Warbird Factory

Starred review from December 1, 2015

By the end of World War II, North American Aviation (NAA), headquartered in Inglewood, CA, had built over 40,000 aircraft, outpacing any other rival stateside. The AT-6 trainer, the Mitchell B-25 medium bomber, and the peerless P-51 Mustang fighter would prove the principal pillars of its legacy. Fredrickson (Kansas City B-25 factory) insists that these planes and others resulted from the genius, hard work, and commitment of NAA's employees: the management, including executives "Dutch" Kindelberger and "Lee" Atwood; the engineers who conceived and drafted the models; the factory operatives who produced then assembled the parts; the floor managers who oversaw and guided the workers; and lastly ferrying groups, many staffed by women (WASPS), who flew the completed aircraft to embarkation locations throughout the United States. As might be expected, the central narrative of engineering and manufacturing brilliance is randomly eclipsed by tragic aerial accidents, lost opportunities, and clashing egos. Fredrickson celebrates the inclusion of women and minorities in NAA plants, thereby setting the example for a societal shift in postwar America. His story ends with the corporation's production challenges during the Cold War era. VERDICT An excellent pictorial history with more than 200 black-and-white and color photographs, illuminating text and captions, technical notes, and cutaway drawings. Highly recommended for World War II historians, industry analysts, aviation enthusiasts, modelers, and lay readers.--John Carver Edwards, formerly with Univ. of Georgia Libs.

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