Determined To Rebuild

From the Yankee Air Museum:

The Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run Airport suffered a disastrous fire last night that destroyed the historic hangar that housed the museum. The museum staff was able to move the historic B-17, C-47 and B-25 aircraft out of the building, thus saving the heart of the collection.

In addition, all the historic aircraft on display outside of the main building were untouched by the fire. While many irreplaceable artifacts, photos and books were lost in the fire, the volunteers at the museum are thankful that the aircraft collection remains largely intact. Only a small number of non-flyable aircraft that were in restoration inside the hangar were lost.

The Yankee Air Museum members, staff and volunteers are determined to rebuild the museum facilities and continue the great work that was begun in 1981 by a small group of visionaries who were dedicated to preserving this important piece of aviation and Southeastern Michigan history.

The Michigan Aerospace Foundation, the sister organization of the museum which was formed to plan and fund future expansion of the museum facilities, will now be working hard to raise the necessary funds to re-build the museum as soon as possible. Working with Willow Run Airport and the Yankee Air Museum, the Foundation will be seeking funding and other help from Foundations, Corporations and Individuals as it works to replace what has been lost.

The Yankee Air Museum and the Michigan Aerospace Foundation would like to ask that anyone with an interest in helping to rebuild the museum, please contact the Foundation.

A help hotline can be reached at 734-483-4030 If you receive a busy signal please keep trying.

The following people can be contacted to offer your support:

• For the Museum, contact:
  Yankee Air Museum President, Jon Stevens 734-637-2117
  Yankee Air Museum Vice President, Dick Stewart 734-637-8878
• For the Foundation, contact:
  Michigan Aerospace Foundation President, Dennis Norton 734-971-2750
  Michigan Aerospace Foundation Treasurer, Gary Brown, 734-316-2216

Donations may be sent directly to the Michigan Aerospace Foundation:

• Michigan Aerospace Foundation
  Yankee Air Museum Recovery Fund
  P.O. Box 8282
  Ann Arbor MI, 48107-8282

Thank you for your help,

Dennis Norton
President Michigan Aerospace Foundation

(photos courtesy of Dwight Koslowski)

FMI: www.yankeeairmuseum.org