Today in Georgia History

Today in Marietta History: Bell Bomber Goes to 54-Hour Work Week

Marietta's Bell Bomber plant, now Lockheed Martin, began production in 1943. When the war ended in 1945, production at the Bell Bomber plant ended along with it.

Marietta's Bell Bomber plant announced it was going to a 54-hour work week to meet the wartime needs for B-29s. Two weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the War Department approved the newly designed B-29 bomber for production. Produced by Buffalo-based Bell Aircraft, the four-engine B-29 would be the most advanced long-range bomber in the world. When the government gave word that it wished to build the new aircraft somewhere in the Atlanta area, Cobb County sprang into action. Numerous influential citizens began lobbying for Bell Aircraft to use the land adjacent to Rickenbacker Field. The deal was quickly closed. Production began in 1943. When the war ended in 1945, production at the Bell Bomber plant ended along with it. The…

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First F-35 for the Netherlands Rolls Out

The Netherlands will use the conventional takeoff and landing jet for training and operational tests for pilots and maintainers.

The first F-35 Lightning II for The Netherlands rolled out of the F-35 Lockheed Martin production facility at Fort Worth, Texas, on April 1. This is the latest step in the production process leading to its eventual assignment to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida later this summer. Lockheed Martin’s Marietta site handles the F-35 center wing assembly. The center wing is the core of the fighter jet, where the wings attach. The Netherlands will use the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) jet, known as AN-1, for training and operational tests for pilots and maintainers. AN-1 will undergo functional fuel system checks before being transported to the flight line for ground and flight tests in the coming weeks. The Royal Netherlands Air Force …

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Lockheed Delivers Second Shadow to Kirtland

"The C-130J is the backbone of the mobility fleet and a critical component in Airmen's ability to fly, fight and win," General Edward Rice said.

The second MC-130J Combat Shadow II was delivered to Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Tuesday.  General Edward A. Rice, Jr., Commander, Air Education and Training Command, accepted delivery of aircraft 5682. "The C-130J is the backbone of the mobility fleet and a critical component in our Airmen's ability to fly, fight and win," said Rice in a press release. "It is an honor to deliver the newest member of the Kirtland fleet." This is the 2,406th Hercules delivered to date. A MC-130J Combat Shadow II was assigned to U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command in January and oos operated by the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. The C-130 production line in Marietta is the longest continuously operating military aircraft…

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