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- 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.
- Flow Chart for B-24 Production at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, 1944 - During World War II, Ford built 8,685 B-24 Liberator bombers at Willow Run. Fuselages were joined to center wing sections and landing gear, after which the airplanes moved along four parallel assembly lines where noses and tails were added. These lines merged into two for the installation of wingtips, engines, and other components. A single final line handled finishing steps and fueling.
- September 01, 1944
- Collections - Artifact
Flow Chart for B-24 Production at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, 1944
During World War II, Ford built 8,685 B-24 Liberator bombers at Willow Run. Fuselages were joined to center wing sections and landing gear, after which the airplanes moved along four parallel assembly lines where noses and tails were added. These lines merged into two for the installation of wingtips, engines, and other components. A single final line handled finishing steps and fueling.
- Architect's Drawing of Ford Motor Company Willow Run Bomber Plant as Visualized in April 1941 - Ford Motor Company's Willow Run plant manufactured B-24 Liberator bomber airplanes during World War II. The complex consisted of several factory buildings (including a main assembly building more than a mile long), classrooms, a hospital, and worker housing. An adjacent airport, with six runways and three hangars, allowed finished airplanes to leave the plant under their own power.
- April 01, 1941
- Collections - Artifact
Architect's Drawing of Ford Motor Company Willow Run Bomber Plant as Visualized in April 1941
Ford Motor Company's Willow Run plant manufactured B-24 Liberator bomber airplanes during World War II. The complex consisted of several factory buildings (including a main assembly building more than a mile long), classrooms, a hospital, and worker housing. An adjacent airport, with six runways and three hangars, allowed finished airplanes to leave the plant under their own power.
- Workers Assembling a B-24 Pilot's Enclosure at the Ford Motor Company Willow Run Bomber Plant, June 29, 1942 - At Willow Run, Ford Motor Company built B-24 bomber planes for World War II using automobile mass production techniques. Airplanes were much more complex than cars. They required constant design changes poorly suited to a standardized assembly line. Ford overcame these difficulties and, at the plant's peak, Willow Run crews produced an average of one bomber every 63 minutes.
- June 29, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Workers Assembling a B-24 Pilot's Enclosure at the Ford Motor Company Willow Run Bomber Plant, June 29, 1942
At Willow Run, Ford Motor Company built B-24 bomber planes for World War II using automobile mass production techniques. Airplanes were much more complex than cars. They required constant design changes poorly suited to a standardized assembly line. Ford overcame these difficulties and, at the plant's peak, Willow Run crews produced an average of one bomber every 63 minutes.
- Teams of Mechanics Testing New Pratt and Whitney Engines, Ford Rouge Plant Aircraft Engine Building, April 1943 - 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. At Ford Motor Company, this included work on Pratt & Whitney R-2800 aircraft engines built in a special facility at the Rouge. Women were involved throughout the process, from initial assembly to final testing.
- April 29, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Teams of Mechanics Testing New Pratt and Whitney Engines, Ford Rouge Plant Aircraft Engine Building, April 1943
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. At Ford Motor Company, this included work on Pratt & Whitney R-2800 aircraft engines built in a special facility at the Rouge. Women were involved throughout the process, from initial assembly to final testing.
- Workers Assembling Tube Clusters at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, July 1942 - 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.
- July 13, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Workers Assembling Tube Clusters at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, July 1942
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 Mechanic Testing New Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Engines, Ford Rouge Plant Aircraft Engine Building, April 1943 - 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. At Ford Motor Company, this included work on Pratt & Whitney R-2800 aircraft engines built in a special facility at the Rouge. Women were involved throughout the process, from initial assembly to final testing.
- April 26, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Woman Mechanic Testing New Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Engines, Ford Rouge Plant Aircraft Engine Building, April 1943
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. At Ford Motor Company, this included work on Pratt & Whitney R-2800 aircraft engines built in a special facility at the Rouge. Women were involved throughout the process, from initial assembly to final testing.
- Willow Run Bomber Plant "Record of War Effort," Volume 2 -
- January 1942-December 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Willow Run Bomber Plant "Record of War Effort," Volume 2
- Engines for Ford GPW Command Reconnaissance Vehicle on Assembly Line, September 1942 - Like other American automakers, Ford Motor Company suspended civilian production during World War II and instead manufactured vehicles and equipment for the Allied forces. Ford built nearly 278,000 GPW jeeps powered by the four-cylinder, 54-horsepower engine designed by Willys-Overland and nicknamed "Go Devil." The jeep's engine was simple and reliable -- important qualities in a combat environment.
- February 08, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Engines for Ford GPW Command Reconnaissance Vehicle on Assembly Line, September 1942
Like other American automakers, Ford Motor Company suspended civilian production during World War II and instead manufactured vehicles and equipment for the Allied forces. Ford built nearly 278,000 GPW jeeps powered by the four-cylinder, 54-horsepower engine designed by Willys-Overland and nicknamed "Go Devil." The jeep's engine was simple and reliable -- important qualities in a combat environment.
- Draftsmen Working in the Lofting Division for B-24 Assembly, Willow Run Bomber Plant, 1942 - At Willow Run, Ford Motor Company built B-24 bomber planes for World War II using automobile mass production techniques. Airplanes were much more complex than cars. They required constant design changes poorly suited to a standardized assembly line. Ford overcame these difficulties and, at the plant's peak, Willow Run crews produced an average of one bomber every 63 minutes.
- October 06, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Draftsmen Working in the Lofting Division for B-24 Assembly, Willow Run Bomber Plant, 1942
At Willow Run, Ford Motor Company built B-24 bomber planes for World War II using automobile mass production techniques. Airplanes were much more complex than cars. They required constant design changes poorly suited to a standardized assembly line. Ford overcame these difficulties and, at the plant's peak, Willow Run crews produced an average of one bomber every 63 minutes.