During World War II, something remarkable occurred at a factory near Detroit.
At the Willow Run plant, operated by the Ford Motor Company, American workers accomplished what many believed was impossible: they built 8,685 B-24 Liberator bombers in just three years. This scale and speed had never been seen before.
By 1944, the plant was rolling out a complete bomber every hour. It became the heartbeat of the Arsenal of Democracy, turning wartime production into a force as relentless, powerful, and unstoppable as nature itself.
But behind this mechanical feat were tens of thousands of workers—many of them women stepping into industrial roles for the very first time. This place was truly one of the birthplaces of “Rosie the Riveter.” With bandanas tied and rivet guns in hand, these women stood shoulder to shoulder with men, building the wings that would carry freedom across the world.
Today, Willow Run remains a powerful symbol of what unity, innovation, and determination can achieve when the world needs it most.