WII Ends Depression in Georgia

Bell Bomber Plant Location Purpose Economic Impact Interesting Facts Marietta Piedmont Region Cobb County Purpose  Aircraft manufacturing plant Would assist in the production and assembly of the most technologically advanced bomber in the world, the Boeing’s B-29 Super-fortress Economic Impact Transformed Marietta into a major industrial center of Georgia Produced 668 bombers State’s single largest employer w/ 28,000 workers 73 million dollars Interesting Facts  Completed in 54 weeks 4.2 million square feet (63 football fields) 32,000 tons of steel Two assembly lines a half-mile long Contained Air-conditioning Dobbins Air Force Base Today it is Lockheed Martin

Military Bases Locations Purpose Columbus Atlanta Warner Robins Coast Albany Valdosta Macon Augusta Purpose Prepare and train soldiers Used for training and services Internment camps for foreign prisoners of war Played important role in the military’s effort to win the war Economic Impact Housed soldiers from all over the world 24,00 service men brought to work @ Robins Field Increased population Industrial and demographic changes Technological changes Federal Funding Interesting Facts Many major bases established before the war are still operational today

Brunswick and Savannah Shipyards Location Brunswick – 70 miles south of Savannah Located at the confluence of 3 rivers Purpose One of 16 ports chosen to build cargo vessels for allied forces Built Liberty Ships Built by J.A. Jones Construction Economic Impact Pre-war used for trade purposes including exporting cotton and rice 16,000 workers built 99 ships, 85 were Liberty Ships Tripled Brunswick’s population Overnight Economic Powerhouses Location Savannah Savannah River east of the city Purpose Contract awarded to Southeastern Shipbuilding Corp. Economic Impact Built 88 ships Employed women and African Americans Employed more the 15,000 Brought coastal Georgia out of Great Depression

Brunswick and Savannah Shipyards Interesting Facts:   Liberty Ships were capable of hauling thousands of tons of cargo Took 89 days to construct a ship Great deal of pride Christening of ships was a big deal at the shipyard Interesting Facts Many workers organized labor unions Produced 52 more ships than originally contracted

Richard B. Russell Background Economic Contributions Georgia House of Representatives Governor of Georgia U.S. Senator Economic Contributions Brought research facilities to Georgia including Centers for Disease Control Brought federal funding of other projects through out the state Military Contributions Advocate for a strong military Helped the U.S. prepare to fight in WWII Influential in brining/maintaining 15 military bases to Georgia (major economic contribution to Georgia)

Carl Vinson Father of the Two Ocean Navy Background: Georgia General Assembly 51 years in the U.S. House of Representatives Economic Contributions: Encourage the use of Georgia as a location for military installments created many jobs 90% of the workforce on Georgia military installations were civilians Over 20,000 jobs were brought to local communities Pushed military development bills through Congress creating jobs Military Contributions: Ensured the U.S. spent money on Army and Navy His policies contributed to America’s preparedness for WWII Two bills Vinson pushed through Congress called for: Building 10,000 planes Training 16,000 pilots Creation of 20 airbases and naval facilities.

WWII impact on the State of Georgia WWII forever changed the lives of Georgians. Factories and small towns and commercial hubs located near larger cities transformed overnight. Georgia received a great deal of federal funding during the war to become a military industrial center Piedmont region received the most military bases and the Bell Bomber Plant Metro Atlanta Bases: 3 bases Fort Gillem, Fort McPherson, Rickenbacker Field Remaining Piedmont Region- Fort Benning, Fort Gordon, and Robins Air Force Base 320,000 Georgian’s served in the war