Ford Motor Company and WWII

[harryadkins]

Not railroad related but a tribute to the ingenuity and work ethic of pre-WWI America.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/iKlt6rNciTo?rel=0

[hertsbob]

Depends on when you think WWII began....

[RAILSOHIO]

Depends on when you think WWII began....

Well I enjoyed watching the film. The P-51 Mustang was designed and the first prototype built in 90 days. It would take engineers 90 days to design a wheel with computers today. America was much better when we worked together.

[hertsbob]

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed watching the film as well.

[buzz456]

I knew what you meant.

[hertsbob]

Thanks, Buzz.

My intention was not to cause any offence. Sometimes I need to learn to leave a longer period between disengaging beer can and engaging keyboard. Like 8 hours.

[RAILSOHIO]

Thanks, Buzz.

My intention was not to cause any offence. Sometimes I need to learn to leave a longer period between disengaging beer can and engaging keyboard. Like 8 hours.

It was the "sorry" icon that made me think it was a negative slant. So I thought it seemed somewhat mean. I see that was not what you had intentioned with it,I was trying to interpret the "controversy",on the beginning of the war. The film was obviously for Americans,and the perspective the war "began" with Pearl Harbor. So all is fine here,I am a HUGE Ford fan,and was happy to see the film I had not seen before.

[buzz456]

I'm sure you all know where Bob lives. Being a bit of a student of WWII I would suspect he is referring to this.

From Wikipedia:

The Battle of Britain (German: Luftschlacht um England, literally "Air battle for England") is the name given to the Second World War air campaign waged by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940. The name is derived from a famous speech delivered by Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the House of Commons: "... the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin."[13]

[hertsbob]

Well yes, and of course we were officially at war from September 1939, which is why I chuckled to myself over the date at the beginning of the clip.

The joys of non-verbal communication!

With all that said, it's a fascinating film and it's incredible to think what was achieved by so many people in these factories.

In case there's any interest, this was round the corner from here before the film studios took over.
http://www.controltowers.co.uk/L/Leavesden.htm

[arizonachris]

Being a docent on the USS Iowa has taught me a lot about not only the wars she served in, but the real timelines of when the different countries actually got involved in WWII. For example, the USS Iowa carried FDR and the Joint Chiefs to French North Africa, where they flew to Tehran to meet Churchill and Stalin for a conference to see how the US would fit in to the war in Europe. The US was already in the South Pacific, and had helped in North Africa against Rommel and the Germans. So, yes, what "we" (the US) saw as WWII was at a different time.

There are places local to me, like Fort MacArthur, that really teach a lot. That place was first active in 1919. Lots of history there. At 56 years old, I'm finally learning what really happened.

Kinda off topic, but this last Wednesday, I got a real treat. I met 7 WWII Navy vets down at the USS Iowa. The youngest was 89 years old. These guys told stories that you wouldn't believe. One was in a wheel chair, and I got to help him get thru some of the watertight doorways. (I was gonna say, "had to help him", but it should be glad to help him). What an amazing evening just sitting and talking for hours.

Really great video, Harry. Thanks for posting!