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Title details for Warbird Factory by John M. Fredrickson - Available

Warbird Factory

North American Aviation in World War II

by John M. Fredrickson
ebook
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Explore the WWII history of the company that later became a part of Boeing and made more aircraft from 1938 to 1944 than any other company in the United States.During World War II, Los Angeles was the ultimate boom town. By the end of the war, the L.A. area had produced 17 percent of all of America's war needs. North American Aviation, Inc. (NAA), operating out of their main Inglewood, California, plant, which is south of and adjacent to the city, was a key player in that work.From 1938 to 1944, NAA built over 40,000 aircraft, more than any other company in the United States. The bulk of them were of three iconic types designed by NAA:- The P-51 Mustang, arguably the best fighter of WWII.- B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, which saw worldwide combat.- Two-seat military pilot trainers, such as the AT-6 Texan.This is a fascinating story of a remarkable time in aviation history, when American businesses helped fund the arsenal of democracy that helped defeat the Axis powers. Warbird Factory tells this story with over 200 photographs, many of which come directly from the NAA/Boeing archives, where they have resided since WWII. This is an essential book for anyone interested in warbirds, aviation, Boeing/NAA, WWII, and/or the history of Southern California!

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    September 10, 2015

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781627888080

    • PDF ebook

      • ISBN: 9781627888080
      • File size: 69971 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      Starred review from December 1, 2015

      By the end of World War II, North American Aviation (NAA), headquartered in Inglewood, CA, had built over 40,000 aircraft, outpacing any other rival stateside. The AT-6 trainer, the Mitchell B-25 medium bomber, and the peerless P-51 Mustang fighter would prove the principal pillars of its legacy. Fredrickson (Kansas City B-25 factory) insists that these planes and others resulted from the genius, hard work, and commitment of NAA's employees: the management, including executives "Dutch" Kindelberger and "Lee" Atwood; the engineers who conceived and drafted the models; the factory operatives who produced then assembled the parts; the floor managers who oversaw and guided the workers; and lastly ferrying groups, many staffed by women (WASPS), who flew the completed aircraft to embarkation locations throughout the United States. As might be expected, the central narrative of engineering and manufacturing brilliance is randomly eclipsed by tragic aerial accidents, lost opportunities, and clashing egos. Fredrickson celebrates the inclusion of women and minorities in NAA plants, thereby setting the example for a societal shift in postwar America. His story ends with the corporation's production challenges during the Cold War era. VERDICT An excellent pictorial history with more than 200 black-and-white and color photographs, illuminating text and captions, technical notes, and cutaway drawings. Highly recommended for World War II historians, industry analysts, aviation enthusiasts, modelers, and lay readers.--John Carver Edwards, formerly with Univ. of Georgia Libs.

      Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • PDF ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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