FM-2 Wildcat factory pictures

[CraigQ]

I scanned these from an Eastern Aircraft company produced history book for employees in 1944 I bought a little bit back. I figured that with the FM-2 restorations going on this might be of interest. BTW, I'll see about posting a few pics of whats going on with the Fighter Factory FM-2 resto this weekend.

Craig Q

[51fixer]

I had a chance to work on Mike Schloss's AD-4 a couple times in the FM-2 hangars at Linden airport.
It was an armpit of an area. Every room in the motel I stayed at had a Heart shaped bathtub.
You could feel the history in there.
Rich

[51fixer]

Carp

[george]

Fascinating picture of the line, Craig. Thats quite a sight to see so many of them coming together.

Rich - did you do the AD work in the large assembly hanger that is pictured? If so, what is it primarily used for now? Thanks.

[51fixer]

Rich - did you do the AD work in the large assembly hanger that is pictured? If so, what is it primarily used for now? Thanks.

I believe that the pics shown were in the plant which was across the street from the airport.
This was probably 12 years ago when I did this. The plant was still making GM products then. I believe it has closed since.
I also heard a rumor the airport was going to be sold as well.
I don't know if any of the building exist at the moment.
Rich

[CraigQ]

Carp

No thanks, too many bones!

[CH2Tdriver]

Rich - did you do the AD work in the large assembly hanger that is pictured? If so, what is it primarily used for now? Thanks.

I believe that the pics shown were in the plant which was across the street from the airport.
This was probably 12 years ago when I did this. The plant was still making GM products then. I believe it has closed since.
I also heard a rumor the airport was going to be sold as well.
I don't know if any of the building exist at the moment.
Rich

I worked as a CFI at Linden during the summer of '93. At the time they had the longest runway (still there--albeit only runway) 9-27 and a 14-32. To the North of the approach end of runway 9 was the "main terminal" which consisted of an elongated rectangular hangar of reinforced concrete and steel. The doors opened 'clamshell like' and were located all along the long end of the hangar and faced the runways. The opposite end was enclosed so it was an interesting building. Our planes and office was located here and the building was a bit long in the tooth at that time.

The main thing was I remember seeing photos around of the hangar during WW2, where the doors were open and it was full of FM2's either in final assembly or ready for test flying. They rolled them across the street from the plant to this hangar. The scuttlebutt at the time was that this hangar was designed to take a hit from a 500 lb bomb, but that may have been just a tall tale.

Today only 9-27 survives as the sole runway. Immediately to the north and paralleling the runway is a new shopping center and parking lot where the big hangar was. The main hangar, ramp and tie downs are located today at what was the approach end of 32.

I recommend going to "www.historicaerials.com" and do a search of Linden NJ. Zoom in on the airport and what is really neat is that the aerials on file go all the way back to 1931!! Just center the airport on the screen, click on the years and you will see how the airport evolved. There was no airport in 1931 or 1940! I went to bing.com - maps and they show the GM plant still standing although closed. IDK how old the bing image is and I imagine the plant may have been torn down last year.

Pete