Where Is Bell Aircraft Located?

The historic Bell Aircraft/Bell Bomber Plant is located in Marietta, Georgia (33.9175° N, 84.5128° W), on the grounds of what is now Dobbins Air Reserve Base. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics has operated the site continuously since 1951, producing parts for modern military aircraft like the C-130J Super Hercules and F-22 Raptor.

The historic Bell Aircraft/Bell Bomber Plant is located in Marietta, Georgia (33.9175° N, 84.5128° W), on the grounds of what is now Dobbins Air Reserve Base. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics has operated the site continuously since 1951, producing parts for modern military aircraft like the C-130J Super Hercules and F-22 Raptor.

The Bell Bomber Plant sits in Marietta, Georgia, about 20 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta, tucked into the rolling foothills of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Built near rail lines, major highways, and a deep labor pool, it was deliberately placed to decentralize WWII aircraft production away from vulnerable coastal areas. The Chattahoochee River bordered the property, supplying water for cooling and manufacturing.

In February 1945, the Bell Bomber Plant employed 28,158 workers and produced 663 B-29 Superfortress bombers. Sitting at 1,083 feet above sea level, the plant covered 2.4 million square feet in 1943—about 41 football fields—and was 15 miles southeast of Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.

Completed in just 16 months between 1942 and 1943, the Bell Bomber Plant was a wartime construction marvel. Atlanta-based Robert & Company designed and built the facility, using mass-production techniques rarely seen in the South at the time. Nearly half the workforce were women entering industrial jobs for the first time, a shift that pushed Georgia from an agrarian economy toward manufacturing. The plant also trained thousands of rural workers in aerospace-grade precision tasks.

No, the plant itself remains off-limits as it’s an active military installation. But you can explore its history nearby. The Marietta Museum of History (3.2 miles from the original site) offers free exhibits on the plant’s WWII role, including photos of women riveters and original blueprints. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday.

Take I-75 North and exit at Exit 269 for Dobbins ARB. The base is a joint-use facility with limited civilian access; special events like open-house weekends offer the best public entry. During events, allow extra travel time and bring a photo ID for gate security. Always check the Dobbins ARB official website for gate closures and event updates.

The Bell Bomber Plant was the sole source of B-29 Superfortress bombers for the U.S. Army Air Forces. Between 1943 and 1945, it produced 663 long-range bombers that played a decisive role in the Pacific theater. The plant’s output kept thousands of workers—including many women—employed in high-skill aerospace jobs, and its location in Marietta helped decentralize aircraft production away from coastal targets.

The plant was designed and built by Robert & Company, an Atlanta-based architecture and engineering firm. The firm delivered a facility capable of rapid conversion from hand riveting to full assembly-line production, a feat that helped the plant reach peak output in under two years. Their design set a new standard for Southern industrial infrastructure during WWII.

In 1943, the plant covered 2.4 million square feet—about 41 football fields. This vast footprint allowed Lockheed (then Bell Aircraft) to stage every phase of bomber assembly under one roof, from sheet-metal stamping to final test flights. The building’s size reflected both the scale of B-29 production and the urgency of wartime needs.

After WWII, the plant was mothballed from 1945 to 1951. With the war over, B-29 demand vanished and the facility stood idle until Lockheed-Georgia reopened it in 1951 to support Cold War production. The site transitioned from bomber assembly to C-130 Hercules production, a role it continues today under Lockheed Martin.

At its peak in February 1945, the Bell Bomber Plant employed 28,158 workers. Nearly half were women who entered industrial jobs for the first time, drawn by competitive wartime wages. The workforce included trained machinists, riveters, and assembly-line operators, many of whom came from rural Georgia counties.

The Bell Bomber Plant site sits at 1,083 feet above sea level. This elevation placed it in the rolling foothills of the southern Appalachian Mountains, offering both defense-in-depth and proximity to water sources like the Chattahoochee River. The USGS confirms the elevation as part of its national geospatial survey.

The Bell Bomber Plant is 15 miles southeast of Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The proximity to the airport enabled rapid shipment of aircraft components and personnel during WWII and continues to support modern defense logistics. Driving time is typically 20–30 minutes via I-75 depending on traffic.

The Marietta Museum of History (3.2 miles from the original plant site) hosts free exhibits on the Bell Bomber Plant’s WWII role. Displays include photos of women riveters, original blueprints, and artifacts from the 663 B-29s produced at the facility. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday.

Yes—Dobbins ARB occasionally hosts open-house weekends where visitors can see aircraft like the C-130J and F-22 Raptor. These events typically occur in October but depend on security clearances and weather. Bring a government-issued ID and plan to arrive early; parking fills quickly. Check the Dobbins ARB website for event schedules.