Exactly 250 years ago the U.S. was fighting the British for independence. This weekend I had the privilege of seeing The Red Arrows (the British Royal Air Force's aerobatics display team) help celebrate this year's iconic anniversary of that revolutionary event. An event which ranked as one of the most important historical outcomes to shape today's Western world.
Though the Red Arrows commonly perform in Britain, it is a rare treat indeed to see them in the United States.
Many of you may know that I was born and raised in Michigan. Every once in a while I like to highlight that fact by focusing on Michigan's contribution to our nation's defense during WWII.
For instance, did you know that the federal government granted Michigan contractors ten percent of U.S. spending on war related purchases. This meant Michigan garnered the second most war related funding of any state (The State of New York came in first). What did that money buy? Quite a bit.
Perhaps most impressive is that Willow Run (see picture of B-24's being manufactured there) was only a part of the
Observed on the first Monday in September, Labor Day is a U.S. Federal holiday honoring the contributions of America's workers. In celebration of Labor Day 2012 we will take a look at one of the biggest and most spectacular industrial efforts in U.S. history: the Willow Run Manufacturing Plant.
During the massive rearmament drive ordered by U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt prior to the U.S. entry into World War II aircraft production quickly rose to the forefront of manufacturing efforts - particularly the production of heavy bombers.
