Giving Willow Run back it's B-24's ...

[Mark Allen M]

Sort of ...

Willow Run Airport Michigan June 1945. This photograph shows an element of the many hundreds of B-24 Liberators temporarily stored at the Airport awaiting reallocation /disposal. The bombers had previously arrived at various US Continental East Coast airfields from 8th & 15th Air Force bases in Great Britain / Mediterranean Theatre at the end of the War in Europe, and then ferried on to Willow Run.

[marine air]

In June 1945 they wouldn't have been waiting for disposal unless they were battle weary and damaged airframes. They were waiting to figure out where to send to the Pacific for the likely Invasion of Japan. Some say, maybe waiting to go after Russia. They didn't know at the time the war would be over later that summer.

[Xray]

wow, too bad they didn't just let them sit there !

[Mark Allen M]

“Awaiting Reallocation / Disposal”

[k5083]

"Hey, who let that B-17 in here?"

August

[Randy Haskin]

And yet the AF still can't figure out how to trade the Barksdale B-24 to Yankee Air Museum.

[Warbirdnerd]

Isn't it kinda odd that they all still have their .50s?

[Mark Sampson]

Many are painted in Olive Drab. I'd thought that the AAF had given up painting planes by the beginning of 1944, and I'm a bit surprised that so many older aircraft survived to be flown home.

[Mark Allen M]

A few more views.

Last edited by Mark Allen M on Thu Oct 26, 2023 8:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[AG pilot]

Just beautiful!

[Mark Allen M]

B-24 Bomber #139 hauled through streets of Willow Village to serve as war memorial in front of the Edsel B. Ford post of the American Legion at 2094 E. Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti, May 1946.

"BOMBER BOGS DOWN: Trees, telephone poles and houses impeded the land travel of this B-24 to such an extent that it took three days to move it a distance of two miles from the former bomber plant to its permanent base as a war memorial in front of the Edsel B. Ford post of the American Legion at 2094 E. Michigan ave. Ypsilanti. Dedicatory ceremonies are being held Sunday afternoon. The plane is being hauled through the Willow Lodge dormitory section." ........ Ann Arbor News, May 23, 1946

[mike furline]

Isn't it kinda odd that they all still have their .50s?

Why? The war was still going on and these were active aircraft.

139 above,
44-48834 to RFC Chanute Feb 16, 1946. Was on display at Ypsilanti, MI from 1946 to about 1950. Parked in an apple orchard near the Village where people who assembled bombers at the Ford plant lived. Plane was eventually scrapped

[sandiego89]

Is that additional armor protection for the co-pilot on "Classy Chassy", or battle damage repair? If additional protection, can't say I blame them as it looks likes the fuselage has several patches all over.

[T J Johansen]

"Hey, who let that B-17 in here?"

August

Hi August. Tried sending you a PM.

T J

[Xray]

Is that additional armor protection for the co-pilot on "Classy Chassy", or battle damage repair? If additional protection, can't say I blame them as it looks likes the fuselage has several patches all over.

Yeah, looks like Chassy herself got shot up a bit ,,