Did you know that Boeing, one of the world’s leading companies in aviation, established a fake town to protect the aircraft factory during the Second World War? Let’s take a closer look at this fake town.
II. World War It was very important to establish advanced factories to develop and equip armies in the period. At that time, US officials thought that the most important thing to win the war was to produce hundreds or even thousands of fighter jets.
Authorities considering production also had to consider protecting factories. Because in time of war, no one wants their enemy to become stronger. United States against a possible air attack bomber factory He had devised a magnificent plan to protect it. Let’s take a closer look at what that plan is, why, and how it was implemented.
The USA aimed to produce hundreds or even thousands of warplanes to win the Second World War.
The Boeing 2 factory, which was opened in 1936 and produces warplanes, was producing B-17 bombers, one of the best military aircraft of the period. This your planes Only production cost of one was about $250,000. This amount, which was quite a lot for the defense industry at that time, once again reminded why the protection of the factory was important.
By 1944, a rather interesting plan was made for the preservation of the factory. The factory was to be camouflaged. Major John Francis Ohmer Jr. was put in charge of the plan. Ohmer had acquaintances working in Hollywood. Thanks to these acquaintances, one of the best set designers of the time, John Stewart Detlie, was reached. Plans were drawn, designs were made and the desired camouflage was completed.
Hollywood proudly presents
Boeing 2 Factory Pre Camouflage
Using the same techniques used in the film’s set, fake streets, sidewalks, trees, fences, cars and houses were installed on the roof of the factory. Factory that produces 300 planes per month when viewed from above an ordinary town it looked like.
Boeing Factory 2 Post Camouflage
‘Boeing Wonderland’ Everything in this place called this place was fake. In other words, when you look closely at the structures that looked like houses from above, it was seen that they were made of wood. Grass and what appears to be were actually made of chicken feathers and glass wire.
Viewed from above, the houses in the mock town, aligned with nearby settlements, ranged from 1 to 4 meters in length. The fiction was so real that people In some places he was sunbathing, in others he was walking.
The fake town had about 300 trees, 53 houses, two dozen garages, three greenhouses, a few small stores, and even a gas station. However, two of the houses were real and they were inside in case of a possible air attack. few US soldiers using anti-aircraft were alive.
Here’s the video of the town that seemed ordinary at that time
Beneath the peaceful town lay a factory producing hundreds of planes a month.
As we described, the upper part looked like an ordinary town when viewed from above. However, we need to talk a little bit about the factory that has been working under it for years. in the factory approx. There were 30,000 male and female employees.
300 bombers were produced per month. These planes dropped more than 640,000 tons of bombs on Germany during WWII. By 1945, the B-17s were replaced by the B-29s. There was no fear, and the factory was not the target of any enemy during the Second World War. By the end of 1945 and the beginning of 1946, the camouflage on the roof of the factory was completely removed.
The factory resumed aircraft production in the 1960s. In the 1980s, it was used as an aircraft repair shop after technological developments. Factory unused until 2010 It slowly began to rot and eventually some of it collapsed.
Note: The part we show with the arrow above is the final state of the factory visible on Google Maps. The image in the circle is taken in 2009. We could not access any images from that day.
You can check out Boeing Wonderland and other images of the factory below.
One of the clearest images of the fake town above the factory. It turns out that cars are made of cardboard and trees are made of chicken feathers.
Things that look like cars and roads when viewed from above are actually made of cardboard.
People sunbathing and relaxing in Wonderland. What a normal life they live, right?
Everything was so real that streets and avenues were even named. Here is Sentetik Street and Çuvalbezi Boulevard
Security guard waiting at the entrance of fake town
While there is an ordinary town on the roof, the workers continue to go to work downstairs.
Boeing workers celebrate 5,000 B-17 bombers produced
Today we told you the story of Boeing Wonderland. You can share your thoughts on the subject with us in the comments.
Resources: Warfare History Network, Boredpanda