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Summary

During World War II, Woodhull I. "Woodie" Spitler (1916--2001) served with the US Army Air Force Reserve, assigned as a production engineering officer to the Consolidated Vultee Fort Worth, Air Force Plant 4, also known as the Forth Worth bomber plant. In this capacity, Spitler was engaged in organizing the production line, which is shown in the photograph in this collection.

Biographical / Historical

Woodhull I. "Woodie" Spitler (1916--2001) graduated from Purdue University in 1937 with a degree in engineering focused on industrial settings. Spitler worked with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company on a number of postings, including assignment to set up the tire plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil. During World War II, Spitler served with the US Army Air Force Reserve, assigned as a production engineering officer to the Consolidated Vultee Fort Worth, Air Force Plant 4, also known as the Forth Worth bomber plant. In this capacity, Spitler was engaged in organizing the production line. After the War, Spitler was involved in a number of business ventures in the Fort Worth area, including organizing Air Accessories, Incorporated which later merged with the TexStar Corporation, subsequently serving as president of TexStar, and founding Airco Industries, Incorporated which later was sold to Cypress Industries in Arkansas.

Identifier

NASM.2024.0042

Creator

United States. Army Air Forces

Date

Circa 1942

Provenance

Douglas Spitler, Gift, 2024, NASM.2024.0042.

Extent

0.02 Cubic feet (1 map folder)

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a 20 by 16 inch reprint of a US Army Air Force photograph showing the production line at the Consolidated Vultee Fort Worth, Air Force Plant 4 ("Forth Worth bomber plant"). Two lines showing Consolidated B-24 Liberator aircraft in various stages of assembly are visible in the photograph. Some of the aircraft are in coastal patrol markings. Numerous employees, both male and female, can be seen at work.

Arrangement note

Collection is a single item.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Citation

Consolidated Vultee Fort Worth Photograph [Spitler], NASM.2024.0042, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Aeronautics, Military

Aircraft industry

World War, 1939-1945

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials