Civilian Repair Organisation

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The Civilian Repair Organisation (CRO) was a branch of the British Air Ministry (later, of the Ministry of Aircraft Production), formed in 1939 to co-ordinate maintenance and repairs of military aircraft by civilian firms.

Contents

It should not be confused with the Civil Repair Organisation, which carried out similar functions for the UK Air Ministry in India between 1943 and 1945.

Background

Following the outbreak of World War II, on 11 September 1939 the No.1 Civilian Repair Unit (CRU) was established at the Cowley works of Morris Motors, to be staffed by civilians under the management of the Air Ministry. On 6 October 1939, Sir Kingsley Wood (the Secretary of State for Air) officially appointed William Morris (Lord Nuffield) as Director General (Maintenance), to organise and manage the Civilian Repair Organisation (CRO), to control the CRU and participating civilian firms. Nuffield, as the head of Morris Motors, had been in charge of the shadow factory for aircraft production at Castle Bromwich.

CRO administration was established at Magdalen College, Oxford. On 14 May 1940, supervision of the CRO was transferred from the Air Ministry to the newly formed Ministry of Aircraft Production, under Lord Beaverbrook. The No.1 CRU was supplemented by the No.1 Metal and Produce Recovery Depot (MPRD), established adjacent to the existing Cowley works. At Cowley, a support unit was established in the form of No.50 Maintenance Unit (MU), to transport damaged aircraft and parts to the CRU and to firms participating in the CRO, and also to collect non-repairable parts and scrap for materials reclamation at MPRD. Individual Maintenance Units came under the control of No.43 Group, RAF Maintenance Command. [1] [2]

Civilian workers carrying out salvage and repair work on a wing of a Fairey Swordfish aircraft IWM-L94 Swordfish repair 205196340.jpg
Civilian workers carrying out salvage and repair work on a wing of a Fairey Swordfish aircraft

The civilian firms under individual contracts from the CRO were mostly existing companies engaged in the production, maintenance, repair and operation of aircraft in the UK. Those were supplemented by additional companies in the engineering and woodworking industrial sectors. Repairs to whole aircraft or parts of aircraft were often carried out in dispersed industrial factories, then transported to airfields for re-assembly and test flying, before re-delivery to RAF units. [1] For cases of minor repairs that could be achieved quickly, aircraft could be flown to a CRO firm based at an airfield, repaired, and flown out the following day by the same pilot; these were known as "Fly In" repairs. [3] [4]

List of firms participating in the CRO

Principal ref: Sturtivant 2007 [1]

CompanyLocationsWork
Air Dispatch Ltd.CardiffRepair Audax, Hawker Hart, Hector, Henley, Hind, Westland Lysander, Potez, Wicko; parts of Wellington;
Vengeance modifications
Air Service Training LtdExeter, HambleRepair Airacobra, Handley Page Hampden, Mustang, Seafire, Spitfire; parts of Spitfire;
Mosquito modifications
Airspares LtdHydeRemove parts from crashed aircraft, for reuse.
Airspeed (1934) Ltd. Christchurch, PortsmouthRepair Airspeed Oxford
Air Taxis LtdAltrincham, Barton, MiddletonRepair Anson, Dominie
Airtraining (Fair Oaks) Ltd.Fair OaksRepair Bristol Beaufighter, Beaufort, Blenheim
Airtraining (Oxford) Ltd.KidlingtonRepair Hawker Hurricane
Airwork General Trading Co. Ltd. Gatwick, Loughborough, Renfrew, StavertonRepair Avro Anson (S), Battle, Blenheim, Douglas Boston (L), Havoc, Lancaster parts, Lysander, Oxford, Spitfire, Tomahawk, Wellington, Whitley (G);
Wellington conversions
Albany Sheet Metal & Engineering Co. Ltd.OldhamRepair Beaufighter, Blenheim; parts of Mosquito
Anchor Motors Co. Ltd.ChesterParts of Wellington
A.P. Aircraft Ltd.CoventryParts of Blenheim
Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Ltd. CoventryRepair Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
Atlantic Coast Airlines Ltd.BarnstapleRepair Anson, Falcon, Fox Moth, de Havilland Hornet Moth, Hawker Hotspur, Lysander, Magister, Martinet, Mentor, Proctor, Tiger Moth, Tutor, Whitney Straight
Austin Motor Co. Ltd. Cofton Hackett, Elmdon, Marston GreenRepair Battle; parts of Short Stirling
A. V. Roe & Co. Ltd. Bracebridge Heath, Chadderton, Langar, Ringway, Waddington, Woodford, YeadonRepair Anson, Avro Lancaster, Avro Manchester; parts of Lancaster; Anson modifications, Manchester modifications
J.Berry & Sons Ltd.SywellParts of Blenheim, Hotspur, Oxford; Master modifications
Blackburn Aircraft Ltd.Abbotsinch, SherburnRepair Blackburn Shark, Blackburn Skua, Fairey Swordfish; parts of Firebrand, Short Sunderland; Skua mods
Boulton & Paul Aircraft Ltd. WolverhamptonRepair Wellington; parts of Blackburn Roc; Wellington modifications
Bristol Aeroplane Co. Ltd. Weston-super-Mare, WhitchurchRepair Beaufort, Blenheim, Bombay; parts of Supermarine Sea Otter, Sunderland, Wellington
Brooklands Aviation Ltd.Doncaster, Northampton, SywellRepair Wellington; parts of Lancaster
Brush Coachworks Ltd. LoughboroughRepair Hampden; parts of Hereford
Burtonwood Repair DepotGreat SankeyRepair Buffalo; mods, repair & overhaul various USAAC aircraft
Campbell Engineering Ltd.BromleySalvage
Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft Ltd.Eastleigh, Macmerry, Marwell, Silloth, SouthamptonRepair Fairey Albacore, Blenheim, Boston, Cleveland, Henley, Lockheed Hudson, Tomahawk, Hawker Typhoon, Vultee Vengeance, Lockheed Ventura
John Curran Ltd.CardiffRepair Beaufighter, Blenheim, Martinet
de Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd. Hatfield, Leavesden, WitneyDH.82 Queen Bee, DH.86B; parts of Miles Magister
Dobson & Barlow Ltd.SamlesburyRepair Halifax, de Havilland Vampire
Entwistle & Kenyon Ltd.AccringtonParts of Albemarle, Beaufighter, Beaufort, Blenheim, Stirling, Tiger Moth, Wellington
Fairey Aviation Ltd. Hamble, Hayes, Heaton Chapel, RingwayRepair Albacore, Anson, Fairey Battle, Seafox, Swordfish; parts of Albacore, Fairey Firefly, Fairey Fulmar, Gordon, Halifax, Spearfish, Swordfish; Fulmar mods
Fairfield Aviation Ltd.Odham's Press (Watford), ElstreeRepair Audax, Hart, Hector, Hind, Lysander, Master, Wellington
Field Consolidated Aircraft Services Ltd. / Rollason Aircraft Services Ltd. Croydon, Hanworth, TollertonRepair Beaufighter, Beechcraft, Eagle, Hampden, Harrow, Hereford, Hudson, Hurricane, Oxford, Wellington; modifications to Horsa, Oxford, Wellington; parts of Albemarle, Audax, Battle, Demon, Hampden, Hereford, Hurricane, Oxford, Proctor, Wellington
Folland Aircraft Ltd.HambleParts for Beaufighter, Beaufort, Spitfire
General Aircraft Ltd. HanworthRepair Argus, Beaufighter, Beaufort, Blenheim, Blenheim, Hotspur, Hoverfly, Hurricane, Mustang, Spitfire
Gloster Aircraft Co. Ltd. Hucclecote, Staverton, Stoke OrchardRepair Henley, Gloster Meteor; parts of Gloster Gladiator
Green BrosMaintenance & repair of target aircraft
Handley Page Ltd.Cricklewood, RadlettRepair Hampden, Harrow, Heyford; parts of Halifax
Handley Page Ltd.York Aircraft Repair Depot [YARD]Repair Halifax; Halifax modifications
Hawker Aircraft Ltd.Brooklands, Kingston upon Thames, LangleyRepair Hart, Hind, Hurricane, Tempest, Typhoon
Helliwells Ltd.WalsallRepair Harvard, Hurricane; Harvard modifications
Herts and Essex Aviation Ltd.BroxbourneRepair ATC gliders, Avro Commodore, Desoutter, Magister, Proctor, Puss Moth, Q-6, Taylorcraft, Vega Gull, Whitney Straight
Heston Aircraft Co. Ltd. Harmondsworth (Penguin factory), HestonRepair Spitfires
Lancashire Aircraft Corp Ltd. Burnley, SamlesburyRepair Beaufighter, Beaufort
William Lawrence & Co. Ltd.ColwickParts of Anson, Hotspur, Tiger Moth
London Midland & Scottish Railway Ltd.Barassie, Derby, WolvertonRepair Hampden, Hereford, Lancaster, Spitfire, Whitley
London Passenger Transport Board ChiswickParts of Halifax
Marshalls Flying School Ltd.TevershamRepair Albemarle, Anson, Fortress, Gladiator, Harvard, Master, Mosquito, Oxford, Typhoon, Whitley; parts of Anson, Fortress, Gladiator, Hart, Magister, Master, Oxford, Whitley; overhaul Dakota, Mosquito
Martin Hearn Ltd.Hooton Park,
Little Sutton		Repair Anson, ATC gliders, Mosquito
T. McDonald & SonsBalado Bridge, KirkcaldyRepair Blenheim, Boston, Fulmar, Hudson, Lodestar, Mustang, Tomahawk; parts of Dakota, Stirling, Sunderland, Ventura
Morris Motors Ltd.CowleyRepair Hurricane, Magister, Master, Spitfire; parts of Tiger Moth
Morrisons Engineering Co. Ltd.Horsey TollRepair Hurricane; parts of Wellington
Wm. Mumford Ltd.BillacombeParts of Blenheim
Newbarn Engineering Co. Ltd.RochdaleParts of Beaufort
Norbury Joinery & Cabinet Works Ltd.NorburyRepair Horsa, Hotspur
North Eastern Aircraft Components Ltd.GatesheadParts of Boulton Paul Defiant, Oxford
Papworth Industries Ltd.Papworth EverardRepair ATC gliders
Park Ward Co. Ltd.WillesdenParts of Magister, Master
Parker Knoll Ltd.High WycombeRepair Hotspur
Parnall Aircraft Ltd.YateRepair Hendy Heck
George Parnall & Co. Ltd.FishpondsParts of Beaufighter, Beaufort
Percival Aircraft Ltd.LutonRepair Vega Gull, Q-6
Phillips & Powis Aircraft Ltd. / Miles Aircraft Ltd. WoodleyRepair Magister, Mentor
Pilkington Bros. Ltd.Kirk SandallParts of Halifax
Portsmouth Aviation Ltd.Farlington, PortsmouthRepair Envoy, Kirby Cadet, Oxford, Puss Moth; parts of Courier, Horsa, Master; Barracuda mods
Pressed Steel Co. Ltd. CowleyParts of Typhoon
Redwing Aircraft Ltd.Croydon, Thornton Heath, WolverhamptonRepair Blenheim, Lysander, Wallace; parts of Battle, Beaufighter, Beaufort, Blenheim, Defiant, Halifax, Hurricane, Tempest, Typhoon, Wellington
Reid & Sigrist Ltd. DesfordAiracobra, Defiant; parts of Harvard, Mitchell
Rollason Aircraft Services Ltd. CroydonRepair Audax, Battle, Demon, Gladiator, Hampden, Harrow, Hart, Hereford, Hurricane, Oxford
Rolls-Royce Ltd.HucknallRepair Beaufighter, Hurricane; Hurricane conversions
Rootes Securities Ltd. Blythe Bridge, Meir, Shawbury, SpekeRepair Blenheim; parts of Halifax
David Rosenfield Ltd.BartonRepair Battle, Fulmar, Hurricane
Saunders-Roe Ltd.CowesRepair Lerwick, London, Stranraer, Walrus
Scottish Aviation Ltd.Doncaster, Edzell, Greenock, Hendon, Macmerry, Melton Mowbray, Merryfield, Prestwick, SillothRepair ATC gliders, Battle, Catalina, Lerwick, Liberator, London, Oxford, Proctor, Roc, Skua, Spitfire, Stranraer, Sunderland; parts of Queen Bee
Scottish Motor Traction Co. Ltd.Edzell, MerryfieldRepair Corsair, Hellcat, Hudson; parts of Dakota
SEBRO Ltd. Bourn, CambridgeRepair ATC gliders, Bv.222, R3O, Sunderland; parts of Singapore; mods of Short C-class, Hereford, Seafire, Stirling;
Short Bros (Rochester & Bedford) Ltd. Rochester,
South Marston, Swindon		Repair Singapore, Sunderland; parts of Queen Bee, Seaford; Sunderland mods
Short & Harland Ltd. BelfastParts of Stirling, Sunderland
Shrager Bros Ltd.Edmonton,
Old Warden		Repair Desoutter, Heston Phoenix, Leopard Moth, Magister, Proctor, Q-6, Vega Gull, Whitney Straight; mods for Harvard, Mustang
Slingsby Sailplanes Ltd.KirbymoorsideRepair Hadrian, Hengist
Southern Aircraft (Gatwick) Ltd. Gatwick, TinsleyRepair ATC gliders, Battle, Blenheim, Expeditor, Fairchild, Harvard, Hornet Moth, Moth Minor, Puss Moth, Reliant, Tiger Moth, Vega Gull; parts of Argus, Corsair, Spitfire, Vigilant, Wellington
SS Cars Ltd.Bishop's Tachbrook, CoventryRepair Whitley; parts of Wellington, Whitley
Supermarine (Vickers-Armstrongs) Ltd. WoolstonRepair Spitfire, Walrus; parts of Stranraer
Surrey Flying Services Ltd. Hamsey Green, SandersteadRepair Audax, Battle, Hart, Hornet Moth, Magister, Monospar, Phoenix, Puss Moth
James H. Sutcliffe & Son Ltd.TodmordenParts of Halifax, Hotspur, Oxford, Tiger Moth
Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Ltd. Mountsorrel, Rearsby, Syston, ThurmastonRepair Auster, Harrow, Hurricane, Taylorcraft, Tiger Moth; parts of Wellington
Tollerton Aircraft Services Ltd.TollertonRepair Hampden, Harrow, Hereford, Lancaster, Liberator, Manchester
Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd. BrooklandsRepair Wellesley, Wellington; parts of Blenheim
Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd.ChesterRepair Wellington
Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd.BlackpoolRepair Wellington
Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd.Castle BromwichParts of Spitfire
J.W. Walker & Sons Ltd.RuislipUnknown
Wallows (Walsall) Ltd.WalsallParts of Blenheim, Halifax, Hurricane, Mustang, Wellington
Western Airways Ltd.Weston-super-MareRepair Anson, ATC gliders, Cub, Mohawk, Swallow, Tomahawk
Westland Aircraft Ltd.Ilchester, YeovilRepair Lysander, Welkin
Wrightways Air Services Ltd.EcclesRepair Q-6, Scion

Summary of operations

In the period May 1940 to July 1945, CRO had returned a total of 79,000 aircraft to the flight line. At that point, of all the heavy aircraft then flying in the RAF, 36.5% (3,285) had been processed through CRO. Activities continued for several years after the end of World War II. [5]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Sturtivant 2007, pp. 87-92
  2. ↑ Wright 2010, pp. 170-173
  3. ↑ Leaders and Commanders
  4. ↑ The Days of Glory - Day 42 - Battle of Britain
  5. ↑ Postan 1952, pp. 316-319

Bibliography

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