Ford initially refused to build any airplanes. It wasn't until Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, and we declared war on Japan and Germany, that he got on board. I've been watching a British program titled "War Factories" that airs in the UK. I download it from the internet so I can watch it. The last two episodes have been about U.S. automobile manufacturers (GM, Packard, and Ford), and their role in producing the machines of war to supply our military, the British, and Russians. Early on in the war, Germany out-produced the British and U.S. in everything. They couldn't keep that pace up though, because of their inability to get needed materials, as well as their unwillingness to use unskilled workers to mass produce planes and tanks. We also outranked the Germans when it came to repairing those planes, and tanks, and getting them back out into action. The Germans were never able to do that.
“Early on in the war, Germany out-produced the British and U.S. in everything”
It boggles my mind, Germany less than the size of Texas, took on just about the entire world and kicked butt for as long as they did.