It was a scenario familiar to many of us. The working day had apparently ended. The last visitor had long since departed. The facility was secured. Five of the membership were talking amongst themselves, before heading home. It was 6:30 in the evening of Saturday, October 9th. That's when the scene turned into horror. Someone observed the hanger was on fire!

          Constructed in 1941 by Henry Ford, the historic hanger had been part of the complex constructed to build the B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, during World War II. Following the war, Willow Run evolved into a major area airfield. Eventually, the hanger became the home to the fledgling, non-profit Yankee Air Force Museum.

          By all accounts, the Yankee Air Force was an impressive air museum. Although focusing on World War II era aircraft, planes from many different time periods were included. The collection included an indoor display of various artifacts, along with an impressive reference library and archives. Like many railway museums, the Yankee Air Force was an operating air museum. On that Saturday in October, several historic aircraft were undergoing restoration, inside the hanger. Then came the fire...

          Without hesitation, the five members rushed to action. After unlocking and opening the massive hanger doors, one of the five used a small tug to tow both a B-17 Flying Fortress and a B-25 Mitchell bombers to safety. In a most remarkable display of determination, the other four physically pushed the C-47 (military version of the DC-3) to safety. A representative from Utah's Hill Air Museum later assured me that the effort must have involved one incredible adrenaline rush. The Hill Air Museum recently moved one of their C-47s from an outdoor static display pad, only with great difficulty ~ and that was utilizing motorized equipment!

          By this time, the fire had fully involved the old hanger at Willow Run. Unfortunately, an adjacent structure had been utilized by the airport to store fuel and other volatile substances needed to support winter operations. With both structures now burning furiously, the resulting smoke reportedly could be observed as far away as Toledo and Mount Clemens. The freeways from Ohio were jammed with automobiles, lured by the smoke. By morning, the fire was out. There was nothing left of the old hanger, or anything else inside.

          In one respect, this fire was much more disastrous than the one last year at the National Capital Trolley Museum. The NCTM fire destroyed eight important trolleys, however, both the library and the archives were safely stored away in another building. At the Yankee Air Force, the fire not only destroyed historic places, but also the library and the archives. With a good source for reference backing you up, objects can be duplicated, but, if the library and archives are also destroyd, then you've lost your source of knowledge.

          On Sunday, October 10th, as a symbol of their intended resiliency, the B-25 flew as previously scheduled, for a fall color tour by air. Im sure we all wish the best to all the members of the Yankee Air Force, in their rebuilding efforts.