Seattle factory that built B-17s may be demolished

[Jim O]

SEATTLE The Boeing factory in Seattle that produced a dozen B-17s a day during World War Two is scheduled to be demolished next year.
Called Plant Two, it rolled out nearly seven-thousand of the Flying Fortress bombers. And, the first three experimental models of the B-29 also were made there.

During the war the roof was camouflaged to look like a Seattle neighborhood, in case of a Japanese bombing raid on Seattle.

Now the building the size of eight football fields (in the 7700 block of East Marginal Way South) is mostly empty except for two planes being remodeled by volunteers -- a B-17 and a B-29.

One of the volunteers, Dale Thompson, says the "place just oozes with history." He and others, including Boeing corporate historian Mike Lombardi, hope the building can be preserved.


Source: KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA | Home