A buddy of mine sent me this personal story. We should document our history..

Dale, I was 6 years old, my father managed a trucking company that hauled parts into the plant. On Saturdays, I would ride with the truck drivers to the plant and then watch them build and fly them out. To me it was a real WOW. Sometime those planes did’nt sound to good. They would sputter & fart but got up. I would love to ride in one. The props were made by Nash, in a plant on Plymouth Road and the 50’s machine guns were built by Evans Products and Daisy Air Rifle(the beebee gun people) in Plymouth , Mich. I know this, because my dad hauled them.



You guys I hope the video works







Willow Run Bomber Plant Video....

Who knew? A Ford?

This film will absolutely blow you away - one B-24 every 55 minutes.

ADOLF HITLER HAD NO IDEA THE U.S. WAS CAPABLE OF THIS KIND OF THING.

There is no way he could have even guessed.

For those who live outside of Michigan , Willow Run is near Bellville, Canton and Ypsilanti , MI

It's amazing that one B-24 (Built with over 1.25 million parts) came off the assembly line every 55 minutes

Take a few minutes to watch this snapshot of history.

See: <http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/15654030/1604819366/name/bomber_plant.wmv>

Jon - That a great video! I bet it would be pretty difficult to pump out 1 every 55 minutes today. The guys who put together that production line were amazing.

(Oh sure, it's easy to start in the air with wind, but where's the crank go on the ground? Sorry -had to make it T related!)

Awesome film!!!!

Here's the man that did 90% of the ground work on Willow Run.... Charles Sorensen


This book is hard to find, but well worth looking for if you have an interest in Willow Run. I will be doing a review of this book over on Ford Facts.


Here's a post I did on a couple of Sorensen's homes. One in MI and one in FL. If you click on "Sorensen's Miami Home" it will take you to present day photos of this fine home. You can rent this home for $29K a month!
http://vintagefordfacts.blogspot.com/2010/12/homes-of-ford-executives-part-1.html

Jon,

That is a awesome video. It gives me a feeling of pride in our country!

John

Great video. Thanks, Jon. Great airplane. At more than 18,000 examples the B-24 was produced in greater numbers than any warplane, including fighters, before or since. An amazing feat and Ford played a huge part.

I assume that this Charles Sorenson is the "Cast Iron Charlie". Who if it could be made out of iron he could find away to pour the metal and cast it.

The reality of the Model T engine in 1908 was because of his skill and ablity.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks,
Larry

Larry,

You're correct!

Cast Iron Charlie's nephew was quite active in the T hobby and rebuilding engines in a converted shop in Mt Clemens Mich unitl a year or two ago. One of the best babbitt guys in Detroit.