How To Hide An Airplane Factory

Site Issues 2008 Archive Room
#1

the art of camouflage was used extensively during the war. here’s how they did at the burbank aircraft plant.

During the Second World War, the Army Corps of Engineers needed to hide the Lockheed Burbank Aircraft Plan to protect it from a Japanese air attack. They covered it with camouflage netting and trompel’oeil to make it look like a rural subdivision from the air. 8 more pics of the airplane factory camouflage after the jump.

[link](http://www.hemmy.net/2007/09/09/how-to-hide-an-airplane-factory/)

before and after

#2

LOL:D they even have cars and busses goin under the camo. And it must have been pretty funny living near it!
“mum, look, slanted land!”:smiley:
How did they manage to get buildings to go on the factory?

#3

Thats cool, real good idea.

#4

What about the landing strip adjacent to the factory?

From the air it would have been a give away, unless it too was camouflaged when not in use?

#5

Because California was under such danger of air attack…

#6

maybe balloon bombs or submarine launched seaplane bombing(that happend once) or shelling by subs. (the only plausible thing here is the seaplane bmbing but submarine launches seapanes dont carry too much bombs)

#7

How will disguising it from the air help with either of those? About the only thing this is good for is making the workforce feel like they’re properly at war.

#8

Yes, well, you may scoff, but you forget the valiant defence of Los Angeles from air attack. :wink: http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist9/aaf2.html

Seriously, after Pearl Harbor, America was well advised to be concerned about its Pacific Coast and the risk of air attacks upon it. It’s all very well being wise after the event, but at the time there was no reason to exclude the possibility that the same fleet which ravaged Pearl mighn’t do the same on the Pacific Coast. As it did on Australia’s north coast about two months after Pearl.

Japan’s failure to attack and destroy American industrial capacity demonstrates how little Japan understood of the war it started with America, and how much American industrial capacity defeated Japan.

#9

If it did so, it’s chances of getting back to Japan afloat would be minimal and the US would have virtually won the war in an afternoon. Unless Hawaii were taken, the Japanese fleet would be essentially trapped inside 2,000 miles of land-based air cover. Not good at all for their survival chances!

#10

LOL Have you guys ever seen “1941” (directed by Stephen Spielberg)?

“War nerves? Who said it was war nerves?”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWdTuayBLfU

#11

Wtf???

#12

LOL I guess you haven’t seen the film. It’s a comedic take on the pseudo-air raid that took place over LA around Christmas of 1941 - causing mass panic and a volley of AAA to be fired…

Theories vary as too simple “war nerves” combined with poorly coordinated military flights to Japanese reconnaissance aircraft to UFOs. :shock:

With Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and Ned Betty, the film is hysterical and chock full of talent…

#13

Seems it’s worthwhile to watch…:wink:

#14

I’m aware of the “air raid” (somewhat reminiscent of the Battle of Barking Creek), but wasn’t aware of that film at all. It does look a bit heavy-handedly done though…

#15

It’s of course outlandish and sarcastic…and a minor classic…