Landing Craft
The Chris-Craft plant in Algonac, a peacetime manufacturer of
recreational boats, made 36-foot-long landing craft for the war effort.
 Life Preservers
One summer we were given burlap sacks to gather
milkweed pods, which were used to make life preservers. We received
fifty cents for each fifty-pound sack we filled.
Carol Hamp
School children gathered milkweed pods that were converted into filler
for life jackets. The milkweed, dried at Petoskey's fairgrounds, replaced
the previous material, kapok from Java, which was controlled by Japan.
Ambulances
My husband was a medic with the Fifth Army. . . . I
have always thanked God Jack never fired a gun; he only took care of the
war victims.
Lina Mayer
Ambulances made in Detroit were held for shipment at Fort Wayne, IN, an
ordnance depot.
Cannon and Aircraft Parts
Oldsmobile, in Lansing, organized the Wings, the company's female war
workers, to perform jobs previously done by men. The Wings built cannon
and aircraft parts. They inspected and packaged shells and operated lift
trucks.
Glider and Bomb Shackles
In Iron Mountain and Greenville, the Gibson Refrigerator converted to
glider and bomb-shackle manufacturing. Ford Motor Company was making
wooden gliders in Iron Mountain.
Tanks
The Chrysler Tank Arsenal was built before World War II in Warren
Township to make tanks for the American military. After Pearl Harbor,
production accelerated. In early 1943 President Roosevelt ordered a
minimum 48-hour work week for all factories where labor was scarce and
vital war goods were being produced.
Read about America's tanks
from Michigan History magazine.
Artillery
The Pontiac Fisher Body plant assembled artillery pieces during
World War II. Magazine ads no longer touted "Body by Fisher,"
but "Armament by Fisher."
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