Despite its late start, industry was soon producing weapons in massive numbers, with the help of women workers like these building a Flying Fortress bomber at the Douglas Aircraft Company plant in Long Beach, CA.

Contrary to prevailing stereotypes, few jobs were so hard, dirty, or dangerous that women could not fill them. Working on the B&O Railroad.

Women clean blast furnaces at U.S. Steel's plant in Gary, Indiana. They wear oxygen masks because toxic gas emissions could kill.

Racial prejudices were set aside as well. An integrated team of riveters worked at the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, CA.