B-24 Willow Run / Ford building under threat

[Liberator]

Story to read regarding plans for the site... http://www.freep.com/article/20130423/B ... ral-Motors

[TAdan]

Norton said the Smithsonian Institution has indicated that it would help the museum secure the only Willow Run-made B-24 bomber left in the U.S., if it can pull off the deal. He said the bomber, which is owned by the U.S. Air Force, is currently located on a military base in Shreveport, La.

Interesting!

I certainty hope that YAM will be able to raise the necessary funds and preserve a portion of the plant.

[Steve Nelson]

I certainly can't think of a better home for Yankee than the Willow Run plant. Right now of course all their facilities and assets are on the other side of the field..I don't know what would become of the aircraft in the airpark, or the library (the old schoolhouse built for kids of plant workers, which Yankee had moved to its current location a few years ago.)

The comments about the Barksdale B-24 is interesting. I thought the Smithsonian had been trying to get a Liberator of their own forever..seems odd that they'd help one go to another Museum instead..unless it's part of another complicated trade deal with NMUSAF that will get the NASM something they want even more.

Of course, it's all just dust in the wind if Yankee can't come up with five mil in the next three months. I remember how a bunch of different groups tried to save Tiger Stadium..they managed to delay the demolition for years, but it eventually succumbed to the wrecking ball.

Don't get me wrong..I really hope they can pull it off. As a native Michigander I would love nothing more than to see Yankee become a world class museum.

SN

[The Inspector]

I certainly can't think of a better home for Yankee than the Willow Run plant. Right now of course all their facilities and assets are on the other side of the field..I don't know what would become of the aircraft in the airpark, or the library (the old schoolhouse built for kids of plant workers, which Yankee had moved to its current location a few years ago.)

The comments about the Barksdale B-24 is interesting. I thought the Smithsonian had been trying to get a Liberator of their own forever..seems odd that they'd help one go to another Museum instead..unless it's part of another complicated trade deal with NMUSAF that will get the NASM something they want even more.

Of course, it's all just dust in the wind if Yankee can't come up with five mil in the next three months. I remember how a bunch of different groups tried to save Tiger Stadium..they managed to delay the demolition for years, but it eventually succumbed to the wrecking ball.

Don't get me wrong..I really hope they can pull it off. As a native Michigander I would love nothing more than to see Yankee become a world class museum.

SN

If they do secure the building, I would hope they would include displays of GM automatic Transmissions and at least 1 CORVAIR ( a 4 carb 69 MONZA would be nice) since every Nadermobile was built there.

[seabee1526]

....need Dan Gilbert to take a strong interest in vintage aircraft and the history that surrounds them....

[seabee1526]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=938xWT6OD5A

Neat little video....those massive Willow Run doors still work