Ford Motor Co. presents "The Story of Willow Run"

[kscarbel2]

 

[1965]

That’s amazing.

Don’t believe it could happen in this day

[bulldogboy]

A good book on the subject, "The Arsenal of Democracy" by A.J Baine. Interesting that Henry Ford was opposed to the war but agreed to let his son, Edsel Ford, and right hand man, "Cast Iron" Charlie Sorensen proceed with building Willow Run and the B-24s. In the end, their bold declaration to build "a bomber an hour" was successful but not without many obstacles along the way, both in manufacturing and dealing with the lives of the thousands of workers hired to run the plant.

    

[Hayseed]

8 hours ago, bulldogboy said:

    Interesting that Henry Ford was opposed to the war 

   

Pretty sure 'Ol Henry was in the Middle Playing Both Sides... From What I've read..(But happy to be corrected)

[High Binder]

What's really amazing is the people who worked there and their stories.  My grandmother boarded a train in Hazard, Ky. along with my mother and two aunts, leaving behind my grandfather and three other aunts.   My grandmother, my mother, and one of my aunts worked as "Rosie the riveters" building aircraft while my second aunt maintained the house.  My grandfather, who stayed behind with the younger children due to their illnesses, joined them later.  Here's a picture of the "Delzie Bowen" family outside their little employee house.  What a story of sacrifice!