Oral history of British science
Dommett, Roy (Part 10 of 19). An Oral History of British Science.
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Type
sound
Duration
00:44:08
Shelf mark
C1379/14
Subjects
Aeronautical Engineering
Recording date
2010-04-20
Recording locations
Interviewee’s home, Fleet
Interviewees
Dommett, Roy, 1933- (speaker, male)
Interviewers
Lean, Thomas (speaker, male)
Abstract
Part 10: Discussion of SDI work: workshop on UK contribution to SDI with Michael Heseltine, Collin Allingham and other colleague having technical briefing on SDI [mic crackle]. Remarks on driving a minibus of colleagues round 13 American establishments and companies, [mic crackle] including Lockheed and Martin Marietta. [04:00] Remarks on UK contribution to SDI: Culham power sources for energy weapons; penaids; Malvern dual frequency radar; AI work from Admiralty research at Bath, based on work done with HMS Marlborough; British work done under US contract; purpose of SDI. Story about British concerns over Brilliant Pebbles' effectiveness against Trident driving RAE to find a way of defeating it, presenting solution in USA, subsequent cancellation of programme. [09:00] Comments on later career: not being as excited by work after Chevaline; SDI work; consulted as a sounding board for projects but not always able to push forward his own projects [Closed between 10:51-13:34] , penaids [16:30] Comments on solving problems of Patriot missiles in incepting Scud missiles in Gulf War and the importance of having a solution to appease politicians when things go wrong. Remarks on degree to which politics affected his later career [cough]. Comments on career progression, never being posted to London despite originally expecting it, being given interesting jobs throughout his career. [21:15] Remarks on career post Chevaline: replacement by BL as division head, becoming effectively the technical director of division, trying every pub between Aldermaston and Farnborough when travelling to meetings. [23:20] Remarks on SDI work involving half of his 134 trips to the USA: comparison with ELDO work, visits to Pave Paws radar at Georgia, not visiting radar on the Aleutian Islands. [short pause] Comments on intense work in late 1980s on Anglicising Trident; Aldermaston's warhead design [Closed between 25:36-25:37] [Closed between 26:14 - 26:21] [Closed between 26:50-27:04] [coughing]; Tony Walsthorn and RD's opinion on suitability of warhead and re-entry vehicle [coughing]. [29:25] [Closed between 29:20 - 31:21] Further remarks on later career: AGARD, penaids, ABM; writing up reports on earlier work, moving to new office when RAE moved to Cody Field; Boss Chris Morton allowing him to go through old documents to reclassify them, including TD127 a replacement for WE177 and 1244 stand-off nuclear weapon [mic crackle][Closed between 35:43 – 36:42] [36:42] Comments on enjoying disposal of Chevaline: burning decoy launchers at Plymouth; disposal of vehicles by Airlog's car crusher, via RAF Wittering; [loud laughing] feeling that they had done a good job; Chevaline remaining with him throughout his service until its crushing; Chevaline in museums. [41:20] Remarks on disposing of documents from Farnborough [mic crackle]: transfer of documents to War Office store, difficulties of working with Qinetiq, Aldermaston's archive.
Description
Interview with rocket scientist and aeronautical engineer Roy Dommett
Related transcripts
Roy Dommett interviewed by Dr Thomas Lean: full transcript of the interview
Metadata record:
Dommett, Roy (Part 10 of 19). An Oral History of British Science.
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