Albert kahn, a prominent industrial architect translated sorensens sketches into bricks and mortar. The recorder obituary for ronald earle shedd now i lay. The michigan aerospace foundation says they have until may 1, 2014, to raise the necessary funds to purchase a portion of the property and save a section of. Willow run is the legendary b24 bomber plant near ypsilanti, michigan, which was a focal point of the arsenal of democracy during wwii. 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. Dennis norton, founder of the yankee air museum, and randy hotton, the museums former director, talk about the history of the willow run bomber plant, and why the museum is trying to rescue this. During its peak production, the plant employed 42,000 people including rosie the. This was the first aircraft manufacturing complex to use fords automotive mass production technique, a. It was thought to be the largest factory under one roof anywhere in the world. The willow run community that emerged during the war was plagued with poor schools, juvenile delinquency, crime, and a host of other challenges.
A foreman got fired for using plant employees to build his house. Willow run, colossus of american industry, written by warren benjamin kidder. On october 31, 1945 ford published a notice that cut its workforce from 1,400 employees. Full online access to this resource is only available at the library of congress. By the spring of 1944, willow run was producing a fourengine b24 bomber each hour on an assembly line. To realize production at the willow run bomber, workers had to overcome the culture of fear that existed at ford motor company and their fear of an unfamiliar diverse workplace. The heroes of this saga are fdr, edsel ford and american workers. My forty years with ford wayne state university press. Fdr, ford motor company, and their epic quest to arm an america at war.
These people, and the community, come by their industrious nature honestly. Willow run is what albert kahn, its world renowned architect, described as the largest room in the history of mankind. The employees who decided to live near the bomber plant ended up in trailers, tents, shacks, and shanties in crowded and squalid conditions. His memoir is the only insiders look at ford motor company during its most creative period, from the advent of the model t to the building of the willow run bomber plant. The final design was lshaped because of some problems with easements for adjacent property. The willow run plant is one of the largest buildings in the world. Henry fords massive willow run b24 bomber plant at ypsilanti, michigan, hired thousands of southern migrants during world war ii, mostly whites. Contributor names richie, robert yarnall, photographer created. Nov 07, 2017 portion of the willow run bomber and assembly plant.
Ben has also written a movie script about the mighty eighty air force which is in production as of 422012. My forty years with ford is both a personal history of a business empire and a revelation that moves with excitement and the power. The arsenal of democracy and millions of other books are available for instant. Sorensens book makes a great read in this, the 150th anniversary year of henry fords birth.
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 corvair and subsequent chevy and gm cars built at the willow run assembly plant never used any of. 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. A definitive history of the worlds largest industrial factory, built by ford motor company in the 1940s to manufacture b24 bombers. Willow run village,ypsilanti michigan was home to thousands of people migrating to the area for jobs at the henry ford bomber plant. Fdr, detroit, and an epic quest to arm an america the story of willow run. 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 is a book that was written by my friend warren benjamin kidder about the b24 liberator, ww2 bomber production plant and airport near detroit michigan. The author warren benjamin kidder was a personal friend of henry and edsel ford. Summary young men assembling outer wing panel of bomber. Like many other young negro girls, she had known only.
The ford family at willow run military history of the upper. At the turn of the century, before the second world war, ypsilanti had an active downtown area along michigan avenue. It was constructed in 1941 by the ford motor company for the mass production of the b24 liberator military aircraft. The books are willow run, colossus of american industry, alaska, and the mighty eighth air force, world war ii. Willow run after wwii military history of the upper great lakes. The corvair and subsequent chevy and gm cars built at the willow run assembly plant never used any of the fordkaiserhydramatic production plant. More than 40,000 workers from across america came together at willow run to build more than 8,600 b24 liberator bomber aircraft. Ww2 era ford willow run employee b24 liberator bomber lapel pin screwbackthis is a nice ww2 era b24 liberator heavy bomber lapel pin. It provides a system for investing in customers, employees, new product development, and in systemsrather than pumping up shortterm earnings. In 1941, as hitlers threat loomed ever larger, president roosevelt realized he needed weaponry to fight the nazismost important, airplanesand he needed them fast. By late 1944 the willow run bomber plant was producing more than 20 b24 aircraft per day. He graduated from cleary college in 1942 and worked briefly for the u. Willow run will be the greatest adventure ever, meggie thinks. This is an original 1993 gm willow run assembly plant commemorative book published by the plant when it closed in 1993.
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. A big job for little people at willow run s b24 liberator assembly plant. Jun 17, 2018 during wwii the willow run bomber plant located near ypsilanti, michigan was the largest factory under one roof in the world. A plant that was built by ford motor company to produced the b24 liberator bomber aircraft for world war ii wilson, 1956.
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. In wwii, the overall american industrial war effort also produced, for example, more than 100,000 armored vehicles, 300,000 airplanes, and 41 billion rounds of ammunition. Sep, 2017 the willow run bomber plant was a true production miracle, one that contributed greatly to allied victory in world war ii, and is a testament to the determination and fortitude of the greatest generation. At its peak in 1944, the factory produced one plane every 63 minutes. Roosevelt turned to army chief of staff general george c. During wwii the willow run bomber plant located near ypsilanti, michigan was the largest factory under one roof in the world. In september 1942, president roosevelt visited the willow run plant as part of a crosscountry war industry tour. The willow run airport history, b24 bomber plant and airport construction. Yankee air museum where history takes flight willow run. Willow run bomber plant air traffic control tower, 1943 the. Willow run was made into a city almost overnight as ford ramped up to meet the war needs for airplanes. Oct 12, 2015 the enrollment of american manufacturing in the second world war was filled with the idea of mass production, a concept made popular by henry ford. My forty years with ford great lakes books series kindle. Detroitbased walbridge development plans to redevelop a majority of the 332acre former willow run powertrain plant site into a connected vehicle research center.
Employee training was a constant process at willow run. Read about the remarkable industrial achievement of charles e. Main sources in his book, the arsenal of democracy. One of the most prominent factories that used the idea of mass production was b. Portion of the willow run bomber and assembly plant. John schuyler and i bet all those who worked in the plant and made money really wanted to.
The willow run bomber plantwith 43,000 new employees became a technological marvel but a social disaster. Employees assembling bomber at willow run plant, march 1943. B24 bombers at plants around the world, ford autoworkers. The images in this collection highlight employees on the workforce, the b24 and the stages of its assembly.
The majority of those honored were in their 90s and they had worked at fords willow run bomber plant. Shes welding parts of the cooling system direct to the supercharger. Construction of the willow run bomber plant began in 1940 and was completed in 1942. Henry ford for declaring that his willow run bomber plant could turn. Many years prior to the big threes domination of metro detroit, this community was home to the willow run bomber factory.
The willow run bomber plant also had an apprentice school and regular training programs for workers and military mechanics. Engineers who were building housing for the bomber crews that were flying the completed b24 bombers from the willow run bomber plant. A fundraising effort is underway to save a portion of the willow run bomber plant near yipsilanti, michigan. He enlisted in the army air corps aviation cadet program in november, 1942 and was called for training in january, 1943. Willow run follows the journey of four of those women who migrated from all over america to find new lives at the plant. Willow run is an albert kahndesigned world war ii bomber plant near ypsilanti, michigan. Four or five guys would come to work every morning, jump into the. A total off were built by september at fords giant willow run plant, which was built to use the ford production system, they built one fourengine liberator an hour, and by the end of the war a total of were delivered from willow run alone. Willow run airport was built as part of the bomber plant. Belleville woman recalls working in bomber plant during world war ii. By the willow run, a sleepy little creek near ypsilanti, michigan, ford motor company built the world s most famous bomber factory, which was the ultimate manifestation of the automotive industry s role in building armaments during world war ii.
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. Building the b24 bomber during wwii story of willow run. All formats, books, video, music, audiobooks, magazines, downloads, tools. Effort to save portion of willow run plant receives motorc. Frd, detroit, and an epic quest to arm and america at war by a. The willow run story describes how charles sorensen, fords director of production, conceived the idea of manufacturing the giant b24 at. A true story of the production of the b24 liberator and the building of the willow run airport bomber plant. It goes into depth about the incredible works that albert kahn performed in the design of the worlds largest factory under one roof and his work in building the willow run airport. In onsite classrooms, newlyhired workers sat through orientation lectures on the aircraft industry in. The enrollment of american manufacturing in the second world war was filled with the idea of mass production, a concept made popular by henry ford. Tuesday hangout when a car company makes planes 102219.
Walbridge plans to build automotive research center on. Willow run assembly plant faces the wrecking ball hemmings. I had many many great flights out of willow run airport. Employed by a large midwest supercharger plant, this young woman machines parts of aircraft engines.
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 takes nothing away from the courage of our fighting men in wwii to say that their job of victory was made infinitely. Jul 04, 2017 willow run bomber plant changes ypsilanti forever original threestory ypsilanti depot station. Oct 12, 2015 willow run plant not only included its manufacturing and assembly building, but also separate buildings for administration, flight school, oil storage and, other necessary structures. Ben was the last person to live on the willow run property before his house was torn down in order to make the willow run b24 liberator bomber factory, the largest factory ever built. Photo, print, drawing willow run bomber plant, mich. The ford family at willow run military history of the. The story of willow run and the production miracle that produced as many as 25 b24 bombers every day. Ford had taken the lead in hiring black workers in the 1910s and 1920s, but changed course in the early 1940s after. Help us preserve willow runs amazing legacy by turning it into a museum click the big, red donate button on this page and give generously.
The airport and its crew could accommodate up to 20 takeoffs an hour. Colossus of american industry page 5 click here the little people of willow run are big people in the world of aviation. The following pages tells about this great factory and production plant where the ww2 b24 liberator was built which uses many references from this book. The willow run book covers the building of the willow run b24 liberator factory near detroit. Workers came from all over to work at the plant in willow run, and so he created willow run village for them to live. Work and wage experience of willow run workers1 the work of the thousands of men and women hired to produce b24 liberators at the willow run bomber plant ended in july 1945. Willow run was a manufacturing complex located between ypsilanti and belleville, michigan constructed by the ford motor company for the mass production of aircraft, especially the b24 liberator heavy bomber. During world war ii, the ypsilanti factory became a worldwide symbol of.
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. Yes, willow run is a stirring tale of getupandgo war production, and yet it is just one of many. Apr 29, 20 willow run is the historical name of the general area including willow run creek, which actually runs partly underneath the willow run bomber plant. Thank you willow run, gm hydramatic transmission factory and ypsilanti for some wonderful memories. Ford motor company built 8,685 b24 bomber airplanes at its willow run, michigan, plant during world war ii. To order your personal autographed copy, send check or money order to. Again i thought of the test pilots who were flying the planes. During ww ii, the willow run bomber plant, located east of ypsilanti mi, became an iconic symbol of american productivity by employing the largest female workforce in american history under one roof. African americans, whites, older people, younger men unable to serve in the military, and most notably women. Willow run is the historical name of the general area including willow run creek, which actually runs partly underneath the willow run bomber plant. Many of the workers came to willow run from farms and from little towns and crossroads. At its peak, the plant employed more than 40,000 workers and operated around the clock. Donald trump, rosie the riveter, and the revival of.
The plant employed 42,000 people during peak production in world war ii and produced one b24 bomber every hour. There were not a great number of people living within a few miles of the new plant who were looking for jobs. A small part of the worlds largest onestory war production plant, the giant bomber factory at willow run, michigan. Some 40,000 employees, mostly women, turned out b24 bombers at the rate of one every 55 minutes. With so many young men drafted into the armed forces, willow runs workforce was unusually diverse for its time. I think i even have a book written by charles lindbergh where he describe one of his test flights and the beauty of flight. Features a nicedly detailed b24 in gold color, with ford imprinted in dark blueblack letters. Willow run, more than any other factory in the world, allowed the allies to win world war two. Plant foremen point to 20yearold annie tabor as one of their best lathe operators, despite her lack of previous industrial experience. My forty years with ford by charles e sorensen, samuel t. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Anyone interested in the story of ford will be delighted that the book is back in print.
Baime the arsenal of democracy is a fantastic chronicle about a father and son who had to turn their thriving automobile business into an aviation powerhouse. This was the first aircraft manufacturing complex to use fords automotive mass production technique, a leading technological innovation of the time. During world war ii, almost 8,700 b24 liberator bombers were built at willow run. Tuesday hangout willow run mission accomplished 11519. Henry ford and his crew of industrial engineers showed the world how to build b24 bombers literally twenty five time faster than it was thought possible. The willow run airport history, b24 bomber plant and. Issued to employees of the famed ford willow run plant, which produced half of the b24s produced during ww2.
Most of the bombers left willow run under their own power, requiring an onsite airport. They built nearly 10,000 in just a couple years at willow run. African americans, whites, older people, younger men unable to serve in the military, and most notably. B24 liberator bombers story of the worlds largest factory in ww2.
Completed in 1941, the plant was the largest factory in the world under a single roof. So he turned to detroit and the auto industry for help. 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. Of its original 5million square feet, only about 144,000 square feet of the willow run bomber plant which later churned out kaiserfrazer automobiles and gm powertrains stands today. The final b24 bomber was produced at willow run plant on june 28, 1945. The total number of b24s built at willow run was 8,685 and during peak production in early 1944, one bomber per hour was produced.
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