Joan Roberts - Factory Worker responsible for Horsa construction, Wolesey Factory
17/01/11 11:49
“I was conscripted into working on the glider wings from November 1941 until 1943. I had never been in a factory before, so it was quite an experience for me.
It was there that I met Gwen Pearson in the training shop. We were then sent into the main shop where we met Al Roberts and Harry Morton who were to make up the team to work on the jig.
While the men fitted the spars to the jig, Gwen and I collected the small parts from the stores. This consisted of Ribs, Plywood, Angle pieces, Glue, Small nails and a Hammer. A plywood angle was glued to each side of each end of a rib. When set each rib was then placed in position using the hammer, the angles were then nailed firmly into the spar.
Gwen and I suffered from bruised fingers, as it was difficult to hammer in such a confined space. Ernie from another jig made us a pair of tweezers in the shape of women’s legs (this caused quite a laugh). But they were a great help. When all the ribs were fitted a skin of plywood was glued to the top of the wing and left to set.
Not until I became involved in the glider project did I realise the significance of the job we were doing during the war.”
It was there that I met Gwen Pearson in the training shop. We were then sent into the main shop where we met Al Roberts and Harry Morton who were to make up the team to work on the jig.
While the men fitted the spars to the jig, Gwen and I collected the small parts from the stores. This consisted of Ribs, Plywood, Angle pieces, Glue, Small nails and a Hammer. A plywood angle was glued to each side of each end of a rib. When set each rib was then placed in position using the hammer, the angles were then nailed firmly into the spar.
Gwen and I suffered from bruised fingers, as it was difficult to hammer in such a confined space. Ernie from another jig made us a pair of tweezers in the shape of women’s legs (this caused quite a laugh). But they were a great help. When all the ribs were fitted a skin of plywood was glued to the top of the wing and left to set.
Not until I became involved in the glider project did I realise the significance of the job we were doing during the war.”