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- 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.
- Worker inside the Sawmill at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, March 5, 1942 - During World War II, Ford Motor Company built B-24 bomber airplanes at its Willow Run plant, located 35 miles west of Detroit. Work on the factory's buildings started in March 1941. As trees were cleared, Ford erected an on-site sawmill that processed them into lumber. Much of that lumber went into temporary structures and housing at the rising factory.
- March 05, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Worker inside the Sawmill at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, March 5, 1942
During World War II, Ford Motor Company built B-24 bomber airplanes at its Willow Run plant, located 35 miles west of Detroit. Work on the factory's buildings started in March 1941. As trees were cleared, Ford erected an on-site sawmill that processed them into lumber. Much of that lumber went into temporary structures and housing at the rising factory.
- General "Hap" Arnold and Henry Ford at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, 1944 - General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Forces, visited Ford Motor Company's Willow Run bomber plant in July 1944. Some 42,000 people worked at Willow Run over the course of the war and turned out a total of 8,685 B-24 bombers. At peak production, the factory's workforce completed one bomber every 63 minutes.
- July 13, 1944
- Collections - Artifact
General "Hap" Arnold and Henry Ford at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, 1944
General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Forces, visited Ford Motor Company's Willow Run bomber plant in July 1944. Some 42,000 people worked at Willow Run over the course of the war and turned out a total of 8,685 B-24 bombers. At peak production, the factory's workforce completed one bomber every 63 minutes.
- 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.
- 6,000th B-24 Bomber at Ford Motor Company Willow Run Plant, September 9, 1944 - Mass producing B-24 bombers during World War II was no easy feat -- not even for the company that invented modern mass production. But Ford Motor Company was building one airplane every 63 minutes at its Willow Run plant by March 1944. Ford produced its 6,000th B-24 that September. Another 2,685 were built before production ended in May 1945.
- September 09, 1944
- Collections - Artifact
6,000th B-24 Bomber at Ford Motor Company Willow Run Plant, September 9, 1944
Mass producing B-24 bombers during World War II was no easy feat -- not even for the company that invented modern mass production. But Ford Motor Company was building one airplane every 63 minutes at its Willow Run plant by March 1944. Ford produced its 6,000th B-24 that September. Another 2,685 were built before production ended in May 1945.
- 6,000th B-24 Bomber at Ford Motor Company Willow Run Plant, September 9, 1944 - Mass producing B-24 bombers during World War II was no easy feat -- not even for the company that invented modern mass production. But Ford Motor Company was building one airplane every 63 minutes at its Willow Run plant by March 1944. Ford produced its 6,000th B-24 that September. Another 2,685 were built before production ended in May 1945.
- September 09, 1944
- Collections - Artifact
6,000th B-24 Bomber at Ford Motor Company Willow Run Plant, September 9, 1944
Mass producing B-24 bombers during World War II was no easy feat -- not even for the company that invented modern mass production. But Ford Motor Company was building one airplane every 63 minutes at its Willow Run plant by March 1944. Ford produced its 6,000th B-24 that September. Another 2,685 were built before production ended in May 1945.
- 6,000th B-24 Bomber at Ford Motor Company Willow Run Plant, September 9, 1944 - Mass producing B-24 bombers during World War II was no easy feat -- not even for the company that invented modern mass production. But Ford Motor Company was building one airplane every 63 minutes at its Willow Run plant by March 1944. Ford produced its 6,000th B-24 that September. Another 2,685 were built before production ended in May 1945.
- September 09, 1944
- Collections - Artifact
6,000th B-24 Bomber at Ford Motor Company Willow Run Plant, September 9, 1944
Mass producing B-24 bombers during World War II was no easy feat -- not even for the company that invented modern mass production. But Ford Motor Company was building one airplane every 63 minutes at its Willow Run plant by March 1944. Ford produced its 6,000th B-24 that September. Another 2,685 were built before production ended in May 1945.
- 6,000th B-24 Bomber at Ford Motor Company Willow Run Plant, September 9, 1944 - Mass producing B-24 bombers during World War II was no easy feat -- not even for the company that invented modern mass production. But Ford Motor Company was building one airplane every 63 minutes at its Willow Run plant by March 1944. Ford produced its 6,000th B-24 that September. Another 2,685 were built before production ended in May 1945.
- September 09, 1944
- Collections - Artifact
6,000th B-24 Bomber at Ford Motor Company Willow Run Plant, September 9, 1944
Mass producing B-24 bombers during World War II was no easy feat -- not even for the company that invented modern mass production. But Ford Motor Company was building one airplane every 63 minutes at its Willow Run plant by March 1944. Ford produced its 6,000th B-24 that September. Another 2,685 were built before production ended in May 1945.
- Mrs. Anderson, a Willow Run Bomber Plant Employee, at Home with Her Husband and Child, February 1943 - As a part of the automaker's efforts to promote its war work at the Willow Run bomber plant, a Ford Motor Company photographer followed Isabelle Anderson through one of her workdays at home and at the factory. Mrs. Anderson was one of 42,000 workers -- and 15,000 women -- who built 8,685 B-24 Liberator airplanes at Willow Run during World War II.
- February 05, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Mrs. Anderson, a Willow Run Bomber Plant Employee, at Home with Her Husband and Child, February 1943
As a part of the automaker's efforts to promote its war work at the Willow Run bomber plant, a Ford Motor Company photographer followed Isabelle Anderson through one of her workdays at home and at the factory. Mrs. Anderson was one of 42,000 workers -- and 15,000 women -- who built 8,685 B-24 Liberator airplanes at Willow Run during World War II.
- Plexiglas and Plastic Models Used at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, February 1944 - The American automobile industry's greatest contribution to the World War II effort, apart from the sheer scale of its work, was its technical expertise in quantity manufacturing. Automakers refined the smallest details in an item to increase the speed with which it could be made. That knowledge was reflected in everything auto companies produced during the war, from helmets to helicopters.
- February 03, 1944
- Collections - Artifact
Plexiglas and Plastic Models Used at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, February 1944
The American automobile industry's greatest contribution to the World War II effort, apart from the sheer scale of its work, was its technical expertise in quantity manufacturing. Automakers refined the smallest details in an item to increase the speed with which it could be made. That knowledge was reflected in everything auto companies produced during the war, from helmets to helicopters.