BOEING PLANE TALK

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1944

 

--- Since You Went Away---

(This is a digest of the news at Boeing-Wichita, gleaned from the files
of PLANE TALK. Because it was late in 1942 before men began leaving
in large numbers to join the Armed Forces, the year 1942 is condensed;
the last two years are taken month by month.)

With Pearl Harbor still fresh
1942 in our minds, Plant I sets a

terrific pace by building pri-
mary trainers faster than ever, at one
time rolling them out the doors at the
rate of nearly one per hour. . . . During
the first half of the year, Plant II grows
from a skeleton of steel framework to a
finished building, one of the largest in the
nation. . . While outboard wings and
control surfaces for the B-17 are being
built in the east part of the plant, the
new west sections are the scene of feverish
activity in tooling-up and installation of
equipment and machinery.

The floor of Plant II slowly but surely
becomes literally a forest of B-29 jigs —
huge jigs that are a source of wonderment
to old hands, of amazement to new em-
ployees. . . . Men and women who have
never seen a factory before are hired by
the thousands.

In the early summer, along comes an
emergency request from the Army that
we help build cargo gliders— build them
in a hurry—and the north end of Plant
II and the ramps outside become an im-
provised assembly line. . . . The Boeing
Bombers win the national semi-pro base-
ball tournament. . . . With Plant I set-
ting production records daily and Plant II
tooling-up for the B-29 and assembling
gliders, Boeing is awarded its first Army-
Navy “E” for excellence in production.

Over 14,000 employees jam the amphi-
theater at Boeing Park for the “E” pres-
entation. . . . The first B-29’s are taking
shape on the factory floor—and people
still can’t believe their eyes. .. . Employees
pledge $90,000 to the Wichita Community-
War Chest. . Test blackout is made.

New employment office is opened up
downtown. . Planeview nears comple-
tion. . Mamma cat in rivet stockroom
comes up with her fourth litter — gets “EK”
printed on her crib for excellence in pro-
duction. . . . Christmas is first holiday of
year for employees.

JANUARY-—Plant Protection
] 943 guards sworn in as Auxiliary
Military Police. . Lt. Don

Blue, formerly of Plant I and now a fight-
ing Marine in the Pacific, writes: “We
have the men; just give us and keep giving
us the weapons.” . . . Bus terminal west
bridge, ramp and stairs over MacArthur
Road completed. First assessment of
new 5% Victory ‘tax deducted from pay
checks. . First Boeing families move
into Planeview. . . . Boeing-Wichita has
2,597 former employees in Armed Forces.
FEBRUARY — Eddie Allen, Boeing’s ace
flight test engineer and aerodynamicist,
killed in bomber crash at Seattle (it was
not revealed officially until months later
that this crash involved one of the experi-
mental B-29’s). . . . Payroll is staggered
to make every day a pay day for hourly
employees. . . . Ray G. Harris, original
AAF representative at Boeing, promoted
from colonel to rank of brigadier general.

MARCH — Employee Red Cross pledges
total $68,246. . . . Blitz on candy vending
machines results in restrictions on hours
they may be used. . . . Shirts or blouses

in solid colors approved for women in
production areas. . . . New traffic signal
light installed at Warehouse crossing on
MacArthur Road. -Boeing Chorus gives
public presentation of “The Messiah.” . .
Advent of meat rationing increases plant
food service problems. . . . War Depart-
ment OK’s improvement program for roads
leading to plants.

APRIL — Rapid progress made on new
concrete parking apron on airport across
Oliver from Plant I. . . . Canyons golf
course leased by Employees Association.

. Application for increased pay rates
pending before War Labor Board. :
Plant I delivers 7,000th equivalent primary
trainer to Armed Forces. . . . Employees
win second Army-Navy “E” Award... .
Planeview housing area dedicated.

MAY-—Lt. Gen. William S. Knudsen
visits both plants, says it is easy to see
why we have won two ‘“H” awards... .
New individual “E” pins made available
to employees. . . . Plant II opened to Boe-
ing employees, their wives and husbands
for Sunday tour.

JUNE -—A red letter month in which
our first B-29 Superfortress makes initial
test flight before thousands of thrilled em-

ployees. . . . Free movies start in Boeing
Park. . . . Otto Plagens noses out Bob
Clark for Employees Association presi-
dency. .. . Planeview announces organiza-

tion of school system with five buildings
to be erected.

JULY —Ernest M. Allison, veteran of
12,500 hours in pilot’s seat, becomes chief
test pilot for Boeing-Wichita B-29’s....
Plant I accorded top national ranking for
primary trainer production. . . . National
Labor Relations Board holds election in
plants to determine which union, if any,
to represent employees as_ bargaining
agent. International Association of Ma-
chinists (A. F. of L.) is the winner. . .
All three shifts work on Monday, July 5,
recognized as Independence Day holiday.
- Complete counselor service for all
employees announced.

AUGUST — Thousands of employees turn
out to greet Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
“Memphis Belle” and crew upon return
from completing 25 missions over Europe.

. Chest X-rays of employees are made
as a health measure. . . . Glenn Bostwick
wins Association golf title... . Planemak-
ers donate over 30,000 books and maga-
zines in one-day drive to furnish reading
material for soldiers at Camp Phillips.

. Civic Bowl in West Wichita leased for
use of employees. ... W. G: (Bill) Power,
General Motors’ dynamic speaker, talks to
supervisory personnel and indelibly im-
presses the importance of “all out” war
production effort.

SEPTEMBER — Labor day is a regular

work day at Boeing-Wichita. . . War
Dads form chapter at Boeing. ... For
first time since Pearl Harbor, Plant I

holds open house for employees, wives and
husbands. . Association contracts for
four-day rodeo in Lawrence Stadium.
OCTOBER — Secrecy on our new super-
bomber partly lifted when General Harris

 

These Gold Star Men Have Been Honored

To each of the 57 former Boeing employees who has given his life in the service
of his country a Boeing B-29 has been dedicated. When the fateful news is received,
a large picture of the war hero is placed on the outside of a Superfortress cabin in
Primary Assembly. The memorial remains on the ship through the final stages of

production. Men thus honored:

JAMES E. LIVENGOOD
FRANK W. GRIFFITH
ALBERT DALTON
GRAYSON CARLYLE NADEN
EDWARD ODELL
ROBERT HELPHINGSTINE
ARNOLD V. CARLSON
ROY E. COLLINS

DEAN E. WHITESIDE
GEORGE KENDALL
GILBERT WIDICK

ROSCOE V. BLACK, JR.
EMMETT MAYBERRY
LLOYD E. MATHES
MILFORD D. BIRCH
RICHARD W. DEAVER
LEIGHTON METZKER

O. RAYMOND FRENCH
HAROLD ALBRIGHT
GEORGE E. CUSTER
EDWIN S. NESBITT

P. HOWARD GATEWOOD
JOHN CURTIS PHELAN
DARRELL EDWARD BLISS
J. ROBERT HARTMAN
ROY E. PRUITT

LEWIS DWAIN STILES
JACK RENNER

K. MERLE HAM

GAIL F. BRUNER

LUTHER E. MASSEY
CHARLES W. JUDD
HARVEY L. SHAFFER
HUGH W. MONAGHAN
FRANK LINK

HAROLD L. GILLENWATERS
OTT S. CIRCLE

DEMPSEY WILLARD SPIRES
MAURICE WAYNE WILSON
LARRY B. RANSOM
BERNARD KNIGHT FORSTON
JOHN H. CRISS

ROY ARTHUR HUNT

CODY HUBERT JOHNSON
PAUL E. MADDOX

DALE SMITH

HOWARD W. HOLMES
EDWIN M. HELTON
FORREST ELROY FREEMAN
ARTHUR DAVID PRICE
LAWRENCE KOON

ROBERT C. McILVAIN
ORVILLE GATEWOOD
EDEN C. JONES

HAROLD PAUL SCOTT

LEO A. BETZEN

ALBERT C. JOLLEY

 

announces Army counts on it “to put over
the knockout punch of the war.” ...
Bomber schedules are boosted. . . . First
checks issued under new shop wage scale.

5 . Plant War Bond sales pass million
dollar mark. . . . Boeing opens four-state
drive for new employees. General

Knudsen, visiting plants,
effort in war against Japan.

NOVEMBER — Army reveals new super-
fortress, designed and built by Boeing, to
be known as the B-29. . “Wee Willy”
Hobein sets season bowling record with a
653. . Art Lokensgard, former USO
director, assumes head of plant recreation
department. . .. Employee gifts to Wich-
ita Community-War Chest hit $135,200. ...
Full work schedule announced for Thanks-
giving; 16,000 servings of cake and ice
cream and 150 gallons of cranberry sauce
go to employees with Thanksgiving greet-
ings from the Company. . .. Tiny loose
screw, dropped and carelessly ignored by
some workman, jams in landing gear
switch, results in a B-29 belly landing at
Municipal Airport; no one hurt, plane later
repaired and flown again.

DECEMBER — To meet accelerated B-29
delivery schedules, plants abandon three
shift operation and go on two extended
overtime shifts of 10 hours each; transpor-
tation schedules revised to meet new work
plan; downtown stores cooperate by re-
maining open an extra night each week.

. General Knudsen visits plants to dis-
cuss new schedules. . . . Employees work
Sunday to make up for Christmas holiday.

. Plant I sets perfect safety record for
month. . . . Boeing Victory bell, lent to
employees by Wichita church, is erected in
Plant II to herald delivery of B-29’s to

urges all-out

Army. . . . Employees battle severe bliz-
zard to reach work and keep up B-29 pro-

duction.
1944 up for visiting members of
Armed Forces. . Plane-
view community center opens... . Starting
time of both shifts moved forward 45
minutes, first starting at 6 a.m., second at
4:45 p.m. This means first shifters get up
at 4:30 a.m., second shifters get home 24
hours later. General Arnold visits
plants, asks all employees to redouble
efforts. .. . Arnold inscribes name on Su-
perfortress nose section, terms it “my air-
plane” (same ship to later become famous
as the Boeing B-29 “Gen. H. H. Arnold
Special”). . . . B-29’s now being delivered
minus camouflage paint. . . . Wounded in
African invasion, Leo Rutter, formerly of
Shop 82, returns to work in Plant II.

FEBRUARY — Employees top million in
War Bond purchases. . . . Eighteen gold
stars placed on plant honor rolls. :
4,377 former employees now serving in
Armed Forces. ... “Gen. H. H. Arnold
Special” flown away by Army... . Boeing
enters 10 teams in city basketball tourney.

. Knudsen again visits plants; announces
first accelerated scheduled quota fulfilled,
calls for even greater efforts.

MARCH — Planeview gets branch bank.
Boeing Bombers, City league basket-

ball champions, bow out of national tour-
nament after two victories. . . . 500 Boeing
mechanics and technicians go to four
Army air bases to assist in modification
program. . . Association stages big ice
show at Forum. . Employee gifts to

(Continued on Page 7)

JANUARY — Plant tours set

"Boeing Keeps Count of Its Servicemen and ‘Honors Its WwW r + Dead

BOEING

HONOR ROLL

WIGHITA DIVISION

ee

SERVING AS A DAILY REMINDER to every employee, two strategically located service boards like
this one opposite Plant | tell the number of former Boeing-Wichita employees who have entered

the Armed Forces since the war began.

The two boards carry small gold stars in memory of
employees who have lost their lives in the present conflict.

The boards are electrically lighted

and are placed across from Plant | and on the overpass above MacArthur road where everyone
entering and leaving the plants may see them

WITH SIMPLE DIGNITY AND REVERENCE,
employee who loses his life in the service of
mounted in a special memorial case.

Beneath each star is the name of the serviceman.

 

the badge and picture of each Boeing-Wichita

his country is superimposed on a gold star and
The

large star at the top records the total number of employees who have joined the Armed Forces.
Thousands of employees and visitors to the plants have seen the simple and impressive memorial
which now commemorates 57 men who gave their lives