Willow Run Airport
- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
Dennis/Arkansas
Senior Member
Thank you Ryan! I enjoyed the photos. Dad was a Gunner/Radio Operator on a 24 in the Pacific. Dennis/Arkansas
Henry/Kokomo
Well-known member
I guess everyone was supposed to know better than to step into a turning prop. Sorta gives a whole new meaning to "personal responsibility". I suspect a belief in so called common sense was also present at that time. Seems like,as a nation, we've lost something, doesn't it? Really great pix.
Slim Pickens
New member
Thanks Boss, amazing history. Slim
Django
Well-known member
The full slide show of 291 photos can be found here. Definitely worth your time...
http://public.fotki.com/Kos/members_photo_galle/wiilow_run_bomber/?cmd=fs_slideshow
At the Auburn Meet, someone was selling some Willow Run employee badges. I should have bought one for the collection but I was trying to "responsible" and save my money!
http://public.fotki.com/Kos/members_photo_galle/wiilow_run_bomber/?cmd=fs_slideshow
At the Auburn Meet, someone was selling some Willow Run employee badges. I should have bought one for the collection but I was trying to "responsible" and save my money!
Terry NJ
Well-known member
Ryan, Henry Ford was a dedicated pacifist. During WW1, he refused to make any war materiel for the Govt. Furthermore, He chartered and sailed his "Peace ship" to Sweden in a vain attempt to stop the war. I believe this ship was called the "Christina". He later produced some "Eagle Boats" or Subchasers for the Govt. Pres. Wilson had enacted the 1918 Sedition act (Which Congress repealed in 1920). Under this act, many people were jailed for speaking out against the war. It is possible that Ford was threatened with an indictment under this law and caved in to produce the boats. In WW2, The Jeep was designed by American Bantam and produced by Willys and Ford. Curiously, They had Continental 4cyl engines, were these produced under license by Ford? Why wasn't the upgraded Mod B engine used in the Ford-Ferguson tractor, The 9N, (1939, N-agricultural machine) used in the Jeep?
Terry
Terry
29ModelA
Well-known member
The 4 cyl in the Jeeps was the Willys 'Go-Devil.' It was not a Continental engine. Bantam won the design contest when the bids were submitted , but the government knowing Bantam had financial troubles as well as troubles with capacity wanted the Willys engine, and manufacturing capacity. However even Willys couldn't keep up with demand, which is why Ford also got a contract.
The Willys was originally called the MA for "Military model A"
The Ford was "GP", with "G" for a "Government" type contract and "P" commonly used by Ford to designate any passenger car with a wheelbase of 80 inches
When Willys combined the best parts of the Bantam and Ford into their design it became designated "Military Model B" or MB
When Ford was given their share of the contract they used their original designation with a W becoming GPW or "Government, 80" Wheelbase, Willys Licensed design"
It is also believed in some circles that Willys gave Ford inaccurate blueprints to build the Ford version of the 'Go-Devil engine' as many people believe the ford built engines during the war were far less reliable.
The Willys L134 was never a Continental engine, it was evolved from the Willys 77 engine from 1933.
The Continental 134 CI engine is only the same as the Willys as far as the CI goes, bore, stroke and even distributor placement is different.
The Go-Devil was a WILLYS design.
Also, the 9N motor is around 23hp [@ Drawbar] isn't it I'd venture at the crank it would be similar to a Model A at around 40ish, but it seems I am having trouble finding that spec? The Go-Devil is 60hp at the crank.
I never have known the crank HP for a 9n/8n/2n
Ol' Henry probably didn't have many dealings with the WW2 stuff it may have been left to Edsel and other board members maybe?
The Willys was originally called the MA for "Military model A"
The Ford was "GP", with "G" for a "Government" type contract and "P" commonly used by Ford to designate any passenger car with a wheelbase of 80 inches
When Willys combined the best parts of the Bantam and Ford into their design it became designated "Military Model B" or MB
When Ford was given their share of the contract they used their original designation with a W becoming GPW or "Government, 80" Wheelbase, Willys Licensed design"
It is also believed in some circles that Willys gave Ford inaccurate blueprints to build the Ford version of the 'Go-Devil engine' as many people believe the ford built engines during the war were far less reliable.
The Willys L134 was never a Continental engine, it was evolved from the Willys 77 engine from 1933.
The Continental 134 CI engine is only the same as the Willys as far as the CI goes, bore, stroke and even distributor placement is different.
The Go-Devil was a WILLYS design.
Also, the 9N motor is around 23hp [@ Drawbar] isn't it I'd venture at the crank it would be similar to a Model A at around 40ish, but it seems I am having trouble finding that spec? The Go-Devil is 60hp at the crank.
I never have known the crank HP for a 9n/8n/2n
Ol' Henry probably didn't have many dealings with the WW2 stuff it may have been left to Edsel and other board members maybe?
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29ModelA
Well-known member
Ford was contracted to help with the Jeep production in 1941, all the prototypes would have been built in 1940, IIRC there was a Ford prototype in 1937.
29ModelA
Well-known member
Unfortunately the actual culprit responsible for the name is not known, and is highly argued in the Jeep communities.
The most widely accepted ones are is GP = General Purpose and that was shortened to Jeep, or it was nicknamed that by soldiers after Eugene the 'Jeep' from the Popeye cartoons, because he could do anything, even the stuff that seemed impossible.
There are people that believe it comes from the Ford designations as well...
Unfortunately I think you would need a DeLorean and a Flux Capacitor to find out.
John Kennedy
Senior Member
Wars were different then, we all got a part in the play. Seems different now...
Dennis L Oberer
Senior Member
My dad was also a radio operator/waist gunner on the B-24 COCKY BOBBY as a Flying Tiger behind the enemy lines the entire tour. He and his crew all received their Air Medals and Distinguished Flying Crosses with clusters.
THey all came home with Hepatitis and all succumed one way or another to liver disease at the ends of their lives.
Not all casualties are in battle.
Dennis L Oberer
Green Bay WI
THey all came home with Hepatitis and all succumed one way or another to liver disease at the ends of their lives.
Not all casualties are in battle.
Dennis L Oberer
Green Bay WI
Roadster62
Well-known member
The Willys L134 was never a Continental engine, it was evolved from the Willys 77 engine from 1933.
Was this engine used in all Willys right up to 1941?
Was this engine used in all Willys right up to 1941?
Django
Well-known member
Hi Dennis. Very interesting! I love B-24s.
Did you know you can buy a model of Cocky Bobby?
http://www.amazon.com/Minicraft-Models-B-24L-Cocky-Bobby/dp/B001H5NNZQ?tag=atomicindus08-20
Which fellow is your Dad?
MODELA30
Member
Ok what is with the nose art i always thoght that the crew on the plane named the hunk of metal that might end up being your casket? Aslo that guy shaking henrys hand walking off the plane who is that? Does someone know. Because being from the chicagoland area sure does look like al capone !!!!!!! Knuck from indiana.
Django
Well-known member
Nose art at the plant was a photo op and good for the war effort and war bond drives.
Terry NJ
Well-known member
Ok Mea Culpa! I got it wrong. I don't travel in Willys/Jeep/militaria cicles and have always believed that Willys got it's engines from Continental. I Believe that the 9N was around 23-25 HP (drawbar). I looked for my booklet I had that gave the specs and couldn't find it. I think I recall that the 9/8N was 1/2 the Cu In of the flathead V8 (239 X1/2=119 Cu In) It had domed pistons that looked identical to the pistons from the V8. So If the tractor engine was developed from the Mod B engine, it was considerably de-tuned. Many us took it as an article of faith that the 9/8N engine was an evolution of the mod A&B engine, Perhaps not!
Terry
Terry