Lloyd Committee
From The Space Library
A group of British industry figures who gathered immediately after the end of World War 2 to discuss Britain's future use of rockets.
- Minutes from the meeting on Oct 22 1945 as follows:
Present: Chairman:Mr John Lloyd (Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft), Dr Owen Saunders (Imperial College), Mr Robert L. Lickley (Hawker), Mr William F. Saxton (Armstrong Siddeley Motors Ltd), Secretary: Mr Michael N. Golovine (Armstrong Siddeley Motors Ltd).
Items covered include: Rolls-Royce had been asked to envisage the fitting of a special rocket pump drive on the B.41 Nene engine. BMW rocket unit seems to be the most suitable type. Dr Saunders said that MAP had no rocket motor designs available at the present. It was agreed that while the BMW.718 was more of an engineering proposition, the Walther should also be examined.
Various applications of rockets were discussed. Mr Saxton thought that Armstrong Siddeley Motors could begin with personnel at present available, but eventually there would have to be expansion to meet new commitments. The Chairman alluded to the problem of specialist designers and suggested German technicians should be obtained to avoid duplication of research already completed in Germany. The committee agreed with this view, but it was felt that the organization problems in connect with the employment of German technicians would require very careful study.[1]
Action: Mr Lloyd to contact Sir Roy Fadden and arrange for a BMW.718 unit to be delivered to Parkside. Mr Saxton will arrange to have the unit dismantled and examined at Armstrong Siddeley Motors. He will report to the committee on the possibility of producing such units in Coventry. The first rocket motors to be copies of the BMW.718. Mr Golovine to interview Mr Joseph Smith of Supermarine to ascertain the attitudes of this particular firm towards rocket propulsion of high-performance fighters. Caution to be exercised in taking this particular step not to attract undue attention to Armstrong Siddeley Motors's interest in this matter.
