Register now to get rid of these ads!

History Willow Run Airport

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Ryan, Mar 31, 2010.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

  2. steel rebel
    Joined: Jun 14, 2006
    Posts: 3,604

    steel rebel
    Member Emeritus

    Keep them coming Ryon. Love your posts.
     
  3. theHIGHLANDER
    Joined: Jun 3, 2005
    Posts: 10,245

    theHIGHLANDER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    "...now none of this seems topical to the Jalopy Journal..."

    HAAHH!!! I-94 going from Detroit to Willow Run was called "Bomber Highway" by the locals. Bomber Highway was a favorite spot for racing and running flat out back in those days. Dad and some of the other old gents from the time had "war stories" of bike runs and racing through the early-mid 50s. Great post Ryan. That whole time period is one I'm fond of. The fashions, the cars, furnishings, movies, all on topic as far as I'm concerned. In firearms, a 1911 A1 is a thing of beauty and it reigned supreme, one of my favorite Packards are the 41 models, who doesn't like a 41 Ford, totally on topic. Thanks again bro.
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2010
  4. 3rd Gen Hot Rodder
    Joined: Jan 8, 2009
    Posts: 405

    3rd Gen Hot Rodder
    Member
    from Indiana

    "...now none of this seems topical to the Jalopy Journal..."

    IMO not many posts have been more topical to the Jalopy Journal. Great post Ryan. Thanks to your old man for sharing with you and to you for sharing with us.

    It is due to the sacrifices of the men (and women) of this era that we have the freedom's of today to enjoy our hot rods and customs.

    May God bless them all.
     

  5. I looks like the guy coming out of the Ford Tri-Motor is Henry Ford II who was in the Navy at the beginning of WWII, but Henry got him released to run the Willow Grove Plant.


    [​IMG]
     
  6. retro54
    Joined: Apr 1, 2004
    Posts: 735

    retro54
    Member
    from PA

    Great pictures... and jsut since it seems to tie in... for anyone interested in Ford's industrial and social philosophy's, the new book "Fordlandia" is a must read. The Book is about Ford's failed rubber plantation(s) in the Amazon, but much of the content centers around Ford's personal and corperate, industrial and social philosophys, which promoted such a massive undetaking in Brazil...
     
  7. FlamedChevy
    Joined: Oct 28, 2008
    Posts: 684

    FlamedChevy
    Member

    Thanks Ryan.. Let's not forget all those workers that hepled the war cause too.
     
  8. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 24,523

    Roothawg
    Member

  9. Jeff Norwell
    Joined: Aug 20, 2003
    Posts: 14,809

    Jeff Norwell
    MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Henry saw the returning ravages of WW1 and knew what war was.....
     
  10. Sixcarb
    Joined: Mar 5, 2004
    Posts: 1,503

    Sixcarb
    Member
    from North NJ

    The production numbers of all divisions at Ford that were building equipment for WWII has always been quite impressive.....American industry was once a pretty powerful thing in this country. Just think if we didn't have aviation like that Bill Burke might have built lakes cars out of cut down Airstream campers.
     
  11. haroldd1963
    Joined: Oct 15, 2007
    Posts: 1,154

    haroldd1963
    Member
    from Peru, IL

    Great pictures Ryan! Thanks for posting. I have a good book about Henry Ford's involvement in the aviation industry at home, can't remember the name of the book or the author. I will post more info on it to this thread when I get home tonite. Also, another good read is "Ford, the Men and the Machine" by Robert Lacey. It was published in 1986 and has been out of print for years, but you can find copies on eBay. Alot of un-authorized history on Henry Ford and his dealings.
     
  12. Bigcheese327
    Joined: Sep 16, 2001
    Posts: 6,694

    Bigcheese327
    Member

    Man, I’ve been trying to get ahold of a copy of Fordlandia for months. My library ordered it, but it never came until I was away, and then it went back before I could pick it up.

    One of my favorites is an extensive biography of Henry Ford, Edsel, and Henry II, called Ford: The Men and the Machine. It’s a great piece with coverage of everything you might want to know about the Ford Empire: Harry Bennet, the Peace Ship, the battle against the Dodge Brothers, etc. Very much worth the read.

    I just wish somebody would do a similar treatment of other auto pioneers. I’ve read halfway decent biographies of Billie Durant and the Dodge Brothers, but after the Ford book, they kinda left me cold.

    -Dave
     
  13. MODELA30
    Joined: Sep 23, 2009
    Posts: 1,180

    MODELA30
    Member

    Ryan that was cool great pictures. Hey guys in north west indiana area and in chicago land area. . Ford was just down the street he owned lansing airport in illinios the hanger that is sitting on the northwest corner was build by henry ford. I also think its got a blue oval painted on the top of it? Any info out there. Thanks knuck from indiana.
     
  14. retro54
    Joined: Apr 1, 2004
    Posts: 735

    retro54
    Member
    from PA


    I should have been more specific... my copy is "Fordlandia - The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford's Forgotten Jungle City" 2009 pressing...
     
  15. Django
    Joined: Nov 15, 2002
    Posts: 10,198

    Django
    Member
    from Chicago

    I've seen that photo exposé on Willow Run before and it is BREATHTAKING for a B-24 nut such as myself. I highly suggest hitting Thunder Over Michigan at Willow Run airport. This year they are shooting to have 10 B-17s there. The last time they tried was '05 and they got 8. Pretty cool to see that many in the air. I think BOTH flying B-24s will be there as well which is a pretty rare occurance.
     
  16. If it wasn't for aviation we wouldn't HAVE Airstream campers!;)
     
  17. Does anyone know if Ford built or supplemented production of the Bell P-39 Airacobra as pictured in slide 3???

    Greg
     
  18. Django
    Joined: Nov 15, 2002
    Posts: 10,198

    Django
    Member
    from Chicago

    I don't believe so, but I can find out.
     
  19. Rickybop
    Joined: May 23, 2008
    Posts: 9,606

    Rickybop
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I was born here in Michigan in '57...quite a while after the war. I never realized the importance of Willow Run Airport until I grew a little older, but I knew the name. Kids listen to the grown-ups talk...I was no exception, and remember Willow Run being referred to by the adults with a certain reverence. And that was well into the '60s...years after World War Two.
     
  20. Wildfire
    Joined: Apr 23, 2006
    Posts: 831

    Wildfire
    Member

    My first old Ford was a '42 GPW. Thanks for the reminder. That is the one vehicle I wish I had back...
     
  21. bardwell02
    Joined: Dec 8, 2008
    Posts: 9

    bardwell02
    Member
    from Dallas, TX

    I grew up around there too (a little later) but this plant and that era are so much a part of local history, including men (and women) who moved from rural areas all over midwest and south, then stayed after the war to build the cars of the 50's and 60's.

    What I remember as a teenager driving too fast on I-94 and US-12 around this plant was that the ramps and feeder roads were out of scale with the amount of traffic. I suspect it was a relic of the interstate highway buildup of the 50's, built to prepare for a future 'wartime' level of truck traffic. Makes me wonder if we could mobilize that kind of effort today.
     
  22. Zumo
    Joined: Aug 30, 2004
    Posts: 1,389

    Zumo
    Member

    Ole Henry was a cooky old man but gave us many great cars. I never knew the turmoil in his family until I read up on him.

    Everytime I see pics like this I still think of Hot Rods. Tanks for post'n'm.
     
  23. gtharp
    Joined: Dec 4, 2008
    Posts: 6

    gtharp
    Member

    A video about the B24 Willow Run plant
     
  24. Ramblur
    Joined: Jun 15, 2005
    Posts: 2,101

    Ramblur
    Member

    Warbirds built by auto manufacturers are on topic in my book. I can't get
    enough of em. I'm fortunate to be nextdoor to a bunch of them,including
    a B-24.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    and another in the Lounge,

    [​IMG]



    And just because I'm a Hudson guy here's what I believe are B-26's also
    coming out of Detroit.:p

    [​IMG]
     
  25. http://public.fotki.com/Kos/members_photo_galle/wiilow_run_bomber/?cmd=fs_slideshow
    Try this link out.

    The crash site pictured (photo #160) was one of two that I heard of during test flights of B24's produced at Willow Run. One was at Warren and Ridge Roads in Canton Twp.

    I had one uncle that worked there during the war years. Conflicting stories from different family members on what his job was at the plant.
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2010
  26. How can it NOT be on topic? The home of Connie Kalitta's business enterprises as well.And a great aircraft museum to boot.
    Not only Ford but GM had assembly plants there.
    Another great read that was recently re-issued in 2 volumes was:"Ford:The dust and the Glory;a Racing History" by Leo Levine.I was lucky enough to get an original volume on e-Bay awhile back.
     
  27. Harms Way
    Joined: Nov 27, 2005
    Posts: 6,894

    Harms Way
    Member

    My uncle Ed was one of the supervisors working at Willow Run (He called it "Will-it run":D) and was kept home to continue the work he was doing for the War Effort.

    Dad, however was shipped off to the Pacific with the 6th. INF. DIV., I had always admired a gold lapel pin Uncle Ed would wear, It was a tiny B-24 with FORD written on it. After Uncle Ed passed away, It was given to me, it's still on my overcoat today.

    My camera doesn't work so good with close up's,... But I will try to get a picture of it if anyone is interested.

    Here is some music to listen while looking at this thread,.... truly the greatest generation. http://www.6thcorpsmusic.us/

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  28. Unibodyguy
    Joined: Dec 23, 2007
    Posts: 403

    Unibodyguy
    Member

    Very cool pics and story Ryan, I love any of that stuff

    Michael
     
  29. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,753

    Deuces

    I live just a few blocks away from what I believe used to be Henry Ford's private airfield for his tri- motor planes..... It was paved over years ago and the street was named Oakwood Blvd. in Dearborn.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2010
  30. Truckedup
    Joined: Jul 25, 2006
    Posts: 4,661

    Truckedup
    Member

    Many,if not most the the Pratt and Whitney 1830 series engines used in the B-24 were built by Chevrolet.
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.