WWII Hidden Aircraft Plants

[Growler]

Originally Posted by Torplexed

In retrospect it seems like a great deal of effort, considering no land based Japanese plane had the range to strike Seattle and the IJN carriers were too busy elsewhere, but the panic after Pearl harbor on the West Coast at the time was real enough....

There was concern that the IJN was considering shelling the larger West Coast cities from submarine fire; if I'm not mistaken, there were lots of spurious reports of just that event happening.

One B25 guy I read indicated that a lot of the Mitchell crews were flying ASW patrols on the West Coast; from them were drawn the pilots and crews for the Doolittle raid.

It's gotta be cool to wander around that "town" these days, even if it is being demoed.

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by Growler

It's gotta be cool to wander around that "town" these days, even if it is being demoed.

Well, the "town" disappeared with the war. The plant operated for many years after. In the late 1940s, the B-47 Stratojet, the first swept-wing bomber was built at the plant. Later on, early B-52 Stratofortresses were also developed inside the facility. In the 1960s the Boeing 737 was produced there. By the 80s it was just used as a machine shop.

[Growler]

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Well, the "town" disappeared with the war. The plant operated for many years after. In the late 1940s, the B-47 Stratojet, the first swept-wing bomber was built at the plant. Later on, early B-52 Stratofortresses were also developed inside the facility. In the 1960s the Boeing 737 was produced there. By the 80s it was just used as a machine shop.

Ah... nonetheless, stomping around a Boeing plant - even a disused one - would be interesting (at least to me, but I like abandoned places).