Aviation History

In 1942, WWII was in full swing – and so was aircraft production. During that time, every US automaker was tasked with shifting production from cars to aircraft to assist with the war effort.

A look at unique group photos throughout aviation history

WWII-era woman factory worker applies lipstick in the reflection of aircraft aluminum

Overhead view of early USAF interceptor jets.

Close-up of a Lockheed SR-71B Blackbird Cockpit.

FIDO quite literally helped clear the fog of war for Allied pilots during World War II.

Convair B-58 Hustler engineers were tasked with calculating how to take off with only three of four engines operational.

Portable and makeshift sheds were used in harsh climates to shelter mechanics performing heavy engine maintenance away from dedicated facilities.

A line of Consolidated B-24E Liberators proceeds along the assembly line at Ford’s Willow Run plant near Detroit, Michigan. At its peak in 1944, the Willow Run plant produced one B-24 every hour.

With a touchdown speed of approximately 155 knots (178 miles per hour) and a design landing weight of 68,000 pounds, the SR-71 had significant energy to dissipate upon landing. To assist with this, a massive drag chute was deployed after touchdown. 

Just as mission requirements for aircraft evolve over the years, so too do the mission requirements for hangars. Originally built as a hangar for massive blimps, this wooden hangar was repurposed to house US Marine Corps CH-46 and CH-53 helicopters. Although these are some of the largest helicopters in the USMC fleet, they are dwarfed…

When most business jets roll out of their factories, they have relatively luxurious lives ahead of them. Private aviation is filled with resourceful owners in the form of wealthy individuals or corporations, and these premium aircraft typically fly a modest number of hours annually as they visit destinations like Miami, LA, and Teterboro. Between private flights, they tend to be regularly pampered with meticulous detailing, inside and out.

Lockheed P-38 Lightnings and North American P-51 Mustangs are transported aboard a US Navy escort carrier enroute to Europe during WWII. While neither of these types were capable of operating from a carrier, they were commonly disassembled and loaded onto lighter escort carriers for long-distance transport. Wings, propellers, and control surfaces were removed and engines and canopies were covered for protection from the elements during the transport.