Willow Run B-24s

[PCBeachBum]

The long hanger at Willow Run, Michigan has a 90 degree turn in it so Henry Ford would not have to pay taxes in the next county. That short end is being saved and restored today as a museum. The big hanger doors are still operational after all these years.

This is one of the best and most informative clips about a great American accomplishment, thanks to the Ford Motor Company during WWII.

A Ford Airplane! AMAZING!

Production began here 6 months BEFORE Pearl Harbor! Henry Ford was determined that he could mass produce bombers just as he had with cars, so he built the Willow Run assembly plant and proved it. This was the world's largest building under one roof at the time. This film will absolutely blow you away -- one B-24 every 55 minutes! -- and Ford had its own pilots to test them. And no recalls!

ADOLF HITLER HAD NO IDEA THE U.S. WAS CAPABLE OF THIS KIND OF THING.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/iKlt6rNciTo?rel=0

To get this video to play here, I had to Copy and Paste the entire link into the site information box opening another page.

 

[Grandpot]

Besides having brave servicemen and women, the US possessed the greatest manufacturing capability in the world and still does. Soldiers can't fight without weapons, pilots can't fly without planes, and sailors can't sail without ships. That's the original Team USA.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: Manufacturing might: creates Military might! :thumbup:

 

[Chupaca]

Thanks

great video..:clap:thanks for the reminder of what we accomplished when challenged...:2thumbs:

 

[UtahPete]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/iKlt6rNciTo?rel=0

 

[Navydad]

The actor who plays Admiral Yamamoto said this at the end of the movie Tora! Tora! Tora!

"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

It is still debated to this day whether Yamamoto actually said that or not, but it sure turned out to very true.

Another accurate quote was what Winston Churchill supposedly said to his Cabinet when he received word of the Pearl Harbor attack.

"Gentlemen, we have just won the war."

Seems the whole world knew what we were capable of even if we didn't. :thumbup:

 

[BigGuy66]

In addition to Willow Run B-24s we have Inland Manufacturing...

...a division of General Motors which was instrumental in the war effort.

http://usautoindustryworldwartwo.com/General Motors/inland.htm

...and the Inland company today:

https://www.inland-mfg.com/Inland-Carbines/M1-1945.html

I didn't realize how many of our companies were involved with the war production of arms, aircraft and naval materials. I'm sure there are more that I don't know about...
Jim

 

[JerryB]

Hi BigGuy66,

Re: I'm sure there are more that I don't know about...

I worked for the federal gov't. in contract management for 30 yrs. In almost every contract there is a very small clause that talks about national emergency.

This clause allows the federal gov't. to direct any contractor to produce anything that the gov't. dictates; however, only in a national emergency.

Back when I first started jumping, my reserve parachute had been built by a company called Fashion Frocks.

Jerry Baumchen

 

[RinconRyder]

The actor who plays Admiral Yamamoto said this at the end of the movie Tora! Tora! Tora!

"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

It is still debated to this day whether Yamamoto actually said that or not, but it sure turned out to very true.

Another accurate quote was what Winston Churchill supposedly said to his Cabinet when he received word of the Pearl Harbor attack.

"Gentlemen, we have just won the war."

Seems the whole world knew what we were capable of even if we didn't. :thumbup:

Yamamoto did say "I will run wild for six months. After that I can guarantee nothing". The Japanese calamity at Midway occurred almost six months to the day after Pearl Harbor.

 

[BigGuy66]

Fashion Frocks in the war effort

Hi BigGuy66,

Re: I'm sure there are more that I don't know about...

I worked for the federal gov't. in contract management for 30 yrs. In almost every contract there is a very small clause that talks about national emergency.

This clause allows the federal gov't. to direct any contractor to produce anything that the gov't. dictates; however, only in a national emergency.

Back when I first started jumping, my reserve parachute had been built by a company called Fashion Frocks.

Jerry Baumchen

Jerry, that is very cool to know about that company. History sure is full of surprises. Thanks for offering that golden nugget.
Jim