Civilian Repair Organisation
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.
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 (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 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]
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]
| Company | Locations | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Air Dispatch Ltd. | Cardiff | Repair Audax, Hart, Hector, Henley, Hind, Lysander, Potez, Wicko; parts of Wellington; Vengeance modifications |
| Air Service Training Ltd | Exeter, Hamble | Repair Airacobra, Hampden, Mustang, Seafire, Spitfire; parts of Spitfire; Mosquito modifications |
| Airspares Ltd | Hyde | Administration only? |
| Airspeed (1934) Ltd. | Christchurch, Portsmouth | Repair Oxford |
| Air Taxis Ltd | Altrincham, Barton, Middleton | Repair Anson, Dominie |
| Airtraining (Fair Oaks) Ltd. | Fair Oaks | Repair Beaufighter, Beaufort, Blenheim |
| Airtraining (Oxford) Ltd. | Kidlington | Repair Hurricane |
| Airwork General Trading Co. Ltd. | Gatwick, Loughborough, Renfrew, Staverton | Repair Anson (S), Battle, Blenheim, Boston (L), Havoc, Lancaster parts, Lysander, Oxford, Spitfire, Tomahawk, Wellington, Whitley (G); Wellington conversions |
| Albany Sheet Metal & Engineering Co. Ltd. | Oldham | Repair Beaufighter, Blenheim; parts of Mosquito |
| Anchor Motors Co. Ltd. | Chester | Parts of Wellington |
| A.P. Aircraft Ltd. | Coventry | Parts of Blenheim |
| Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Ltd. | Coventry | Repair Whitley |
| Atlantic Coast Airlines Ltd. | Barnstaple | Repair Anson, Falcon, Fox Moth, Hornet Moth, Hotspur, Lysander, Magister, Martinet, Mentor, Proctor, Tiger Moth, Tutor, Whitney Straight |
| Austin Motor Co. Ltd. | Cofton Hackett, Elmdon, Marston Green | Repair Battle; parts of Stirling |
| A. V. Roe & Co. Ltd. | Bracebridge Heath, Chadderton, Langar, Ringway, Waddington, Woodford, Yeadon | Repair Anson, Lancaster, Manchester; parts of Lancaster; Anson modifications, Manchester modifications |
| J.Berry & Sons Ltd. | Sywell | Parts of Blenheim, Hotspur, Oxford; Master modifications |
| Blackburn Aircraft Ltd. | Abbotsinch, Sherburn | Repair Shark, Skua, Swordfish; parts of Firebrand, Sunderland; Skua mods |
| Boulton & Paul Aircraft Ltd. | Wolverhampton | Repair Wellington; parts of Roc; Wellington modifications |
| Bristol Aeroplane Co. Ltd. | Weston-super-Mare, Whitchurch | Repair Beaufort, Blenheim, Bombay; parts of Sea Otter, Sunderland, Wellington |
| Brooklands Aviation Ltd. | Doncaster, Northampton, Sywell | Repair Wellington; parts of Lancaster |
| Brush Coachworks Ltd. | Loughborough | Repair Hampden; parts of Hereford |
| Burtonwood Repair Depot | Great Sankey | Repair Buffalo; mods, repair & overhaul various USAAC aircraft |
| Campbell Engineering Ltd. | Bromley | Salvage |
| Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft Ltd. | Eastleigh, Macmerry, Marwell, Silloth, Southampton | Repair Albacore, Blenheim, Boston, Cleveland, Henley, Hudson, Tomahawk, Typhoon, Vengeance, Venture |
| John Curran Ltd. | Cardiff | Repair Beaufighter, Blenheim, Martinet |
| de Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd. | Hatfield, Leavesden, Witney | DH.82 Queen Bee, DH.86B; parts of Magister |
| Dobson & Barlow Ltd. | Samlesbury | Repair Halifax, Vampire |
| Entwistle & Kenyon Ltd. | Accrington | Parts of Albemarle, Beaufighter, Beaufort, Blenheim, Stirling, Tiger Moth, Wellington |
| Fairey Aviation Ltd. | Hamble, Hayes, Heaton Chapel, Ringway | Repair Albacore, Anson, Battle, Seafox, Swordfish; parts of Albacore, Firefly, Fulmar, Gordon, Halifax, Spearfish, Swordfish; Fulmar mods |
| Fairfield Aviation Ltd. | Odham's Press (Watford), Elstree | Repair Audax, Hart, Hector, Hind, Lysander, Master, Wellington |
| Field Consolidated Aircraft Services Ltd. / Rollason Aircraft Services Ltd. | Croydon, Hanworth, Tollerton | Repair 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. | Hamble | Parts for Beaufighter, Beaufort, Spitfire |
| General Aircraft Ltd. | Hanworth | Repair Argus, Beaufighter, Beaufort, Blenheim, Blenheim, Hotspur, Hoverfly, Hurricane, Mustang, Spitfire |
| Gloster Aircraft Co. Ltd. | Hucclecote, Staverton, Stoke Orchard | Repair Henley, Meteor; parts of Gladiator |
| Green Bros | Maintenance & repair of target aircraft | |
| Handley Page Ltd. | Cricklewood, Radlett | Repair 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, Langley | Repair Hart, Hind, Hurricane, Tempest, Typhoon |
| Helliwells Ltd. | Walsall | Repair Harvard, Hurricane; Harvard modifications |
| Herts and Essex Aviation Ltd. | Broxbourne | Repair ATC gliders, Avro Commodore, Desoutter, Magister, Proctor, Puss Moth, Q-6, Taylorcraft, Vega Gull, Whitney Straight |
| Heston Aircraft Co. Ltd. | Harmondsworth (Penguin factory), Heston | Repair Spitfires |
| Lancashire Aircraft Corp Ltd. | Burnley, Samlesbury | Repair Beaufighter, Beaufort |
| William Lawrence & Co. Ltd. | Colwick | Parts of Anson, Hotspur, Tiger Moth |
| London Midland & Scottish Railway Ltd. | Barassie, Derby, Wolverton | Repair Hampden, Hereford, Lancaster, Spitfire, Whitley |
| London Passenger Transport Board | Chiswick | Parts of Halifax |
| Marshalls Flying School Ltd. | Teversham | Repair 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 & Sons | Balado Bridge, Kirkcaldy | Repair Blenheim, Boston, Fulmar, Hudson, Lodestar, Mustang, Tomahawk; parts of Dakota, Stirling, Sunderland, Venture |
| Morris Motors Ltd. | Cowley | Repair Hurricane, Magister, Master, Spitfire; parts of Tiger Moth |
| Morrisons Engineering Co. Ltd. | Horsey Toll | Repair Hurricane; parts of Wellington |
| Wm. Mumford Ltd. | Billacombe | Parts of Blenheim |
| Newbarn Engineering Co. Ltd. | Rochdale | Parts of Beaufort |
| Norbury Joinery & Cabinet Works Ltd. | Norbury | Repair Horsa, Hotspur |
| North Eastern Aircraft Components Ltd. | Gateshead | Parts of Defiant, Oxford |
| Papworth Industries Ltd. | Papworth Everard | Repair ATC gliders |
| Park Ward Co. Ltd. | Willesden | Parts of Magister, Master |
| Parker Knoll Ltd. | High Wycombe | Repair Hotspur |
| Parnall Aircraft Ltd. | Yate | Repair Hendy Heck |
| George Parnall & Co. Ltd. | Fishponds | Parts of Beaufighter, Beaufort |
| Percival Aircraft Ltd. | Luton | Repair Vega Gull, Q-6 |
| Phillips & Powis Aircraft Ltd. / Miles Aircraft Ltd. | Woodley | Repair Magister, Mentor |
| Pilkington Bros. Ltd. | Kirk Sandall | Parts of Halifax |
| Portsmouth Aviation Ltd. | Farlington, Portsmouth | Repair Envoy, Kirby Cadet, Oxford, Puss Moth; parts of Courier, Horsa, Master; Barracuda mods |
| Pressed Steel Co. Ltd. | Cowley | Parts of Typhoon |
| Redwing Aircraft Ltd. | Croydon, Thornton Heath, Wolverhampton | Repair Blenheim, Lysander, Wallace; parts of Battle, Beaufighter, Beaufort, Blenheim, Defiant, Halifax, Hurricane, Tempest, Typhoon, Wellington |
| Reid & Sigrist Ltd. | Desford | Airacobra, Defiant; parts of Harvard, Mitchell |
| Rollason Aircraft Services Ltd. | Croydon | Repair Audax, Battle, Demon, Gladiator, Hampden, Harrow, Hart, Hereford, Hurricane, Oxford |
| Rolls-Royce Ltd. | Hucknall | Repair Beaufighter, Hurricane; Hurricane conversions |
| Rootes Securities Ltd. | Blythe Bridge, Meir, Shawbury, Speke | Repair Blenheim; parts of Halifax |
| David Rosenfield Ltd. | Barton | Repair Battle, Fulmar, Hurricane |
| Saunders-Roe Ltd. | Cowes | Repair Lerwick, London, Stranraer, Walrus |
| Scottish Aviation Ltd. | Doncaster, Edzell, Greenock, Hendon, Macmerry, Melton Mowbray, Merryfield, Prestwick, Silloth | Repair ATC gliders, Battle, Catalina, Lerwick, Liberator, London, Oxford, Proctor, Roc, Skua, Spitfire, Stranraer, Sunderland; parts of Queen Bee |
| Scottish Motor Traction Co. Ltd. | Edzell, Merryfield | Repair Corsair, Hellcat, Hudson; parts of Dakota |
| SEBRO Ltd. | Bourn, Cambridge | Repair 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. | Belfast | Parts 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. | Kirbymoorside | Repair Hadrian, Hengist |
| Southern Aircraft (Gatwick) Ltd. | Gatwick, Tinsley | Repair 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, Coventry | Repair Whitley; parts of Wellington, Whitley |
| Supermarine (Vickers-Armstrongs) Ltd. | Woolston | Repair Spitfire, Walrus; parts of Stranraer |
| Surrey Flying Services Ltd. | Hamsey Green, Sanderstead | Repair Audax, Battle, Hart, Hornet Moth, Magister, Monospar, Phoenix, Puss Moth |
| James H. Sutcliffe & Son Ltd. | Todmorden | Parts of Halifax, Hotspur, Oxford, Tiger Moth |
| Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Ltd. | Mountsorrel, Rearsby, Syston, Thurmaston | Repair Auster, Harrow, Hurricane, Taylorcraft, Tiger Moth; parts of Wellington |
| Tollerton Aircraft Services Ltd. | Tollerton | Repair Hampden, Harrow, Hereford, Lancaster, Liberator, Manchester |
| Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd. | Brooklands | Repair Wellesley, Wellington; parts of Blenheim |
| Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd. | Chester | Repair Wellington |
| Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd. | Blackpool | Repair Wellington |
| Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd. | Castle Bromwich | Parts of Spitfire |
| J.W. Walker & Sons Ltd. | Ruislip | Unknown |
| Wallows (Walsall) Ltd. | Walsall | Parts of Blenheim, Halifax, Hurricane, Mustang, Wellington |
| Western Airways Ltd. | Weston-super-Mare | Repair Anson, ATC gliders, Cub, Mohawk, Swallow, Tomahawk |
| Westland Aircraft Ltd. | Ilchester, Yeovil | Repair Lysander, Welkin |
| Wrightways Air Services Ltd. | Eccles | Repair 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
- Sturtivant 2007, pp. 87-92
- Wright 2010, pp. 170-173
- Leaders and Commanders
- The Days of Glory - Day 42 - Battle of Britain
- Postan 1952, pp. 316-319
Bibliography
- Postan, M.M. 1952. History of the Second World War - British War Production. HMSO
- Sturtivant, Ray and Hamlin, John. 2007. RAF Flying Training and Support Units. Air-Britain ISBN 0-85130-365-X
- Wright, Peter. "From Scraps to Scrap", Aeromilitaria, December 2010