During wwii the willow run bomber plant located near ypsilanti, michigan was the largest factory under one roof in the world. The books are willow run, colossus of american industry, alaska, and the mighty eighth air force, world war ii. The willow run plant was purchased by kaiserfrazer after the war and was used to produce cars like the henry j. The willow run bomber plant was conceived of in 1940, and, for the most part, built in 1941 prior to pearl harbor, in expectation of war. B24 bomber in flight, willow run bomber plant, 1944. A movie about the usaf thunderbirds and the teamwork that binds them together 50 min andy meets the blue angels.
A 1940s ford motor company promotional film in black and white about the willow run bomber plant 55 min thunderbirds. This was the first aircraft manufacturing complex to use fords automotive mass production technique, a leading technological innovation of the time. Willow run is the legendary b24 bomber plant near ypsilanti, michigan, which was a focal point of the arsenal of democracy during wwii. It seems like a production miracle that the people working at willow run bomber plant were able to produce the b24 liberator at such tremendous speed. At the beginning of world war ii, henry ford was given the task of creating the largest b24 bomber plant in the world to make warplanes. By the end of the war, ford had pushed 8,865 b24 heavy bombers out the willow run doors for the army. Michigan air museum yankee air museum southeast michigan.
Willow run b24 liberator military history of the upper. The arsenal of democracy and millions of other books are available for instant. Apr 25, 2014 regarding the building being lshaped, the wikipedia article on willow run tells the story better than i can. Willow run airport has a rich history, dating back to 1941 when henry ford and charles lindbergh built the worlds largest bomber facility at the airport. The story of the yankee air museum begins in 1941 when willow run airport was built by the ford motor company to serve as an airfield for their b24 bomber plant. There were not a great number of people living within a few miles of the new plant who were looking for jobs.
One of the most prominent factories that used the idea of mass production was b. Jun 25, 2015 architect albert kahn designed the main structure of the willow run bomber plant, which had 3,500,000 square feet 330,000 m2 of factory space, and an aircraft assembly line over a mile long. Watch fords willow run plant churn out a b24 every 55. They came to willow run from main and from californiafrom all of the fortyeight states in the union, and from canada, hawaii, and puerto rico. The willow run bomber plant was completed in 1941, and it was the largest factory in the world under a single roof. The willow run manufacturing plant, located between ypsilanti and belleville, michigan, was constructed during world war ii by the ford motor company for the mass production of the b24 liberator in december 1940, the federal government asked the ford motor company to build 1,200 b24 bombers. Save the bomber plant our current efforts are focused on the preservation of a portion of the historic wwii willow run bomber plant as the future new home of the yankee air museum. Steady of eye and hand, women workers at the great willow run bomber plant are among those throughout the country who are relieving serious shortages of skilled workers by doing such semiskilled jobs as the one shown here.
The first workers to be employed at the plant were ford employees who were transferred from other ford plants, but by the first of december,1941, just. Willow run reference book third edition compiled by members of plant guide staff february 1, 1945 extract from espionage act the enclosed information is strictly confidential and should be regarded as such. Despite how smoothly the plant ran, putting out a bomber an hour still wasnt an easy feat. Today, there are efforts to preserve this historical plant. Nov 15, 20 the willow run bomber plant was completed in 1941, and it was the largest factory in the world under a single roof. In the following pages you will see the many photos and the history of the willow run b24 liberator manufacturing plant. Willow run is an albert kahndesigned world war ii bomber plant near ypsilanti, michigan. Willow run airport was built as part of the bomber plant. The ford family at willow run military history of the. It has more square footage than the willis tower in chicago, the tallest building in the western hemisphere. Jan 24, 2019 despite how smoothly the plant ran, putting out a bomber an hour still wasnt an easy feat. Architect albert kahn designed the main structure of the willow run bomber plant, which had 3,500,000 square feet 330,000 m2 of factory space, and an aircraft assembly line over a mile long.
Many of the workers came to willow run from farms and from little towns and crossroads. This video is about the ford motor company production plant at willow run for b24s before. The yankee air museum is proud to present this documentary, produced by stone bridge productions, to preserve the memory of those heroic women and men workers, visionaries, and innovators who served there at the home front from early in 1941 until the. It was thought to be the largest factory under one roof anywhere in the world. The historic willow run plant produced b24 bombers at the staggering rate of one per hour proving that america could get the job done. Along with the b17, the b24 formed the backbone of the allies air war over europe. In a strategic campaign, the airplanes and their crews attacked factories, railroads, harbors and as the war progressed cities in germany, italy and occupied france.
Albert kahn, a prominent industrial architect translated sorensens sketches into bricks and mortar. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. General motors purchased the plant next, and expanded it to build both cars and transmissions. This book is the story of the run up to the war, how the ford family handled. Sequel to willow run the colossus of industry about the construction of the b24 liberator. With nationwide support, weve succeeded in our initial goal to purchase and preserve our part of the plant, and are now shifting our efforts to raising the funds needed to renovate the interior and begin building. B24 liberator assembly line at ford willow run bomber.
A campaign called save the bomber plant was created to preserve a critical portion of the plant and repurpose it as the yankee air museum, which will tell the story of willow run and store wwiiera aircraft save the willow run plant. Willow run assembly plant demolition proceeding hemmings daily. B24 liberator willow run assembly plant in michigan run by. The remaining four hours were used to restock parts and change tooling. See more ideas about rosie the riveter, lets celebrate and ypsilanti michigan. During this time he was a pioneer of american production. The yankee air museum is proud to present this documentary, produced by stone bridge productions, to preserve the memory of those heroic women and men workers, visionaries, and innovators who served there. Willow run reference book third edition compiled by members of plant guide staff. Willow run follows the journey of four of those women who migrated from all over america to find new lives at the plant. B24 liberator assembly line at ford willow run bomber plant.
Fords chief engineer, charles sorensen, quickly devised a thenuntried scheme of massproducing. An animated feature about an adventure meeting the usn blue angels 30 min. The l shaped building in the center was the main factory, enclosing 2. The willow run bomber plant had many problems at startup, due in part to the mindsets and technical skills of both management and labor, who were each accustomed to the requirements of auto production, finding it difficult at first to adapt to the higher precision required in aircraft production. Ben has also written a movie script about the mighty eighty air force which is in production as of 422012. Regarding the building being lshaped, the wikipedia article on willow run tells the story better than i can. But no project captured the publics imagination like willow run, where ford motor company built one b24 liberator airplane every 63 minutes. The willow run plant is one of the largest buildings in the world. Aviation is a part of all of us, and the yankee air museum offers something for everyone.
Shes welding parts of the cooling system direct to the supercharger. Jun 06, 2018 a shining example of the importance of the willow run bomber plant to americas war effort in world war ii is the legacy of the 449th bomb group, nicknamed the flying horsemen. By the spring of 1944, willow run was producing a fourengine b24 bomber each hour on an assembly line. Michigan united states washtenaw county willow run, 1942. Willow run, also known as air force plant 31, was a manufacturing complex in michigan, located between ypsilanti township and belleville, constructed by the ford motor company for the mass production of aircraft, especially the b24 liberator heavy bomber.
It was the first aircraft manufacturing plant to build bombers on an assembly line. Spot welding parts for the nacelle of an aircraft engine. The ford family at willow run military history of the upper. This book addresses the manufacturing end of the logistics train, with its focus starting at detroit and narrowing down to the ford motor company, then to the willow run aircraft plant used to manufacture b24 liberators. Oct 12, 2015 one of the most prominent factories that used the idea of mass production was b. Some 40,000 employees, mostly women, turned out b24 bombers at the rate of one every 55 minutes. Willow run part of detroits arsenal of democracy was considered one of the finest and most ambitious american production miracles. Sorensen, fords director of production during wwii conceived the idea of manufacturing the giant b24 bomber at the unbelievable rate of one per hour. Shes left her home in kentucky to do her bit, and buys all the war bonds she can affordshe has a plan for her life. Started by ford himself, the plane and the manufacturing of the planes was the perfect example of american productivity during the second world war. The 449th bombardment group heavy was initially formed in may of 1943 as part of the 15th air force, 47th bombardment wing. Doubters chided henry ford for declaring that his willow run bomber plant could turn out a b24 liberator heavy bomber every hour. When meggies father moves to willow run to take a job building planes, meggie desperately misses her home. The mighty eithth airforce world war ii by warren benjamin kidder.
Workers came from all over to work at the plant in willow run, and so he created willow run village for them to live. Organizers want to convert the factory where rose will monroe and other workers built b24 bombers into the new home of the yankee air museum, dedicated to aviation and all the other. However, the construction of all of those speed parts and aftermarket upgrades combined pales in comparison to the scale of production at fords willow run plant during wwii. A shining example of the importance of the willow run bomber plant to americas war effort in world war ii is the legacy of the 449th bomb group, nicknamed the flying horsemen. Jan 01, 2014 this book addresses the manufacturing end of the logistics train, with its focus starting at detroit and narrowing down to the ford motor company, then to the willow run aircraft plant used to manufacture b24 liberators. Built by the ford motor company, it was used to build b24 liberator bombers. May 02, 2014 the willow run bomber plant was conceived of in 1940, and, for the most part, built in 1941 prior to pearl harbor, in expectation of war. Whether you are planning a family outing or an educational field trip, our southeastern michigan air museum is the perfect destination. Willow run is also the name of this book, which is part 2 to the story lilys crossing. B24 liberator willow run assembly plant in michigan run. Before the plant closed in 1945, willow run produced 8,685 b24 bombers. This was the first aircraft manufacturing complex to use fords automotive mass production technique, a. It is the place where meggie and her family move to help america win the war ww ii. If youve driven a car or truck equipped with gms heavyduty 4l80e fourspeed automatic, whether it was in a chevy, bentley, jaguar.
Willow run s ability to produce aircraft quickly was critical to winning wwii. Architect albert kahn designed the main structure of the willow run bomber plant, which had 3,500,000 square feet of factory space, and an aircraft assembly line over a mile long. Willow run reference book by willow run bomber plant. As soon as a section of the plant was completed, the manufacture of parts for the bombers was started. So read lilys crossing first before you read willow run. On april 18,1941, the first ground was broken to start construction of the bomber plant. A great place to touch, feel, and interact with some of the most amazing aircraft throughout aviation history. With nationwide support, weve succeeded in our initial goal to purchase and preserve our part of the plant, and are now shifting our efforts to raising the funds. Army air forces strategic campaigns in world war ii, unaffectionately known to its crews as the flying shithouse. Fords willow run bomber plant, designed by albert kahn and constructed in 1941, undoubtedly contributed to the outcome of world war ii. Henry ford already owned most of the 3,000 acres of farmland, straddling the two counties, that would soon comprise the colossal plant with its milelong assembly line, adjacent willow run airport, and a us. It was constructed in 1941 by the ford motor company for the mass production of the b24 liberator military aircraft. A portion of the eastern end of the willow run plant would be preserved, and along with part of willow run airports hangar building, become the new home of the yankee air museum.
Building the b24 bomber during wwii story of willow run. From the start, its job was to turn out b24 bombers, the workhorse of the u. During its peak production, the plant employed 42,000 people including rosie the. The willow run book covers the building of the willow run b24 liberator factory near detroit. An absolutely riveting read from cover to cover, the liberators of willow run clearly showcases author marianne k. During world war ii, almost 8,700 b24 liberator bombers were built at willow run. The final design was lshaped because of some problems with easements for adjacent property. These women work in the largest onestory building in the works, the giant bomber plant at willow run, michigan. Martins genuine flair for creating a memorable novel that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf. Construction of the willow run bomber plant began in 1940 and was completed in 1942. Willow run is what albert kahn described as the most enormous room in the history of man. The legendary b24 liberator bomber plant significant to the arsenal of democracy in wwii. Ruth seizes the opportunity to create a new life for herselfa life her mother would not recognize. Willow run assembly plant demolition proceeding hemmings.
With tremendous assistance from the yankee air museum, this book presents a pictorial history of willow run during world war ii. Willow run, also known as air force plant 31, was a manufacturing complex in michigan. Pictured here is the willow run bomber plant and its adjacent airfield in 1945. Dennis norton, founder of the yankee air museum, and randy hotton, the museums former director, talked about the history of the willow run bomber plant, and why the museum is trying to rescue.