The last load of concrete for the adjoining milesquare airport was poured on. Willow run, colossus of american industry, written by warren benjamin kidder. Plant transitions to gmafter a fire destroyed gms detroit transmission plant in livonia on aug. Ypsilanti, michigan a fantastic automobile and airplane show is returning on sunday, june 14, 2020 from 10. It tells what a group of returning veterans and their families did to make into a progressive, thriving settlement. Willow run overview wayne county airport authority. Willow run airport was built as part of the bomber plant.
Book an air adventure on one of our five historic aircraft and take a ride into history. Named camp willow run, after the creek that wound through its woods and gently. The story of willow run is a success storythe life history of a small community, the bomber city that had sprung up in world war ii. Photos from detroit willow run airport kyip on jetphotos. It was a marriage of convenience for the sports car club of america and the strategic air command, with both parties gaining.
Arcadia publishing library editions october 17, 2016 language. Abebooks uniqueness is our network of independent booksellers who work with us to provide the most diverse selection of rare, used and outofprint books on the internet. To get it built, charlie sorensen had to overcome red tape from washington. B24 liberator bombers story of the worlds largest factory in ww2. Willow run airport yip in detroit, michigan elevation. Aviation is a part of all of us, and the yankee air museum offers something for everyone. Willow run airport yip located in detroit, michigan, united states. Building the b24 bomber during wwii story of willow run. When mole ventures out of his burrow and befriends the other animals, he finds himself. Willow run airport was named for a small stream that meandered through pastureland and woods until the late 1930s. Made by the ford motor company during wwii, the story of willow run explains the companys role in producing the consolidated b24 liberator heavy bomber. The center at willow run participated in the bomarc missile program and had a supersonic wind tunnel.
Willow run has been a cargo, general aviation, and executive aviation airport since. Abebooks uniqueness is our network of independent booksellers who work with us to provide the most diverse selection of rare, used and outof. Commercial passenger traffic was moved from detroit city airport, making willow run detroits primary airport. The goal of the study is to work in conjunction with surrounding communities, aviation experts and airport neighbors to establish a balanced, cost effective, and comprehensive noise compatibility plan for the airport and surrounding communities. Yankee air museums historic plane rides feature the b17 yankee lady and b25 yankee warrior bombers, the c47 hairless joe skytrain, the uh1 huey, and the openair cockpit waco biplane. The ground was broken for the project in april of 1941. Apr 23, 2020 complete aeronautical information about willow airport willow, ak, usa, including location, runways, taxiways, navaids, radio frequencies, fbo information, fuel. Oct 17, 2016 by the willow run, a sleepy little creek near ypsilanti, michigan, ford motor company built the worlds most famous bomber factory, which was the ultimate manifestation of the automotive industrys role in building armaments during world war ii. The willow run story is about an amazing place and people that helped win a world war, set the stage for equality and social change, and dramatically accelerated the development of southeastern michigan, making it an area known the world over as the arsenal of democracy. Runways and racers focuses on the various aspects that contributed to sports car races being held at military installations throughout america in the early 1950s. Whether you are planning a family outing or an educational field trip, our southeastern michigan air museum is the perfect destination. The weather conditions recorded for detroit willow run airport sunday, may 24 at 12. Willow run, detroit, mi yipkyip flight tracking arrivals, departures, en route, and scheduled flights and airport status. The willow run book covers the building of the willow run b24 liberator factory near detroit.
This is really a ford motor company history during the edsel ford years. Navy ceremonial guard performed at the ninth annual thunder over michigan air show at the willow run airport just outside of detroit. Willow run far part 150 supplemental noise compatibility study additional willow run part 150 noise study information. Recent posts about airports in detroit, michigan on. Odyssey aviation detroit kyip ypsilanti willow run airport. Not too big, and not too small, but just right for your flying needs. Willow run is a book that was written by my friend warren benjamin kidder about the b24 liberator, ww2 bomber production plant and airport near detroit michigan. Ford motor company built 8,685 b24s from 1942 until the end of world war ii. From 1936 to 1964, victor green published the negro motorist green book. Odyssey aviation detroit kyip ypsilanti willow run. Willow run was the first manufacturing site to employ women on the assembly line. Ben has also written a movie script about the mighty eighty air force which is in production as of 422012. With three fixed base operator fbo locations to serve you, willow run airport can provide all the services necessary for your flight operations.
Dennis norton, founder of the yankee air museum, and randy hotton, the museums former director, talk about the history of the willow run bomber plant, and why the museum is trying to rescue this. Together, our airports comprise one of the worlds leading air transportation hubs with awesome potential for growth and development. In 1946 warren avis founded avis airlines rent a car systems at willow run airport. At thornwillow press, we are dedicated to the preservation of great art and great ideas, to making books that enhance the relationship between the reader and the written word, so it is with pleasure that we announce our newest publication. Willow run, also known as air force plant 31, was a manufacturing complex in michigan. Detroit metropolitan airport dtw and willow run airport yip. Local phone directories listed webbs restaurant at 14 n. This book is the story of the run up to the war, how the ford family handled requests. In furious speed, 400 specialists moved the transmission operation to the willow run complex within 12 weeks. This was the first aircraft manufacturing plant to use fords automotive mass production techniques, a leading technological innovation of the time. Willow run images of aviation by randy hotton, michael w. Yip is an airport in van buren charter township and ypsilanti township, near ypsilanti, michigan, united states, and serves freight, corporate, and general aviation.
Photos from detroit willow run airport kyip on jetphotos photos. Narrated by harry wismer, the film explains how ford manufactured and built b24 liberators under license from consolidated aircraft company. The willow run airport ended commercial airline traffic in 1966 when it was transferred to nearby detroit metropolitan airport. The books are willow run, colossus of american industry, alaska, and the mighty eighth air force, world war ii. It has served as a boys camp, a factory for wwii bombers, and is now a commercial airport. Detroit willow run airport, detroit yip airport airportia. The official facebook page for historic willow run airport in southeast michigan, usa. With a 24 hour faa tower and multiple runways including an all weather ils runway willow run can meet your needs. Foursquare uses cookies to provide you with an optimal experience, to personalize ads that you may see, and to help advertisers measure the results of their ad campaigns. Jun 24, 2018 yankee air museum, located at 47884 d street, belleville, michigan on the grounds of historic willow run airport, is open tuesdaysaturday from 10 a. Automobile pioneer henry ford bought the property that became the airport s runways and taxiways in 1931, and used it for almost a decade as farmland for a social engineering experiment that brought innercity boys to willow run farm to learn about nature, farming tasks, and the.
Broken clouds with 75% clouds and a temperature of 16. Early years in 1939, henry ford i established a boys camp at willow run. It was the first rental car operation at an airport location. By the spring of 1944, willow run was producing a fourengine b24 bomber each hour on an assembly line. Willow run airport yip no street view available for this location. Willow run airport map wayne county, michigan mapcarta. Historic plane rides yankee air museum southeast michigan. The single panel hydraulic door is easy open and close with the push of a button. That plan became willow run, which included an major airport, a 5 million sq. A true story of the production of the b24 liberator and the building of the willow run airport bomber plant. With tremendous assistance from the yankee air museum, this book presents a pictorial history of willow run during world war ii.
Managed by the wayne county airport authority, the airport offers four runways, 24hour faa tower, and u. It was constructed in 1941 by the ford motor company for the mass production of the b24 liberator military aircraft. Hangar at drake field, fayettevilles municipal airport at 4290 s. Quirk farms was purchased by automobile pioneer henry ford in 1931. Wayne county airport authority is tasked with the strategic operation and management of two of southeast michigans most promising assets. Fuel, deicing, aircraft cleaning and maintenance, catering, hotel reservations, and rental cars are just a few of the services available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If flying is your passion, willow run airport is your destination. Martin tells the story of the women who built the bombers that helped win world war ii. History of willow run airport willow run airport has a long and distinguished history. The following pages tells about this great factory and production plant where the ww2 b24 liberator was built which uses many references from this book. Find accessible entrances, wheelchair assistance, and help for passengers with disabilities. Photograph by ann rosener for the office of war information. A small part of the worlds largest one story war production plant, the giant ford bomber factory at willow run, michigan. Del05072011 code nj507 unit vaq129 thunder over michigan 2019.
Airport information including flight arrivals, flight departures, instrument approach procedures, weather, location, runways, diagrams, sectional charts, navaids, radio communication frequencies, fbo and fuel prices, hotels, car rentals, sunrise and sunset times, aerial photos, terminal maps, and destination travel guides. Willow run airport is located seven miles west of detroit metropolitan airport. There she meets patches and harlan, other kids like her from faroff places whose parents have come here to do their part in the war. This is the webcam overview page for willow run airport in michigan, united states. Willow run takes its name from a small tributary of the huron river that meandered through pastureland and woods along the waynewashtenaw county line until the late 1930s. With up to 64 wide doors we can handle all light and medium corporate aircraft. By the mid1920s a local family operating as quirk farms had bought the land in van buren township that became the airport. Willow run airport was built by the ford motor company in 1941 to serve as an airfield for their b24 bomber plant. Willow run airport yip in detroit, michigan information about operating and financial summary, runways, icidents willow run airport yip no street view available for this location. Our aircraft fly from may to october so act now to check off that bucket list item.
Oct 30, 2014 also celebrated today was the reopening of the renovated willow run runway, originally used to launch b24 bombers back in 193941. Live tracking maps, flight status, and airport delays for airline flights, privatega flights, and airports. Willow run airport yip in detroit, michigan information about operating and financial summary, runways, icidents. By 1966, all commercial airline traffic moved to metro. For the history buff this is the book to have telling all about willow run bomber plant. Occupying 2,600 acres, willow run serves cargo, corporate, and general aviation clients. The airport offers five runways 24hour faa tower and u. Wind and weather webcams willow run airport windfinder. Willow run airport is an airport in van buren charter township and ypsilanti township, near ypsilanti, michigan, united states, and serves freight, corporate, and general aviation. Willow run, also known as air force plant 31, was a manufacturing complex in michigan, located between ypsilanti township and belleville, constructed by the ford motor company for the mass production of aircraft, especially the b24 liberator heavy bomber.
As a pilot, a particular interest of mine has always been the abandoned airfields that dot the landscape of much of this country. A great place to touch, feel, and interact with some of the most amazing aircraft throughout aviation history. All formats, books, video, music, audiobooks, magazines, downloads, tools. Willow run will be the greatest adventure ever, meggie thinks.
This scenic site, on the edge of washtenaw county, had a small stream running through. Willow run airport, just east of ypsilanti, was originally farmland purchased by henry ford to build a plant to support the building of the b24e during wwii. The wind in the willows is a story about a group of animal friends living along the banks of a river in england the softspoken and naive mole, the strongwilled and determined water rat, the grouchy hermit badger, and the egocentric and spoiled toad. Today, willow run is one of the largest cargo airports in the united states. You can view all wind and weather webcams nearby willow run airport on the above map. Willow run airport yip is a convenient option for cargo, corporate, and general aviation clients. See 97 photos and 2 tips from 1035 visitors to willow run airport yip. A fantastic automobile and airplane show is returning on sunday, june 14, 2020 from 10. Fixtures in background hold bomber wings during assembly. In 1963, the facilitys name was changed to gm hydramatic. Willow run is an albert kahndesigned world war ii bomber plant near ypsilanti, michigan. And there she faces questions about courage, and what it takes to go into battle, like. Willow run by patricia reilly giff, paperback barnes.
Due to its proximity to detroit metropolitan airport, no major airlines schedule passenger flights to or from willow run it is included in the federal aviation administration. Originally 975 acres of farmland owned by henry ford, the site was developed by the ford motor company into. No matter how you look at it, the willow run story is a pivotal chapter in american history, as shown in this video, an excerpt from a wartime documentary commissioned by the ford motor company. The hotel listed as mebbs was very likely a cafe called webbs, run by emma. May 21, 2020 complete aeronautical information about willow run airport detroit, mi, usa, including location, runways, taxiways, navaids, radio frequencies, fbo information. Willow run rough start military history of the upper. The willow run airport history, b24 bomber plant and airport construction.