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- Edsel Ford, P.E. Martin, and Charles Sorensen Breaking Ground at Ford Motor Company Willow Run Bomber Plant, September 17, 1940 - Ford Motor Company president Edsel Ford joined production managers P.E. Martin and Charles Sorensen in a September 1940 groundbreaking ceremony for the company's Willow Run bomber plant, 35 miles west of Detroit. When finished, the complex employed more than 42,000 people and included more than seven million square feet of floor space. Workers there built one B-24 bomber every 63 minutes.
- September 17, 1940
- Collections - Artifact
Edsel Ford, P.E. Martin, and Charles Sorensen Breaking Ground at Ford Motor Company Willow Run Bomber Plant, September 17, 1940
Ford Motor Company president Edsel Ford joined production managers P.E. Martin and Charles Sorensen in a September 1940 groundbreaking ceremony for the company's Willow Run bomber plant, 35 miles west of Detroit. When finished, the complex employed more than 42,000 people and included more than seven million square feet of floor space. Workers there built one B-24 bomber every 63 minutes.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Assembly Line, Dearborn, Michigan, 1927 - Henry Ford attempted to apply automobile assembly line techniques to the manufacture of airplanes, and to build them in large numbers. Monthly production peaked at 25 planes in June 1929. The Great Depression forced Ford to re-focus on his core auto business, and the company's commercial aircraft production ended in May 1933.
- February 07, 1927
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Assembly Line, Dearborn, Michigan, 1927
Henry Ford attempted to apply automobile assembly line techniques to the manufacture of airplanes, and to build them in large numbers. Monthly production peaked at 25 planes in June 1929. The Great Depression forced Ford to re-focus on his core auto business, and the company's commercial aircraft production ended in May 1933.
- Construction of Ford Tri-Motor 14-AT Showing Center Hispano Suiza Engine, January 1932 - Ford Motor Company's Tri-Motor, built from 1926-1933, flew in many early American airline fleets. The all-metal airplane was rugged, dependable, and equally adaptable to passenger and freight service. Tri-Motors were built with some of the same mass production techniques used in Ford's automobile plants. This version, the 14-AT, featured three Hispano-Suiza Engines. This photograph reveals the interior of the central engine.
- January 05, 1932
- Collections - Artifact
Construction of Ford Tri-Motor 14-AT Showing Center Hispano Suiza Engine, January 1932
Ford Motor Company's Tri-Motor, built from 1926-1933, flew in many early American airline fleets. The all-metal airplane was rugged, dependable, and equally adaptable to passenger and freight service. Tri-Motors were built with some of the same mass production techniques used in Ford's automobile plants. This version, the 14-AT, featured three Hispano-Suiza Engines. This photograph reveals the interior of the central engine.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Fuselage Being Constructed at the Stout Factory, Dearborn, Michigan, April 1929 - Ford Motor Company's Tri-Motor, built from 1926-1933, flew in many early American airline fleets. The all-metal airplane was rugged, dependable, and equally adaptable to passenger and freight service. Tri-Motors were built with some of the same mass production techniques used in Ford's automobile plants. The fuselage, or the main body of the airplane, is constructed in this photograph.
- April 30, 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Fuselage Being Constructed at the Stout Factory, Dearborn, Michigan, April 1929
Ford Motor Company's Tri-Motor, built from 1926-1933, flew in many early American airline fleets. The all-metal airplane was rugged, dependable, and equally adaptable to passenger and freight service. Tri-Motors were built with some of the same mass production techniques used in Ford's automobile plants. The fuselage, or the main body of the airplane, is constructed in this photograph.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Being Constructed at the Stout Factory, Dearborn, Michigan, February 1929 - Ford Motor Company's Tri-Motor, built from 1926-1933, flew in many early American airline fleets. The all-metal airplane was rugged, dependable, and equally adaptable to passenger and freight service. Tri-Motors were built with some of the same mass production techniques used in Ford's automobile plants. In this photo, the propellers are being connected to the fuselage or the main body of the airplane.
- February 19, 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Being Constructed at the Stout Factory, Dearborn, Michigan, February 1929
Ford Motor Company's Tri-Motor, built from 1926-1933, flew in many early American airline fleets. The all-metal airplane was rugged, dependable, and equally adaptable to passenger and freight service. Tri-Motors were built with some of the same mass production techniques used in Ford's automobile plants. In this photo, the propellers are being connected to the fuselage or the main body of the airplane.
- Two Trophies Awarded as Part of the Willow Run Tool Breakage Campaign, July 1943 - At Willow Run's peak, the plant's more than 42,000 employees built one B-24 bomber airplane every 63 minutes. Ford encouraged workers with special productivity awards. This star-shaped trophy went to the department with the largest decrease in tool breakage during June 1943. The eight-ball prize went to the department with the largest increase in breakage.
- July 08, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Two Trophies Awarded as Part of the Willow Run Tool Breakage Campaign, July 1943
At Willow Run's peak, the plant's more than 42,000 employees built one B-24 bomber airplane every 63 minutes. Ford encouraged workers with special productivity awards. This star-shaped trophy went to the department with the largest decrease in tool breakage during June 1943. The eight-ball prize went to the department with the largest increase in breakage.
- President Franklin Roosevelt, Henry Ford and Charles Sorensen Touring the Ford Willow Run Bomber Plant, 1942 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited Ford Motor Company's Willow Run bomber plant on September 18, 1942. The Roosevelts, accompanied by Henry Ford, Edsel Ford, and Charles Sorensen -- the production manager behind Willow Run's success -- toured the plant's massive interior in "Sunshine Special," the president's 1939 Lincoln limousine.
- September 18, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
President Franklin Roosevelt, Henry Ford and Charles Sorensen Touring the Ford Willow Run Bomber Plant, 1942
President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited Ford Motor Company's Willow Run bomber plant on September 18, 1942. The Roosevelts, accompanied by Henry Ford, Edsel Ford, and Charles Sorensen -- the production manager behind Willow Run's success -- toured the plant's massive interior in "Sunshine Special," the president's 1939 Lincoln limousine.
- President Franklin Roosevelt, Henry Ford and Charles Sorensen Touring the Ford Willow Run Bomber Plant, 1942 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited Ford Motor Company's Willow Run bomber plant on September 18, 1942. The Roosevelts, accompanied by Henry Ford, Edsel Ford, and Charles Sorensen -- the production manager behind Willow Run's success -- toured the plant's massive interior in "Sunshine Special," the president's 1939 Lincoln limousine.
- September 18, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
President Franklin Roosevelt, Henry Ford and Charles Sorensen Touring the Ford Willow Run Bomber Plant, 1942
President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited Ford Motor Company's Willow Run bomber plant on September 18, 1942. The Roosevelts, accompanied by Henry Ford, Edsel Ford, and Charles Sorensen -- the production manager behind Willow Run's success -- toured the plant's massive interior in "Sunshine Special," the president's 1939 Lincoln limousine.
- Woman Using Stamping Machine, Willow Run Bomber Plant, November 1943 - Women represented approximately one-third of the workers at Ford Motor Company's Willow Run plant, where they did everything from clerical work in the offices to riveting and welding on the assembly line. During World War II, women joined the workforce in record numbers to take on essential jobs traditionally held by men who had joined the armed forces.
- November 05, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Woman Using Stamping Machine, Willow Run Bomber Plant, November 1943
Women represented approximately one-third of the workers at Ford Motor Company's Willow Run plant, where they did everything from clerical work in the offices to riveting and welding on the assembly line. During World War II, women joined the workforce in record numbers to take on essential jobs traditionally held by men who had joined the armed forces.
- Woman Delivering Parts at Willow Run Bomber Plant, April 1944 - Women represented approximately one-third of the workers at Ford Motor Company's Willow Run plant, where they did everything from clerical work in the offices to riveting and welding on the assembly line. During World War II, women joined the workforce in record numbers to take on essential jobs traditionally held by men who had joined the armed forces.
- April 26, 1944
- Collections - Artifact
Woman Delivering Parts at Willow Run Bomber Plant, April 1944
Women represented approximately one-third of the workers at Ford Motor Company's Willow Run plant, where they did everything from clerical work in the offices to riveting and welding on the assembly line. During World War II, women joined the workforce in record numbers to take on essential jobs traditionally held by men who had joined the armed forces.