O/T but sad, Yankee Air Museum burn'd down

[RileyRacing]

Yeah, we just drove by it. Totally destroyed. But the b17/b25/c47 were saved. They lost an f105 and an ov10 inside, along with everything in the museum part.

Sucks.

Jay

[oldchevyseller]

in willow run airport? this one? any museum when it burns down sucks,

http://www.yankeeairmuseum.org/Museum.html

[RileyRacing]

Yup. It started around 7 or so, we were there at 7:30 and the hanger was completely gone. Allegedly, the smoke could be seen from 30 miles away, as people on US23 at the Ohio border saw it.

Jay

[BigDdy31]

That's really a shame. I hate to see any old iron (or alloy) be lost to history.

We have a museum that is very similar down here and I know those guys put a huge amount of time, not to mention money, into keeping those great old planes flying and available for the people to enjoy.

[SnoDawg]

Ahh Shit Dammittt There was a lot lost in there I was always amazed at what was in there there was so much one cannot see it all in a day. It brings a tear to my eye when I think about all of the irreplaciable history that was lost.
What a BUMMMER.. I feel fortunate to have had the chance to have gone through it a few times while we was hauling auto parts for Active Aero with our Herc a few years back

[Blownolds]

F!

[warbird]

Damn, what a loss! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

[willowbilly3]

Sad thing is that many of those museums are in old wooden hangers. There is one in Tilamook Oregon in the largest free standing wooden structure in the world, an old WW2 blimp hanger. The one next to it burned down a few years back, same story in California but I don't remember the town. That one in Tilamook has a F4U Corsair, a Me109 Messeschmidt and lots of other cool stiff.

[chromedRAT]

goddammit!

[bufordtjustice]

At least they got the B17 and the B25...those are like the big dawgs, really ashame...like the Reggie Jackson fire, that sucked too

Greg

[Brad54]

It never ceases to amaze me when multi-million dollar collections are stored in fire traps. Not that a sprinkler system would have saved the whole thing, but if it started at 7, and you were there half an hour later and it was all gone, even a wood structure would have lasted a while longer with a really good sprinkler system.
I don't know the place, and have never heard anything about it, so I may be talking out my ass, but I have been in some really nice collections, and there was nothing in the way of fire supression.

-Brad
(note to self: get fire extinguishers recharged this week!)

[fab32]

I've got a real hollow feeling inside right now. That stuff CAN'T be replaced. This is really sad news for the son of a career Air Force pilot. I moved all over the U.S. growing up as my dad progressed from B-17's, B-29's,B-47's, and finally B-52's in a 35 year career which saw him fly in both the European and Pacific Theaters and stand on alert until his retirement during the Cold War.

Frank

[oldchevyseller]

not off topic ,henry built the bombers in the hanger that burned, it was part of the factory sad indeed.


The Yankee Air Museum was founded in 1981 and includes functioning historic aircraft, fixed displays and historic artifacts, according to the museum’s Web site. Its focal point was the 1941 hangar that burned Saturday night.

Construction of the Ford-owned Willow Run plant was completed in September 1941; by the end of 1944 it was producing a bomber an hour. By the end of World War II, Willow Run produced 8,685 B-24 Liberator bombers

[Flat Ernie]

I can't put my feelings into words here - I've been into planes my whole life just like my father & grandfather before me. It's sickening.

Guess it's as good an excuse to go to Duxford soon as any. Duxford Imperial War Museum, for those who don't know, is the largest collection of military aircraft outside of the USAF Museum in Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. But Duxford does more than just restore & display - they fly many of these great old planes! Now that I think about it, I think their big Autumn airshow was yesterday http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif I missed it! They have the only flying B17 outside the US & it's usually escorted by a Mustang & a Jug or a Spit & a Hurricane! It's incredible. They had the only flying ME109 in the world until a couple years ago - I saw it fly back in 98. Another really cool part is you can walk through the restoration hangars & watch them rebuilding the planes - it's very cool - and stacks of Merlin engines to make a Reno racer envious! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

News like this just puts a hollow feeling in my gut. Kinda like when the motorcycle museum burned over here - there's loads of bikes I couldn't give a rat's ass about, but there were a lot of one-off & historic bikes in there - lost forever - that is gut wrenching. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif



http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[LIMEY]

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[willowbilly3]

Reggie's cars burned up? Bummer

[oldchevyseller]

[ QUOTE ]
Reggie's cars burned up? Bummer

[/ QUOTE ]yeah another version of "no sprinkler system" .he had many cars warehoused and never got around to having a fire system installed ,back in august of 88 i think it was,some very nice done cars were gone, but alot of them were original conditon muscle cars awaiting restoration,a 69 zl 1 burned and many other extremely rare i remember seeing the pictures of all the cars just burned skeletons i wanna say about 60 cars burned but i think it was more like 25 ,this was not at his main museum place ,just a big old warehouse building,

[RileyRacing]

Well, we just got back from another cruise by there this morning, and let me tell ya what an uplifting feeling it was to be driving down Ecorse Road (the main east/west road that runs by Willow Run) and get buzzed by the B25! He screamed over just a few feet off the deck. Brought a tear, it did. Anyways, they're still pouring water on what's left, and you can't make out barely anything of what was inside (last time I was there was about 2 months ago and the OV10 was tucked in what would be the back of the hanger, along with the F105 they were almost finished restoring) and you couldn't make them out. The B17 was on the tarmac a couple hangers down in front of the AVGAS office and the C47 was next to it, apparently they were doing some maintainance as the right wing from the engine outboard was off, as was the cowling.

They were having a meeting ( I am an upaid up member so I didn't go) but there was already talk of rebuilding.

Something good always comes of bad, so I hope that this will bring some good.

Jay

[wingnutz]

Museums are "Good and Bad" in a way...!

Good is that there is a bunch of history in one proximity..!

Bad is there is a bunch of history in one proximity...!

Kermit Weeks museum in Florida was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew and lost tons of aircraft and documentation!

Truelly a great loss that may have been preventable...!

[RileyRacing]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

The rumors are rampant now, figures...

Jay

[38pickup]

Awww, thats really sad http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[warbird]

[ QUOTE ]
Museums are "Good and Bad" in a way...!

Good is that there is a bunch of history in one proximity..!

Bad is there is a bunch of history in one proximity...!


[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, just remembered the museum at San Diego that burned down years ago, and the hanger at Minter Field, Shafter, Ca. that also burned taking some good airplanes. After scrapping and accidents, the worst enemy old airplanes have seems to be fire. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Django]

Now that is a shitty fucking end to a pretty good weekend for me. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[CLSSY56]

Dammit!!!! That is one of my favorite groups. That is very sad to hear. Back in the day when I use to do WW2 reinactment, they saved the "week".... Back in the mid-90s, a school teacher from Tiffin, OH contacted me about comming up for a week to teach his class as well as others about the Army Air Corps durring WW2. Not only was I invited, but Robert Morgan (god rest his soul). I spent a wonderful week up there with kids and Mr. Morgan. Long story short, (I can't remember the teachers name) contacted the CAF about bringing in a B-17 for the week long event. Everything was a go till the CAF wanted to charge each kid for a tour through the B-17, of which that wasn't what they agreed on previously. 48 hours before the show, Mr. Teacher calls me in a panic and said the CAF wasn't bringing there B-17 and wanted to know if there was anything I could do or know of. (going back a little bit) I met the YAF at Dyersburg AirSho and Oshkosh and was impressed how they operation ran. These people generally cared about teaching, especially young kids. I really enjoyed hanging out under there wing at both airshows.

http://www.htc.net/~clssy56/stuff/YAF-Oshkosh.jpg
(I'm the big guy on the left... they were playing The National Anthem when that picture was taken... funny how you remember things... notice the SOBs sitting in the grass just past me http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif)

Any way, I told Mr. Teacher about the YAF and gave him their phone number. (Now mind you this is 48 hours before the show...) I get a call back from the teacher, he talked to them and they had one of the engins apart on the Yankee Lady, but should be able to bring down their B-25 for the same price as the CAF wanted for the B-17. Which that was really cool of them in such short notice. Well Tiffin, OH is a little over 10 hours from the house. I got up there, met everyone and settled down for the night. The next morning, ate breakfast and headed to the airport to see the B-25 come in. Guess what... not only did they bring the B-25 but the Yankee Lady (B-17)! Come to find out, they were so impressed with what this school teacher was doing for the kids, they worked 24 hours straight to get that motor back together. That was the first time I flown in a bomber... although it was the B-25 (which is one of my favorites). At the end of the week show, they would only take what they agreed on..... the price for the B-25, the B-17 was free!!! From what I understand, they did get a pretty good donation afterwards from Tiffin.

The YAF is #1 in my book, I feel their loss....

(sorry for the story http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

[Blownolds]

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!!!

With all this talk of "the B-17 and the B-25 and the..."


DID THIS HAVE ANY DANG THING TO DO WITH THE COLLINGS FOUNDATION PLANES? They had a B-17 and a B-25 and a... oh, crap now I got to check their site... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[Blownolds]

OK, whew... according to collingsfoundation.org I see no mention of this disaster, so maybe they are in the clear. Hopefully they will take preventative measures. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[Uncle Pancakes]

CLSSY56: That was a great story, the YAF sounds like a top drawer bunch of folks. I think I may have to see if I can send them a donation to help rebuild! It is a damn shame about the hanger fire wish I could have seen it before it was lost.

[Smokin Joe]

The history is dissappearing just like the WWII vets. Less every year. Take the time to see it before it's gone.
Next time you're at Wendover for speedweek, take a little time and drop by the old airport. These old buildings won't last forever.
http://images6.fotki.com/v87/photos/2/213943/1235867/IMG_1335-vi.jpg

[Bigcheese327]

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[CLSSY56]

We had buidings like that on the army base I use to work at. They were built during WW2 as "Temporary Buildings"..... amazing how long they have lasted. I used to work out of one of those "temorary buildings" doing CAD for facilities engineering.

[Jive-Bomber]

A little more about the bldg fire:

http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw105460_20041010.htm

And it was built by Ford! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[CLSSY56]

I'm in contact with them. I'm going to donate the rest of my WW2 collection... it isn't much, but it's a start.

God I miss doing WW2 reinactments... I just got finished watching Memphis Belle, I always tear up when I see the guys cheer after they touch down.... I can only imagine what our boys went through. I am thankful I have learned alot from talking to WW2 Vets over the years... as the survivors are fading.

If anyone is willing to help out the YAF, get ahold of me... we'll send them a package they'll never forget http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[wingnutz]

I video taped "The Making of the Memphis Bell" and saw the B17 run off the Runway and explode into flames...!

Does anyone know if the Movie with that footage is on DVD...?

[CLSSY56]

I'm not sure, I know the original movie was on DVD at Wal-Mart last year. I had to tell myself I didn't need it....

[Blownolds]

Anyone see the documentary of the heavy bomber (I think a super-strat?) they found up in way, way, northern Greenland (like 2500 miles north of the nearest airport) where it had crash-landed in WWII, and was preserved by the cold? They got 'er running again, only to have it burn down before they almost took off! I guess something shook loose during the taxiing on the rough surface. Made me almost cry.

Was it called "Kiwi Bird"???? Anyone remember?

[oldchevyseller]

http://www.rb-29.net/HTML/03RelatedStories/03.03shortstories/03.03.09contss.htm i cried

[CLSSY56]

I found pics to add to my story http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif , sorry... I might be the only one who cares, but what the heck...

http://www.htc.net/~clssy56/stuff/TiffinOH/TBR.jpg
My display and I before the YAF landed

http://www.htc.net/~clssy56/stuff/TiffinOH/Collection1.jpg
The collection minus the tables.... it all fit in my Jeep http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif which was playing some Big Band via 10 disc changer. The Jeep was packed to the gills and to top it all off, it's a 10 hour trip from home.

http://www.htc.net/~clssy56/stuff/TiffinOH/Collection2.jpg
The rest of the collection... Col. Morgan is in the background. Most of it fit in the F-86 HUD box sticking out of the Jeep. That rode in between the roll bars on top of the wheel wells (ya it was a tight fit).

http://www.htc.net/~clssy56/stuff/TiffinOH/TBR&TWApilot.jpg
Another fellow WW2 nut. He flew for TWA and his wife was a Stewardess for TWA as well. Forgot their name too http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif Col. Morgan in the background.

http://www.htc.net/~clssy56/stuff/TiffinOH/B-25.jpg
The YAF B-25 is on final approach, as of yet no one knew the B-17 was close too. I ran out of film after this... go figure http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I believe that's a TV Chopper to the right...

http://www.htc.net/~clssy56/stuff/TiffinOH/YAF&TBR.jpg
There was a party thrown for all who helped bring this together. The real heroes of the week.... the YAF...oh I'm in there too...

http://www.htc.net/~clssy56/stuff/TiffinOH/Mr&MrsColRobertMorgan.jpg
Mr and Mrs. Col. Robert Morgan (God rest his soul)

http://www.htc.net/~clssy56/stuff/TiffinOH/MrsColRobertMorgan&Teacher.jpg
Mrs. Morgan and the school teacher that was the master planner of this event.

Sorry again... I thought it might be intersting to add pics to the story. I'm thinking this was in 1997....

[CLSSY56]

[ QUOTE ]
http://www.rb-29.net/HTML/03RelatedStories/03.03shortstories/03.03.09contss.htm i cried

[/ QUOTE ]

I remember that! I believe it caught fire because of the auxillary gas generator in the tail was left running (suppose to be shut off after engine start, over heated and caught fire).

[Blownolds]

Yes, that is it. "Kee Bird" was the plane. The pilots were still alive at the time of the attempted recovery if I recall right. They must have been heartbroken.

I urge you guys to purchase the videotape if you have an interest in this stuff, it's a really well-done documentary, even if the ending is a tear-jerk.

[CLSSY56]

I have posted this link on ChevyTalk in hope to help the YAF out. Again if you want to donate anything, contact me clssy56@htc.net or the YAF Museum (http://www.yankeeairmuseum.org/index.html)

ChevyTalk Link (http://www.chevytalk.org/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=986027&page=0&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1) someone deleted the link... waiting for an explination...

Travis

[wingnutz]

Thanks again...!

[CLSSY56]

Don't thank me, thank a Vet...

[HonkyTonker]

[ QUOTE ]
Don't thank me, thank a Vet...

[/ QUOTE ]

your so right .. so so right..

right on!
Neal0o
btlltw