The others, completed in the 1930s, were located in Dearborn, Michigan (site of the Fords' Fair Lane estate); Sudbury, Massachusetts; two in Richmond Hill, Georgia (the Fords' winter home); Macon, Michigan; and Willow Run. Long car rides from Detroit over lumpy roads and in overcrowded buses discouraged thousands of employees who left for jobs closer to home. Production for the B-24H at Willow Run was 1,780. The worksite Sorensen chose was a 1,875-acre Ford-owned tract that had been a farm camp for boys whose fathers were killed or disabled in World War I. Kahn had designed the Rouge and hundreds of other manufacturing facilities over a long and storied career. The automaker proudly promoted its B-24 efforts in magazine advertisements. Instead, upstart automaker Kaiser-Frazer Corporation moved into the factory. ", 1960 Chevrolet Corvair Sales Brochure, "The Prestige Car in Its Class". Now signifying "the arsenal of democracy", at the outset Ford's Willow Run Bomber Plant was nearly a failure. [21], By the end of 1943 there were six different temporary projects in the vicinity of Willow Run: two dormitory projects, two trailer projects (one renting trailers, and another for privately owned trailers; each with community laundry, shower, and toilet facilities), and two projects with apartments for couples or families, West Court and the Village. Since the 2010 closure of Willow Run Transmission, the factory complex has been managed by the RACER Trust, which controls the properties of the former General Motors. Like many successful technology companies, LITEON outgrew the garage to become a leader of its chosen industry through years of hard work. Ford built 37 planes in January, 70 in February, 96 in March, and 146 in April. Linen (Material). That hulking plant was idled in the early 1990s, putting about 4,000 people out of work. Though the outside may appear to be a stubborn tool shed that won't open by pulling the handle, simply pushing the door open reveals a secret room hidden from prying eyes. Willow Run Bomber Plant - The Henry Ford
willow run bomber plant employees