Ford Willow Run Assembly Plant one B-24 every 55 minutes

Topics that do not fit anywhere else. Absolutely NO discussions of religion, race, or immigration!

Moderators: carlson1, Charles L. Cotton

Post Reply
User avatar

Topic author
puma guy
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 7625
Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:23 pm
Location: Near San Jacinto

Ford Willow Run Assembly Plant one B-24 every 55 minutes

#1

Post by puma guy »

I was sent this video and was amazed by it. First by the fact it was ready in June 1941, six months before Pearl Harbor, and second by it's efficiency. Built by Henry Ford it was the largest plant under one roof at the time and had a 90 degree turn at one end to avoid paying taxes in an additional county. Ford hired his own test pilots. One B-24 Bomber off the assembly line every 55 minutes!
KAHR PM40/Hoffner IWB and S&W Mod 60/ Galco IWB
NRA Endowment Member, TSRA Life Member,100 Club Life Member,TFC Member
My Faith, My Gun and My Constitution: I cling to all three!
User avatar

ELB
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 8128
Joined: Tue May 22, 2007 9:34 pm
Location: Seguin

Re: Ford Willow Run Assembly Plant one B-24 every 55 minutes

#2

Post by ELB »

That is pretty amazing.
USAF 1982-2005
____________

WTR
Banned
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 1931
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2015 10:41 pm

Re: Ford Willow Run Assembly Plant one B-24 every 55 minutes

#3

Post by WTR »

I was amazed that the Peter Built plant in Denton turned out 93 trucks per day some 20 years ago.

Thunderbolt_47
Junior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2018 8:38 am

Re: Ford Willow Run Assembly Plant one B-24 every 55 minutes

#4

Post by Thunderbolt_47 »

I was amazed as well when I took a dive into the numbers of, well, everything, produced by the USA during WW2. There even were special paint drying booths where vehicles would be "baked" by sun lamps so that there wasn't a second lost waiting for paint to dry on Sherman tanks before packing them on Liberty Ships headed straight towards Europe!

surprise_i'm_armed
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 4612
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2009 1:16 am
Location: Shady Shores, Denton County. On the shores of Lake Lewisville. John Wayne filmed here.

Re: Ford Willow Run Assembly Plant one B-24 every 55 minutes

#5

Post by surprise_i'm_armed »

WTR wrote: Thu Sep 20, 2018 2:55 pm I was amazed that the Peter Built plant in Denton turned out 93 trucks per day some 20 years ago.
The Peterbilt plant in Denton has large area bordering on I-35W, just after the split where southbound
I-35 becomes I-35W southbound to Fort Worth, or I-35E southbound to Dallas. These 2 roads then merge
onto I-35 only, south of the DFW Metroplex.

Despite this huge opportunity to put up a beautiful, proud sign "Home of Peterbilt Production" sign, or somesuch,
the company has not capitalized on their great public relations opportunity.

The only thing that draws your attention to their site is that they park all the new tractors close to I-35W.
IIRC, if you look deeper into the property, they may have a company logo on the building but its advertising
value is close to zero.

If I were Peterbilt I would build a large beautiful sign trumpeting the company's presence.

But no one listens to me. :-)

SIA
N. Texas LTC's hold 3 breakfasts each month. All are 800 AM. OC is fine.
2nd Saturdays: Rudy's BBQ, N. Dallas Pkwy, N.bound, N. of Main St., Frisco.
3rd Saturdays: Golden Corral, 465 E. I-20, Collins St exit, Arlington.
4th Saturdays: Sunny St. Cafe, off I-20, Exit 415, Mikus Rd, Willow Park.

The Marshal
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 837
Joined: Sat Jun 03, 2006 10:16 am
Location: Rockwall TX

Re: Ford Willow Run Assembly Plant one B-24 every 55 minutes

#6

Post by The Marshal »

I love WW2 Aviation! The Liberator was one of my favorite aircraft, and the story of Ploesti is filled with courage beyond belief.
Watch the video again, and look at the 3:57 - you will see the Navigator is half-out of the top hatch, guiding the bomber on the tarmac! Not something you normally see in pictures or video.

Anyone planning on attending the CAF Wings over Dallas on Oct 27?
They will have B-29. B-24, and B-17s in the air!
Post Reply

Return to “Off-Topic”