March 28, 1941. Royal Navy victory in the Mediterranean, manufacturing victory in Detroit.
Ford Motor Company began building B-24s components at Air Force Plant 31 in Michigan. The plant is better known as the Willow Run plant. Ultimately it would construct entire aircraft, something that was not foreign to Ford which had manufactured civilian aircraft prior to the war. The facility was actually leased, rather than owned, by Ford, which had an option to purchase it. It would decline that option post war.
The plant was taken over by Kaiser after the war, a Ford competitor, which manufactured automobiles there until the Korean War, at which time it also manufactured C-119 cargo aircraft. Kaiser was formed in July 1945, so it was a post war startup, and was originally the Kaiser-Frazer Company. It technically lasted only until 1953, but it didn't disappear at that time but merged with Willys Overland, whose forte at that time were its 4x4 vehicles, lead by the Jeep. It sold Willys to American Motors in 1970, but retained a minority interest in that company. American Motors continues in operation today, contrary to the common assumption, as AM General, the manufacturer of the military and civilian variants of the Hummer.
It was a bad day for the Italians in the Battle of Matapan as a heavy cruiser and two destroyers were sunk by the Royal Navy. More on that here:
Today in World War II History—March 28, 1941
Italian fleet surprised at ‘The Battle of Matapan’
On the same day, the Italians suffered further losses in Eritrea.
Day 575 March 28, 1941
King Peter assumed the Yugoslavian throne to cheering crowds.
