Douglas Aircraft Historic Buildings

Douglas Aircraft Historic Buildings. . The Midwest City Douglas Aircraft Company Plant was designed by The Austin Company in a modern style, and constructed between 1942 and 1943. During World War II, the Douglas plant manufactured more than half of the 10,000 C-47 Skytrain U.S. Army cargo planes built during the war. Workers at the Douglas plant also produced C-54 Skymaster Big Brother transport planes and A-26 Invader bombers. At its peak of production, at least 38,000 Oklahomans worked at the Douglas Aircraft Plant and more than half of them were women. After the end of World War II, the Douglas Aircraft Plant ceased production and the facility was taken over by what was then Tinker Field. The Douglas Aircraft Plant Complex is now a historic district, and each of the buildings shown on this panel contribute to its significance. , Building 3001 , Building 3001, known as the Douglas Assembly Building, is located between East Drive and the main north/south runway. The building is three-quarters of a mile long and nearly 1000 feet wide at its widest point. Built as a key part of the Douglas Cargo Aircraft Plant, it is an example of International style architecture for wartime industrial needs. The building was designed to emit no light at night in case of bombing. It is completely windowless and artificially lit and air-conditioned. The Douglas Assembly Building of Army C-47 production during World War II. After annexation by Tinker Field, Building 3001 was immediately adapted for aircraft modification work. Over the years, Building 3001 has hosted work on the AT-6, B-29, B-36, B-50, F-4, and KC-135 aircraft, to name a few. The Douglas Assembly Building is also architecturally significant because of its size; at approximately 3374 feet by 926 feet, it is the largest building in Oklahoma. Today, Building 3001 hosts aircraft overhaul, engine overhaul and repairing aircraft parts. , Building 3113 , Building 3113, also known as the Woodworking Mill, was constructed in 1943. The Woodworking Mill was one component of the facilities necessary to accomplish all parts of the Aircraft Plant common mission. This building was originally used to provide wooden parts needed to construct the airplanes built in Building 3001. Over the years, the function of Building 3113 has changed, and it now houses the calibration organization for the Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory (PMEL), which continues to calibrate equipment for organizations on base. , Building 3303 , Building 3303, known as the Pump House, is located on Staff Drive in front of Building 3001. The structure was built in 1943 to pump water to the storage tanks. This water is then used to cool the transformers next to the switch house. The Pump House was important to the overall operation of the Douglas Plant during World War II and is still being used today. , Building 3202 , Building 3202, known as the Fire Pump Station, is located at the intersection of Staff Drive and Turbine Drive. The structure has been continuously used as a water pumping facility since it was built in 1943, providing fire protection services for other buildings in the general area. The Fire Pump Station provided fire protection for the Douglas Plant complex during World War II when the plant was actively producing C-47s for the Army. , Building 3203 , Building 3203, known as the Fire Protection Water Storage Tank, is located at the corner of Staff and Turbine Drive. Designed by Turnbull, Sverdrup, and Parcel Consulting Engineers, the storage tank was built in 1943. This partially subterranean, earthen-bermed water storage facility holds 475,000 gallons. If you were to try to drain it using a typical kitchen faucet, it would take nearly a year. The circular structure is 70 feet in diameter and is approximately 20 feet deep. Only the upper three feet of the structure are visible above ground. Building 3203 continues to be used as a fire protection water storage tank. , Building 3105 , Building 3105, known as the Paint Building, was constructed in 1943. The Paint Building is an industrial type building, located on the runway easement west of Building 3001. During World War II, aircraft were painted here after they were assembled. After the construction of Building 2280, the Paint Hangar, Building 3105 was converted into a maintenance hangar, which is its use today.