Back to Collections

Story: Making the B-25 Bomber at North American Aviation, Inc., 1942

31 photos

Mounting motor on a Fairfax B-25 bomber, at North American Aviation, Inc., plant in Inglewood, Calif.

On North American's outdoor assembly line, a painter cleans the tail section of a P-51 fighter prior to spraying the olive-drab camouflage of the U.S. Army, North American Aviation, Inc., Inglewood, Calif.

Cowling and control rods are added to motors for North American B-25 bombers as they move down the assembly line, North American, Inc., Inglewood, Calif.

Metal parts are placed on masonite by this woman employee before they slide under the multi-ton hydropress, North American Aviation, Inc., Inglewood, Calif.

In North American's modern machine shop, another aircraft part is finished on a huge turret lathe, North American Aviation, Inc., Inglewood, Calif.

Part of the cowling for one of the motors for a B-25 bomber is assembled in the engine department of North American Aviation, Inc.'s Inglewood, Calif., plant

Switch boxes on the firewalls of B-25 bombers are assembled by women workers at North American Aviation, Inc.'s Inglewood, Calif., plant

Part of the cowling for one of the motors for a B-25 bomber is assembled in the engine department of North American Aviation, Inc.'s Inglewood, Calif., plant

An experimental scale model of the B-25 plane is prepared for wind tunnel tests in the plant of North American Aviation, Inc., Inglewood, Calif. This plant produced the B-25 bomber

P-51 ("Mustang") fighter plane in construction, North American Aviation, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.

Employees at North American Aviation, Incorporated, assembling the cowling on Allison motors for the P-51 fighter planes, Inglewood, Calif.

P-51 ("Mustang") fighter planes being prepared for test flight at the field of the North American Aviation, Inc., plant in Inglewood, Calif.

P-51 ("Mustang") fighter planes being prepared for test flight at the field of North American Aviation, Inc., plant in Inglewood, Calif.

P-51 "Mustang" fighter in flight, Inglewood, Calif. The "Mustang", built by North American Aviation, Incorporated, is the only American-built fighter used by the Royal Air Force of Great Britain

A young woman employee of North American Aviation, Incorporated, working over the landing gear mechanism of a P-51 fighter plane, Inglewood, Calif. The mechanism resembles a small cannon

A young woman employee of North American Aviation, Incorporated, working over the landing gear mechanism of a P-51 fighter plane, Inglewood, Calif. The mechanism resembles a small cannon

Sheet metal parts are numbered with this pneumatic numbering machine in North American's sheet metal department, North American Aviation, Inc., Inglewood, Calif.

Riveting team working on the cockpit shell of a B-25 i.e. C-47 bomber at the plant of North American Aviation, Inc., Inglewood i.e. Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif.

B-25 bombers on the outdoor assembly line at North American Aviation, Incorporated, almost ready for their first test flight, Kansas City, Kansas

Punching rivet holes in a frame member for a B-25 bomber, the plant of North American Aviation, Inc., Calif.

Woman working on an airplane motor at North American Aviation, Inc., plant in Calif.

B-25 bomber planes at the North American Aviation, Incorporated being hauled along an outdoor assembly line with an "International" tractor, Kansas City, Kansas

New B-25 bombers lined up for final inspection and tests at the flying field of an aircraft plant, North American Aviation, Inc., Calif. It performs at the 25,000-foot ceiling

B-25 bombers lined up at North American Aviation, Incorporated, almost ready for their first test flight, Kansas City, Kansas