While exploring the Thomson collection in the archives of the University of Alabama at Huntsville I happened upon a fun memo regarding the number of F-1 and J-2 rocket engine parts in a Marshall Space Flight Center warehouse. Thomson seemed a bit exasperated by the number of parts.

                                        September 25, 1986

Rocketdyne Attn: Mr. Joe Erbs 6633 Canoga Avenue Canoga Park, CA 91304

SUBJECT: F-1 and J-2 Engine Parts at MSFC

As I mentioned to you last week, MSFC still has a large number of F-1 and J-2 engine parts that are in our warehouse storage. We are trying to determine what this actually consists of and would appreciate help from you. I have been told it appears to be a couple of big truck loads. I am forwarding on to you the listing of parts provided so that from the part numbers may be able to see what components and parts are here.

[signed]
J. Thomson
Team Leader
Propulsion System Studies

Enclosure
  Parts List

See download link below.

Sadly, the list of parts was not included with the copy of the memo which I found, so we're left to only imagine what kind of rocket engine parts might be filling government-owned trucks.

I laughed when I can across this memo, trying to imagine someone complaining about having "big truck loads" of F-1 and J-2 engine parts. Too many F-1 and J-2 engine parts—a nice problem to have!

It's unclear as to what prompted this memo, although I did find this memo in the same box as a large amount of material regarding the Hughes Aircraft Jarvis project (a proposed launch vehicle using F-1 and J-2 rocket engines), so Thomson may have been trying to provide an accurate inventory of engines and parts for Hughes.

I was unable to find much about Joe Erbs, the recipient of this memo, other than the fact that he was the senior principle engineer in the F-1 Thrust Chamber Group at Rocketdyne in January 1965.

Download Link

Download Big Truck Loads of F-1 and J-2 Engine Parts.pdf (XXXk).