San Diego Production Complex

The Industrial Heart of Consolidated Aircraft During World War II

When Consolidated Aircraft moved to San Diego in 1935, it transformed the city forever. What began as a coastal manufacturing site rapidly expanded into one of the largest aircraft production complexes in the world—an industrial powerhouse that would play a decisive role in winning World War II.

By the peak of the war, more than 40,000 workers filled the vast factories along Pacific Highway, producing aircraft at a scale the world had never before seen. The San Diego complex became synonymous with innovation, urgency, and the extraordinary national effort of wartime production.

Why San Diego Became the Ideal Production Hub

Several factors made San Diego the perfect home for Consolidated’s wartime industry:

Year-round flying weather — ideal for testing new aircraft
Open coastal airspace — safer for experimental flights
Access to naval facilities — important for seaplanes and maritime aircraft
Room for expansion — the company needed enormous factory floors
Local government support — the city welcomed the economic boom

Reuben H. Fleet recognized the city’s long-term potential and made a bold commitment: San Diego would become the center of America’s aviation future.

The Wartime Build-Up: A Factory City Within a City

During WWII, the San Diego plant grew into a sprawling industrial landscape of:

High-roofed assembly barns
Machine shops
Wood, metal, and tooling departments
Engineering offices
Prototype shops
Outdoor hardstands
Test-flight ramps along the bay

Shift whistles blew day and night. Workers poured in at all hours. Trams and buses delivered thousands of employees to the gates. Entire neighborhoods expanded to house the booming workforce.

The plant operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to meet urgent military demand.

40,000+ Workers: The Human Engine Behind the War Effort

At its wartime height, more than 40,000 men and women worked at the San Diego complex—one of the largest industrial workforces on the West Coast.

They were:

machinists
engineers
riveters
draftsmen
inspectors
ferry pilots
clerks
accountants
flight crews
newly trained workers entering the industry for the first time

Many were local San Diegans. Others arrived from across the country, answering the call for wartime production.

Their combined effort allowed Consolidated to roll out aircraft at astonishing speed.

The Factories That Built Icons

The San Diego complex manufactured three of the most important aircraft of the war:

PBY Catalina — the most successful flying boat of WWII
B-24 Liberator — the most produced American military aircraft in history
C-87 & C-109 transports — supply lifelines for global operations

Each of these aircraft required huge teams, thousands of parts, and precise coordination across multiple production stages.

San Diego didn’t just build airplanes—it built legends.

The Pace of Production

During the peak years of 1943–1944, production reached staggering levels:

Dozens of Catalinas rolled out monthly
New Liberators completed in rapid succession
Assembly lines expanded into multiple parallel stages
Skilled crews test-flew aircraft directly over San Diego Bay

The speed and scale were unmatched. Workers often described the experience as “history moving faster than we could keep up with.”

Innovation in Manufacturing

Consolidated introduced advanced production techniques in San Diego, including:

modular assembly systems
precision jigs and fixtures
standardized component fabrication
improved quality-control protocols
faster inspection cycles
production engineering teams embedded along the line

These innovations allowed San Diego to produce aircraft faster—and with fewer defects—than earlier facilities.

Transforming San Diego Itself

The wartime boom reshaped the city:

Housing developments expanded
Schools and hospitals grew
New roads and transit lines appeared
Entire communities formed around the factory
Post-war economic growth was anchored in this aviation heritage

San Diego became an aviation city because Consolidated built its future there.

Legacy of the San Diego Complex

After the war, the factory continued operations under Convair, producing:

transport aircraft
flying boats
early jet bombers
missiles
space-program hardware

Much of San Diego’s modern aerospace industry can be traced directly back to the workforce, infrastructure, and momentum created by Consolidated during WWII.

The San Diego production complex was not merely a factory.
It was a wartime engine, a city-defining landmark, and a tribute to American industrial will.