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B-24 plant at Willow Run

Sun Nov 11, 2007 4:45 pm

How much of Henry Ford's B-24 assembly plant at Willow Run still exists and what is it used for now?

Sun Nov 11, 2007 6:23 pm

Sadly, I think the Yankee Air Museum hangar that was destroyed by fire was the last of the Willow Run B-24 Hangars. I might be wrong...

http://yankeeairmuseum.org/ourstory.shtml

Sun Nov 11, 2007 7:15 pm

Scott,
The fire destoryed the last USAAF B-24 hangar but the main assembly building is still there. The parts carrier Zantop uses a lot of the flightline part of the building. Mike Luther or one of his cohorts from up there should be able to give a better picture.
Bob

Sun Nov 11, 2007 7:21 pm

Thanks. Good info...

Sun Nov 11, 2007 7:38 pm

During the Saturday night Holiday Inn Express debrief session at the last Thunder Over Michigan, Todd Hackbarth shared some of his research about the Willow Run site. I suggest you PM Todd.

Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:24 pm

The whole plant is still alive and well, GM builds transmissions and other parts in it now. The hangar that burned was the last AAC hanger on the AAC side of the airport. The hangar we are in now is on the plant side of the airport, and is one of two hangars (with 8 bays each) used to support the aircraft after they were done. (both of them are still used)

In the summer time the GM workers still open the two main exit doors of the plant, that the B-24s rolled out of!

Sun Nov 11, 2007 10:21 pm

got pics????

Willow Run Bomber Plant Pics

Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:30 pm

For original pictures of and about the Willow Run Plant, go to the Yankee Air Museum website www.yankeeairmuseum.org Look to the LINKS on the right, pick YANKEE PHOTO ALBUM, then browse through the Fotki site that pops up. Scroll down to the WILLOW RUN album.

This link may work (no promises) www.public.fotki.com/Kos/members_photo_ ... un_bomber/
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