Evening star., 1942-08-23
Air Victory by Mass Production Foreseen in Visit Willow Run
By James Y. Newton.

AAA
By James Y. Newton.
DEARBORN, Mich.-Ford, peacetime
symbol of Americas industrial might.
has learned the art Of modern war and
Is producing engines of destruction to
deal death to Americas enemies.
More specifically and Importantly.
Ford, master Of mass production. has
conquered the warplane-the huge four
engine bomber. He has revolutionized
the way Of making it. changed the proc
ess from comparatively crude, hand
methods to the precise, quick way OF
the machine. Just as he did with the
car the country knows so well.
What is the significance of this for
America and her allies in their fight for
survival? 1t means that before snow
flies heavy bombers will be rolling from
Ford assembly lines to darken the Michi-
gan sky. and at rate many times
greater than the current production Of
all our plants. 1t means that the Ford
methods of quick production are being
applied In other plane plants.
A trip through fabulous Willow Run,
where huge machines stamp out air.
craft parts like their smaller counter
parts made automobile sections before
Pearl Harbor, and talks with top Ford
executives and engineers, leaves one in
delible impression: Ford has accom-
plished the stupendous change-over from
auto manufacture, has gained confidence,
and now regards the warplane as simply
as he has for years looked upon the
motorcar.
Perhaps the way Of Ford genius Is
best explained by a new slogan being
circulated through the vast Detroit in
oustrial empire, which seems in no way
boastful after inspecting the plants upon
examination of actual accomplishments.
1t states: "The difficult we do immedi-
ately. The impossible takes a little
longer"
Major Ford Contribution
Making the Consolidated B-24 bomber
Is probably the major Ford contribution
to the war effort, but it far from repre-
sents all that is being done in his fac
tories. Jeeps move from assembly lines
like leaves in the breeze; engines for
teeps, Army trucks and warplanes made
at the rate of thousands per day.
tanks are -umbling from production lines
In ever-increasing numbers. Fire-con-
troll equipment, heavy tires and other
war material are being made by Ford.
When the complete story of Ford in
war can be told" an official remarked,
lit will amaze the world"
Denmark-born Charles E. Sorensen,
who rose from an apprenticeship in
Buffalo stove works. is the guiding gen.
tus behind the industrial magic of Ford
Now vice president in charge of all
branches of business, Mr.. Sorensen is
truly "Mr Ford Motor Co." He is, hand
some as matinee idol and at 81 years
looks like IS; is big, built like college
fullback.
Fortresses by the Hour
Willow Run is Mr.. Sorensen's BRAIN
child, his pet. Reports published last
winter placed the plane producing capa-
city of Willow Run at "a big bombers
day, one an hour Now that the plant
is busy making plane sections. the for
mer mysteries Of airplane making seem
as simple as the car. Mr.. Sorensen
thinks earlier estimates, targets" as he
calls them. will be left far behind.
Mr.. Sorensen's sights for Willow Run
production are set on the distant hori-
zon. He believes the ability Of the plant
to produce planes and plane parts is
nearly unlimited, dependent largely upon
the Army's demand. Asked when Willow
Run would be in operation, Mr.. Soren-
sen replied:
"Give us short time and we will
show America something in plane pro-
duction she has never seen before"
He describes Willow Run as vast
funnel, and says Ford production meth
ods work like oil in the funnel.
when the top of the funnel is en-
tirely filled and kept filled" Mr.. Soren-
sen says, "the flow from the end will be
maximum. We are now engaged in fill
Ing the funnel"
Willow Run is making bomber sections
now. and Is operated by large part
of the eventual total personnel. 1t Is
completely fooled with new machines,
many of which are new to the aircraft