The year was 1941, and the flames of world war were threatening America's shores. President Franklin D. Roosevelt called for an "Arsenal of Democracy" and demanded fabrication of 50,000 warplanes per year. But first, sprawling new airplane factories were needed. Located in the heart of Columbus, Ohio, proved to be an ideal choice. The Columbus plant was home to a broad spectrum of fascinating aircraft. Curtiss-Wright moved in, and soon, thousands of SB2C Helldivers rolled out. The Korean War found North American Aviation (NAA) of Los Angeles as the new occupant. Advanced airplanes, many of them jets, were soon in high-rate production. Some, like the T-28 Trojan and T-2, were docile trainers. The Navy FJ Fury series augmented the dogfighting F-86 Sabre jets during the 1950s. The OV-10 Bronco was built rugged for close-in jungle combat during the Vietnam War. The supersonic Vigilante was a masterpiece of homegrown advanced technology. Production at Columbus ended in 1988 with major subassemblies for the Rockwell B-1B Lancer, a strategic bomber. This is the history of the Columbus plant from pouring concrete footings in 1941 until the plant was vacated in 1988.

About the Author
Mark Frankel studied aeronautical engineering at Cornell University and graduated from the Wharton School and Law School at the University of Pennsylvania. As a lieutenant Frankel served as a trial lawyer in the US Navy JAG Corps during the Vietnam War. An avid aviation enthusiast since childhood, Mark soloed at the age of 17 and earned his private pilot license in 1970. This is his fourth book about aircraft of the Cold War era. After a career in the automotive industry, he passed away in 2020.


Book Information
ISBN 9780764366475
Author Mark A. Frankel
Format Hardback
Page Count 192
Imprint Schiffer Publishing Ltd
Publisher Schiffer Publishing Ltd
Weight(grams) 971g