Willow Run B24 Production Exhibit, Michigan
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Charles Sorensen, Henry Ford's Production
Engineer of the B-24 Liberator Factory.

The Mighty Eighth Air Force WW2 Page 5

  Charles Sorensen, ingeniero Henry Ford de produccin de la fbrica de B-24 Liberator.

 

The Story of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Action over Europe and the men who built and flew the B-24 Bombers in World War 2

La historia de la Octava Fuerza Area poderoso en accin en Europa y los hombres que construyeron e hicieron volar los bombarderos B-24 en la 2 Guerra Mundial

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The Mighty Eighth Air Force
World War II


by Warren Benjamin Kidder

Sequel to "Willow Run the Colossus of Industry" about the construction of the B-24 Liberator

 

B-24 Liberator Bombers

Charles Sorensen, production engineer at ford 's willow run, b24 liberator manufacturing plant

Charles E. Sorensen, Henry Ford's Production Engineer, who designed the Willow Run B-24 Liberator Manufacturing Plant

Photo Scanned by C. Jeff Dyrek

 

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  Click Here's Warren Benjamin Kidders, Willow Run The Colossus of Industry  Click Here's the Movie Script for Willow Run

The production of the B-24 Bomber Aircraft was originally started at the Consolidated Aircraft Company in San Diego California.  Their lack of space to do mass production and their lack of mass production procedures made it necessary for Charles Sorenson to visit the plant and do an evaluation of how they were making the aircraft.  The United States needed heavy, long range, bombers in mass quantity or we would have no chance to win the war.  Charles Sorenson knew about mass production procedures and had proven himself time and time again at the Ford's production plant in Detroit.  But this time, building the worlds largest building in history, according to Albert Kahn, and making such a highly complex aircraft, compared to the Model "T" Ford, was like making a skyscraper compared to a garage.  The man who designed the factory was Charles Sorenson.  The man who made the building was Albert Kahn.  They were both geniuses and both had to work closely together to make the entire project a reality.

As the webmaster reading the books written by Warren Benjamin Kidder, I realized that there was a huge difference between a factory and a building.  The factory produced the bombers, the building housed the factory.  Before reading Ben's books, I thought that they were both the same and I thank Ben for letting me know the difference. 

Charles E. Sorensen
Ford's Great Production Genius

Fortune Magazine, April 1942

"If this is the role of the four-engine B-24 bomber, then
the industrial historian may one day pause over the creative 
act that helped launch the weapon in quantity production

He will almost certainly pause before the man himself

Charles E. Sorensen

Ford's Director of Production said, "Willow Run was the biggest challenge of my production career; bigger than the Model T assembly line at Highland Park, and more momentous than the layout and construction of the great River Rouge plant." Without Sorensen's vision to mass produce the B-24 Liberator at the unbelievable rate of one every hour, the Allied Air Forces would not have had the massive number of bombers needed for their missions, and World War II might have had a significantly different outcome. 

 

A letter from the 8th Air Force to Warren Benjamin Kidder

F.C. "Hap" Chandler
President, 8th Air Force Historical Society.

Mr. Warren B. Kidder
Dear Ben:

Thank you for taking the time to visit our matchless Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. It was a pleasure to work with you regarding the history and "Time Line" of the Mighty Eighth during World War II.  Your book, "Willow Run"  Colossus of American Industry is a classic and much needed addition to the history of the Mighty Eighth's activities during World War II.  It has been very helpful to our year long study of the accomplishments of the wartime 8th as, without the production of large numbers of B-24 bombers, the air war against the Third Reich would have been impossible.

Your devoted friend,

F. C. Chandler
President Second Air Division Association 1999-2000
Trustee, The Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum
Founding President Georgia Chapter 8th Air Force Historical Society.
85 Combat Missions.

  Click Here to see the Script Release for  
  "Willow Run The Eighth Air Force WW2 Movie"
 

Order Willow Run, the Book. 
To Order 
Your Personal Autographed Copy Contact

KFT Publishers,
3617 Christine Dr.
Lansing, MI. 48911

For Information Contact
Email: kidderfr@ATT.net Phone 517- 394-2849

Click Here's Warren Benjamin Kidders New Book, The Mighty Eighth Air Force Click Here's the Movie Script for Willow Run

B-24 Liberator Movies     B-24 Liberator Aviation Art              B-24 Liberator Models

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 Here's another Book Review about a B-24 Pilot in WW2, Jessie Pettey.
an Article by the webmaster

 

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