- Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd
- London
In 1927 parts of Vickers Ltd merged with the heavy engineering, and non-aviation, interests of Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd, to form Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd. Vickers Ltd, by far the largest shareholder in Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd, retained its aircraft building business. In 1928 Vickers Ltd (Aviation Department) became a separate aircraft company, as Vickers (Aviation) Ltd and acquired Supermarine Aviation Works Ltd which it renamed Supermarine Aviation Works (Vickers) Ltd. In 1938, due to government concerns over delays in the Spitfire and Wellington manufacturing programmes, Vickers (Aviation) Ltd and Supermarine Aviation Works (Vickers) Ltd were reorganised under a single management as Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd, although Supermarine continued to design, build and trade under its own name. During the Second World War Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd built large numbers of military aircraft, particularly the Wellington bomber at Brooklands, Chester and Blackpool and Spitfire fighter at Castle Bromwich. The company merged with The Bristol Aircraft Ltd, English Electric Ltd and Hunting Aircraft Ltd to form the British Aircraft Corporation in 1960. The Vickers brand name for aircraft was dropped in 1965.
- Type 432 (1942); Windsor (1943); VC1 Viking (1946); Valetta (1947); Viscount (1948); Varsity (1949); Valiant (1951); Vanguard (1960); V10 (1962).
- J D Scott, Vickers. A history (1962).
Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd: board meeting minutes n.d.; board papers 1955-60; informal post-board discussion notes 1958-62; executive committee minute books 1955-62; report and accounts 1955-58; financial returns 1955-60; works accounts 1959-62 [MS Vickers].
Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd: board and general meeting minutes 1928-78; board papers 1936-45; informal post-board discussion notes 1943-59; directors' attendance book 1928-51; register of directors and members 1928-47; merger papers: Vickers and Armstrong Whitworth 1927-28, British Aircraft Corporation 1958-60; reports and accounts 1930-60; analysis of group accounts 1960-66; balance sheet and profit and loss accounts 1928-65; general and works accounts 1928-66; committee papers: post-war policy 1945-52, armaments funding 1947-52, standing 1955-63; financial returns 1928-60; quarterly reports 1928-62; papers re: factories 1940-46, steel nationalisation 1947-70, shipbuilding 1957-69, McKinsey enquiry 1963-65; aircraft delivery figures 1940-45; papers re aircraft construction at Weybridge 1910-60; papers re Royal Commission on Arms Trade 1880-1937; Ministry of Aircraft Production statistical bulletins 1944; papers re government and foreign contracts for aircraft 1931-53; Ministry of Supply aviation research contracts papers 1948-53; papers re Barnes Wallis design projects incl Swallow 1953-66; letter books 1948-71; miscellaneous correspondence re aviation 1953-60; Millbank Tower construction papers 1956-72; promotional material 1929-55; photograph albums, aircraft, engines and works 1938-48 [MS Vickers].
Various records 1939-60.
Various records n.d.
Various records 1939-60.
Various records n.d. [Trade Literature Collection].
Plans, miscellaneous 1917-55; brochures and marketing materials 1914-66; staff magazines, Vickers Overseas Magazine 1950-54, Vickers Magazine 1954-68.