Munitions factory Reading WW2

[Abiam2]

thanks nell, will email in the new year
Abiam2

[PaulC120]

It is possible that he could have worked at Woodley Aerodrome (sadly now a housing estate) which was pre WW2 and during the war home to  Miles Aircraft 1930-1961 which is just  8 miles west along the A4 from Maidenhead so an easy bike ride

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Aircraft

See also
http://home.comcast.net/~aero51/html/airfield/map.htm

[Abiam2]

Thanks PaulC.  Will investigate further.
 :)Abiam2

[JustBenjy]

Hello,

Sorry this is a bit late.

Wargrave (Opposite Marsh Mill on the A321) :  Underground Factory run by Sir George Godfrey and Partners making hydraulics and gearbox assemblies for the Phillips Master trainer. 30'000 sq ft of manufacturing space. Surface buildings ran as a private engineering works until early 1980's.   Underground space became a covert Army Communication Centre during Cold War. Now used for archive storage.
http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/h/henley/

Warren Row:  Old chalk quarry converted to Underground factory made superchargers for aircraft engines. After 1958 became RSG6 until exposed by CND in the "Spies for Peace " debacle.

http://www.monkton-farleigh.co.uk/sc_warrenrow1.htm
Now a wine storage facility.

Theale: Was a Royal Ordnance Engineering Factory. I believe they made sten guns, and the 20mm shells which went to ROF Burghfield for assembly on the filling line.

Spitfire production:  Many garages, bus garages, car showrooms and some purpose built factories in the Reading and Newbury area were making components for Spitfires, which were assembled on the airfields at Aldermaston and Crazies Hill near Henley.

[Abiam2]

Never too late!  Maybe Wargrave or Warren Row will try and find out.
Thank you
Abiam 2

[Regorian]

I remember White Waltham. I went solo in an RAF glider 1st August 1960. I was vaguely aware of some light industrial usage but didn't take a lot of notice. Being in the ATC (153 Squadron Slough) we were encouraged to sign up for glider training as a half way house to becoming RAF pilots. Sunday mornings, one could go to WW (in uniform of course) and book in and sit in dispersals, hoping for a pilot to smile on you and invite you to fly with him. I don't know whether they're so free and easy now. 

They had DH Chipmunks and Avro Ansons. I remember one flight in each of them particularly. First was an Anson that had had engine trouble. Pilot was taking it down to Selsey Bill and back to check it out. I was in the back until after takeoff. Soon, he looked round and beckoned me up front. Explained the controls and instruments. Hands on, he said 'you have control'. Apart from taking over when we had to fly through some black clouds and the turn over Selsey Bill, I flew it most of the way. What an experience for a 17 year old.

 

   

[ScouseBoy]

They also had "Shadow Factories"  They had more than one factory  making the same components,  as a back up  in case one factory was bombed or put out of action.