FROM ISOLATION TO WORLD WAR, 1930-1945
curtiss-wright airplanes in world war ii

Mobilization for World War II required massive production of military goods, including arms, ammunition, tanks, and airplanes. Even before the U.S. entered the war in 1941, U.S. law permitted selling war products to Great Britain and France.
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the second largest contractor of wartime products in the United States. They produced 142,840 aircraft engines, 146,468 electric propellers and 29,269 airplanes, and employed 180,000 workers. Curtiss-Wright expanded its operations to Columbus in 1940 to meet the increased demand for military aircraft. Making 23 planes per day at the peak of production, the Columbus plant was the nation's largest builder of navy dive bombers. Curtiss-Wright employed 13,000 workers at the Columbus factory in 1942 and 25,000 by the end of the war in 1945. After the war, the former Curtiss-Wright factory on E. 5th Avenue became a production plant for Lustron homes, pre-fabricated houses made of porcelain steel.
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the second largest contractor of wartime products in the United States. They produced 142,840 aircraft engines, 146,468 electric propellers and 29,269 airplanes, and employed 180,000 workers. Curtiss-Wright expanded its operations to Columbus in 1940 to meet the increased demand for military aircraft. Making 23 planes per day at the peak of production, the Columbus plant was the nation's largest builder of navy dive bombers. Curtiss-Wright employed 13,000 workers at the Columbus factory in 1942 and 25,000 by the end of the war in 1945. After the war, the former Curtiss-Wright factory on E. 5th Avenue became a production plant for Lustron homes, pre-fabricated houses made of porcelain steel.
african American and women in world war II Industries
Executive Order 8802, signed by President Franklin Roosevelt, prohibited discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries or government because of race, creed, color, or national origin.
Even before the federal mandate, Curtiss-Wright employed African-Americans men and women in its factories.
Even before the federal mandate, Curtiss-Wright employed African-Americans men and women in its factories.
The atomic bomb
Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus was one of several locations throughout the country conducting nuclear research during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project.