Post by Diarist on Oct 17, 2020 13:13:18 GMT 1
We were in SW London when I proposed we have lunch. We had over an hour before my scheduled meeting at the MoD and I was hungry. Erich ate fish and chips for the first time and liked it. I parked the car at the MCD then walked across the road to Winston's office. Winston and Sir Philip were already present then Edward walked in just after me.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen," I opened. "I've just returned from Supermarine in Southampton and wasn't prepared for what I saw there." The other three were looking a bit confused.
"What's wrong then, Bob?" Edward asked.
"Nobody had told me that they had started producing Spitfires." I let that sink in and waited for an answer.
Sir Philip was the first to break the silence. "Who ordered that?"
"Apparently you three did. The maiden flight was so good that they understood you had given them the approval to start producing it. The paperwork would come later. Somehow they believed your words were a go ahead. Think about exactly what you said, please. Anyway, I cancelled it. There is one plane finished complete with 19th Squadron's livery and four more in various stages of completion from bare frame to almost finished. I can imagine that the only person with the knowledge about the 19th is you, Philip."
"I'm just as confused as you are, Bob. We were all very pleased with what we saw, the test pilot was exuberant and I seem to remember comments like 'it looks ready to build' but nothing definitive. That rarely happens. Someone asked me which Squadron would be receiving it first that's how they got that information."
"It appears to be a huge misunderstanding, Bob."
"That's what I told them, Winston. They have been planning to build it at Castle Bromwich later this year and that's where all the new personnel are being trained. I told them to construct 6 pre-production models which can be used as test-beds and they should send a couple to the RAE for evaluation. We need to send them £75,000 to cover the costs."
"I'm glad that has been sorted out and there's no real damage been done."
"Correct because we'll need a few more when we hopefully compare it with foreign competition. If that happens. Any news from the diplomatic front yet about progress in Europe, Winston?"
"They are aiming to sign a non-aggression pact sometime next month but they haven't decided on a venue yet." I was already smiling.
"Knowing how diplomats work that'll probably take more time than we needed to formulate the treaty itself. Suggest Luxembourg, Winston and don't forget to invite that Swiss Minister."
"I'll suggest it to Anthony later. Anything else?"
"I have a suggestion to solve the problem of which weapons for our two fighters. Here's a copy for you two, Edward can read my copy."
After a few minutes Winston praised the idea. "I like it, Bob. Weapon pods that can be used in both aircraft."
"It'll also enable a fighter to be rearmed in minutes. Do we have a date yet for next week's meeting, Philip?"
"I like it too, Bob and I was thinking of Thursday at 10 o'clock with lunch included."
"Fine with me," and the others signalled the same.
Sir Philip accompanied me to my MoD office. "Which armament do you prefer, Bob?"
"Two factors should decide that. The type of mission and how experienced the pilot is."
"New pilots are given a spray gun."
"Exactly. I prefer two cannon plus 4 MG's now then 4 cannon later when aircraft have more armour."
"I'll mention that at my round table."
Alice, my new secretary, politely reminded me of the Downing Street meeting at 16:00, something I had forgotten. Today is already Thursday. Philip said his farewells and I started preparing. It should be similar to the Defence Council meeting we had here Monday afternoon.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen," I opened. "I've just returned from Supermarine in Southampton and wasn't prepared for what I saw there." The other three were looking a bit confused.
"What's wrong then, Bob?" Edward asked.
"Nobody had told me that they had started producing Spitfires." I let that sink in and waited for an answer.
Sir Philip was the first to break the silence. "Who ordered that?"
"Apparently you three did. The maiden flight was so good that they understood you had given them the approval to start producing it. The paperwork would come later. Somehow they believed your words were a go ahead. Think about exactly what you said, please. Anyway, I cancelled it. There is one plane finished complete with 19th Squadron's livery and four more in various stages of completion from bare frame to almost finished. I can imagine that the only person with the knowledge about the 19th is you, Philip."
"I'm just as confused as you are, Bob. We were all very pleased with what we saw, the test pilot was exuberant and I seem to remember comments like 'it looks ready to build' but nothing definitive. That rarely happens. Someone asked me which Squadron would be receiving it first that's how they got that information."
"It appears to be a huge misunderstanding, Bob."
"That's what I told them, Winston. They have been planning to build it at Castle Bromwich later this year and that's where all the new personnel are being trained. I told them to construct 6 pre-production models which can be used as test-beds and they should send a couple to the RAE for evaluation. We need to send them £75,000 to cover the costs."
"I'm glad that has been sorted out and there's no real damage been done."
"Correct because we'll need a few more when we hopefully compare it with foreign competition. If that happens. Any news from the diplomatic front yet about progress in Europe, Winston?"
"They are aiming to sign a non-aggression pact sometime next month but they haven't decided on a venue yet." I was already smiling.
"Knowing how diplomats work that'll probably take more time than we needed to formulate the treaty itself. Suggest Luxembourg, Winston and don't forget to invite that Swiss Minister."
"I'll suggest it to Anthony later. Anything else?"
"I have a suggestion to solve the problem of which weapons for our two fighters. Here's a copy for you two, Edward can read my copy."
After a few minutes Winston praised the idea. "I like it, Bob. Weapon pods that can be used in both aircraft."
"It'll also enable a fighter to be rearmed in minutes. Do we have a date yet for next week's meeting, Philip?"
"I like it too, Bob and I was thinking of Thursday at 10 o'clock with lunch included."
"Fine with me," and the others signalled the same.
Sir Philip accompanied me to my MoD office. "Which armament do you prefer, Bob?"
"Two factors should decide that. The type of mission and how experienced the pilot is."
"New pilots are given a spray gun."
"Exactly. I prefer two cannon plus 4 MG's now then 4 cannon later when aircraft have more armour."
"I'll mention that at my round table."
Alice, my new secretary, politely reminded me of the Downing Street meeting at 16:00, something I had forgotten. Today is already Thursday. Philip said his farewells and I started preparing. It should be similar to the Defence Council meeting we had here Monday afternoon.