I joined the Royal Air Force in 1942 as Aircrew, my only regret was that I did not
fly a Spitfire. Oh well! I did in my imagination, often, sitting in a fully completed
Spitfire cockpit at Eastleigh.
Peter A. Weston - July 1999
Sadly Peter passed away in January 2004 and I am forever
grateful to him for his knowledge and the information that he passed to me to
enhance my site..........If you wish to read more about his life you can find the full
story at:
http://members.aol.com/famjustin/Westonbio.html
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