A.J.Whittemore (Aeradio) Ltd

After leaving 'The London College of Technology', I successfull applied for employment at 'A.J.Whittemore (Aeradio) Ltd', at Croydon Airport, as an aircraft radio repair and intallation engineer. The work consisted of refurbishing and setting up to full working condition of ex WW2 British and American aircraft radio and electronic equipment for civilian use, the installation and testing of it in aircraft, and assistance in producing 'Polar Diagrams' of aircraft 'Loop Radio' systems of individual aircraft in the field. Most common aircraft I worked on were .... Douglas C47 Dakota, Percival Proctor, Avro Anson, De Havilland Rapide, Auster Aiglet Trainer, De Havilland Chipmunk, De Havilland Mosquito, De Havilland Dove, Airspeed Oxford, Miles Gemini and Miles Messenger. We had three workshops, the main one with the administration offices and isolation test cage was in the front corner of the main airport building. We had further workshops in 'D Hanger' and several smaller concrete buildings (ex WW2 shelters) where we kept stores of ex Gov't equipment. The company also purchased large numbers of aircraft direct from the RAF disposal auctions. Just before my leaving, the company changed it's name to 'Avionics Ltd'.

One of our small concrete stores with the company name on the side, and our Fordson van which we used to drive round the aircraft out on the open field when collecting signal strength for 'Polar Diagrams'. A C47 Dakota in front awaits the fitting of a loop and other equipment for the newly formed 'BOAC' Airways.

Examples of radio and electronic equipment I worked with

SCR 269G - mainly Bendix - ADF / Radio Compass. MN26 - ADF / Radio Compass BC 312, BC 342, BC 348 - LF, MF, HF receivers. BC375 Transmitters. BC221 Frequency Meters TR1143 4 Channel Transceiver (British) SCR-522 4 Channel Transceiver (American). Interphone amplifiers - Packard-Bell ILS equipment (Model forgotten) SCS? SCR 578 Gibson Girl 500Kc/s calling channel Dinghy Emergency Transmitter. T1154 . R1155. BC 300