Center Fuselage Assembly at Fairfax
Center Fuselage Assembly at Fairfax

North American Aviation
Department Listing

This is the list of departments at North American Aviation - Kansas plant as it existed on April 17, 1943. I chose to present this in that manor for a couple of reasons. First, I think this "snap shot" helps understand how the B-25 bombers were built. Moving forward, I will chronical each department one by one. I also think presenting the factory in this manor helps tell the personal story of the men and women who worked at the plant. Ultimately, the B-25 was such a great aircraft due to the great employees that built them. I chose the date because it was at the height of the war and production of B-25s at the plant was in full swing. I also had complete, reliable information for that date.

Manufacturing Departments as of April 17, 1943

Dept. # Dept. Name Dept. Head
1 Production Machine Shop R. P. Klipp
2 Sheet Metal Details J. R. Ely
4 Processing C. F Saam
5 Paint Shop W. L. Bryant
8 Welding D. L. Whitney
10 Sheet Metal Rework
12 Machine Parts Sub-Assembly E. M. Rogers
13 Sheet Metal Sub-Assembly N. E. Roblin
15 Drop Hammer J. R. Goukler
17 Front Fuselage Sub-Assembly G. D. Masters
19 Wing Construction A. R. Aguiar
20 Control Surface Assembly W. E. Anderson
22 Electrical and Radio H. G. Ball
24 Instruments, Hydraulics and Landing Gear Howard Chase
26 Enclosures R. M. Patten
27 Tank and Sub-Assemblies
28 Tubing D. V. Thompson
29 Engine Sub-Assembly O. G. Clark
31 Center Section Sub-Assembly J. F. Campbell
32 Rear Section Structure G. E. Jackson
33 Center Section Final Assembly Milo Sawyer
34 Final Line Sub-Assembly
37 Front Section Final Assembly
40 Final Assembly G. T. Rieff
42 Final Completion F. P. Barr
71 Material Preparation P. S. Smith

Supporting Departments as of April 17, 1943

Dept. # Dept. Name Dept. Head
3 Wood Shop Harold Spink
7 Shop Tool Crib A. E. Moan
11 Tool Design JF. M. Danks
14 Jig Construction R. S. Kessinger
16 Stockroom J. L. Simion
18 Plaster & Patern J. R. Goukler
23 Dispatcher R. B. Court
36 Tool & Die Shop J. C. Mason
46 Maintenance E. E. Mott
47 Service N. F. Robers
48 Shipping and Crating A. E. Lightcap
49 Parts Control L. B. Shaughnessy
50 Planning W. M. Dallas
51 Industrial Relations P. E. Garin
Employment A. F. Urbina
Personnel Records D. R. Zook
Selective Service C. H. Mann
Transportation J. N. Thompson
Research D. R. Zook
52 Plant Protection R. P. Shanahan
Investigation Police S. O. Sherwood
Fire M. J. Dalton
53 Material W. T. Lynn
Material Control C. Logsdon, Jr.
Purchasing T. A. Baker
54 Inspection H. S. Rankin
55 Cost Accounting F. W. Nelson
Cost W. L. Parris
Timekeeping H. O. Willhite
55 Tabulating B. T. Tucker
56 Engineering L. A. Kent
Research H. V. Harris
Photographic J. V. Eastwood
Photographic J. V. Eastwood
57 Loft and Template E. B. Van Buren
58 Shop Contact H. H. Lynch, Jr.
59 Material Conservation J. C. Cantrall
60 General Accounting H. R. Rowe
61 Assistant to Factory Manager's Office H. A. DeShong
62 Flight Test & Service J. R. Bradley
64 Methods L. W. Prusel
65 Liaison Margaret Westfall
66 Factory Clerical J. W. Parks
67 Test Pilots P. C. Thornbury
68 Works Control G. C. Chalmers
69 Warehouse V. A. Sever
73 Field Service C. K. Fowler
74 Receiving & Inspection V. L Willis
77 Factory Manager's Office D. C. McMillan
80 Plant Facilities H. C. Newman
82 G. F. E. Stores W. F. Garner
90 Payroll J. R. Evans
91 Medical F. H. Morley, M. D.
92 Safety M. C. Grenata
93 Walfare Marion Davis
94 Recreation R. C. Sanders
95 Labor Relations W. E. Erwin
98 Contract Administrator's Office F. P. Spalding
99 Superintendant's Staff Office R. G. Clarke
100 Production Training/Trainees A. F. Blackman

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