Admiring women workers having their morale boosted by a visit from two airmen, apparently wearing American uniforms, at the SCWS Sheet Metal Factory in Shieldhall during the Second World War. The occasion was probably a pep talk on the importance of the work the women were doing for the war effort.
One of the contracts won by the Shieldhall factory was for the production of expendable long-range fuel tanks for American fighter planes. Initially, United States Air Force bombers were sent on daylight raids over Germany without fighter escorts, as the smaller fighters had a shorter flying range. Losses were heavy. The additional fuel tanks manufactured at Shieldhall enabled fighters to accompany and protect bombers deep into enemy territory, reducing losses and increasing the effectiveness of bombing.
Reference: P9091/14
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
air raids, aircraft pilots, Americans, bombers, bombing, fighter aircraft, fuel tanks, munitions factories, munitions workers, Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society, SCWS, Second World War, Sheet Metal Factory, United States Air Force, USAF