Historic museum at Willow Run Airport (MI) reported on fire

A few minutes before press time one of our news spies sent us a tip about a fire at the Yankee Air Force Museum at Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti (MI). The tip was confirmed by the West Bloomfield Fire Department duty officer as well as Lt. Evans of the Detroit Metro Airport Fire Department. Lt. Evans also told ANN that multiple fire departments have responsibility for that location.

We tried to locate someone at the airport who could tell us the extent of the fire, as well as other details, but apparently the staff was, understandably, at the scene of the fire and could not be reached.

The Yankee Air Force Museum is focused around a historic 1941 hangar at Willow Run Airport where B-24 Liberator bombers were once produced, and was initially formed in 1981. The museum includes several examples of historic aircraft in flying condition, as well as several static display aircraft and artifacts. They have over 3,000 members spread out all over the world.

The Willow Run Airport is a historic facility initially built by Henry Ford's company to produce heavy aircraft. Construction began in 1941 and by 1944 the plant was rolling out one new bomber every hour of every day. A total of 8,685 B-24 Liberator bombers were produced at the plant.

(Literally seconds before we closed the Sunday edition, ANN received some very welcome news from news spy Dan Johnson. It appears the museum hangar has burned down, but the museum's B-25D, B-17G, and C-47 may have been saved. ANN would appreciate any further updates, confirmation of the status of the aircraft and/or pictures from eyewitnesses -- send them to editor@aero-news.net - JJ)

FMI: http://www.yankeeairmuseum.org