Trying To Save A Piece of Detroit History
YPSILANTI, MI (WWJ) - Supporters of the Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run are trying to save one of the last remnants of the "Arsenal of Democracy." They have until August first to raise five million dollars, or the former Willow Run Bomber plant will meet the wrecking ball.
That money is needed to prove that they have something substantial to back up their plan, which would be to convert one section of the massive complex into a new larger home for the Yankee Air Museum.
The plant opened in 1941 and during World War II, Ford built bombers on the site. It was sold to Kaiser after the war, and became a GM plant in the fifties. General Motors built transmissions there until the facility closed three years ago.
It was left behind in the General Motors bankruptcy, and is scheduled to be torn down completely.
Yankee Air Museum Founder Dennis Norton gave WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert a tour of the site on Tuesday.
Norton said they've had a good response from their fundraising efforts, but to meet their goals, people or companies capable of making larger donations need to step forward.
They've set up a web site that details the history of the plant, and explains how people can help at savethebomberplant.org.
Connect with Jeff Gilbert
Email: jdgilbert@cbs.com
Facebook: facebook.com/carchronicles
Twitter: @jefferygilbert
