• Special 'ssue SI 'fanf! LEANINGS Official publication ofthe YpsUanti Historical Society, featuring historical articles and reminisces of the people andplaces in the Ypsilanti area. SPECIAL ISSUE Yankee Air Museum Celebrates 25 years: 1981-2006 By Dave Steiner Honoring Aviation History and its Participants through a Living, Flying Museum When the historic Yankee Air Museum that were already being formulated for a Hangar burned to the ground in a spec­ bigger and better museum complex and tacular fire October 9, 2004 probably not campus on the northeast corner of historic many people thought the museum would Wllow Run Airport. be around to celebrate its 25* year. But th those were people outside the organiza­ Building on a foundation of volunteer 2006 marks the 25 Anniversary of the Yankee Air Museum. tion. Within the Yankee Air Museum, the hours and tremendous determination, volunteers who make it happen, had little the Yankee Air Museum is very alive and if any doubt that the museum would con­ well, thank you. Oh, we've not done it in general. If you've been part of that tinue. Not only would we make it to 25 alone. There has been plenty of support effort, we give you our heartfelt thanks. years, but the museum would someday be and encouragement from most organiza­ If you'd like to support us, we certainly rebuilt; bigger and better than ever. In fact tions and museums within and outside welcome you. One of the best ways to the conflagration only accelerated plans the aviation community and the public do that is to join Yankee Air Museum, and make yourself part of the force that helps make it happen. A basic member­ ship application is on the back page of this flyer, or download the full form in­ cluding making payment by credit card from our web site, www.yankeeair museum.org, email membership*® yankeeairmuseum.org or call (734) 483- 4030. We also encourage you to volun­ teer, there's always something to do. The Michigan Aerospace Foundation, headed by Dennis Norton, Yankee founder and member #1 has been instru­ mental in helping to formulate plans and major fund raising efforts for the new museum complex buildings. MAF is a separate entity formed several years prior to the fire to raise major funds for the Yankee Air Museum rebuilding efforts. For more information or to make a con- Yankee Air Museum B-l 7 Yankee Lady. continued on page 2 Yankee Air Museum - Honoring Aviation History and its Participants through a Living, Flying Museum tribution online go to Many of the aircraft in the airpark are on or professional civilian pilots. It flies mem­ www.michiganaerospace.org loan from the National Museum of the bers to destinations of interest from Willow United States Air Force, and Yankee is Run Airport. Some of the places members Although Yankee may be best known for charged with maintaining them. enjoy trips to are; Mackinac Island, Air the operation of four historic warbird air­ Force Museum (Dayton), Sauk Saint craft (B-17, B-25, C-47 and AT-19 A major Yankee project that will occur Marie, Kalamazoo Air Zoo, Oshkosh Air Stinson) and currendy they are the heart late summer/fall 2006 is moving the his­ Show, Washington, DC. Past trips in­ of the museum, Yankee is certainly not toric Ford Willow Run School from the cluded a flight to Kentucky to see Glacier just about flying aircraft. Volunteers are southwest to the northeast side of the air­ Girl, the P-38 that was recovered from be­ involved in a wide variety of projects/ port. That building will be the first in neath the Greenland icecap. Christened events from artifact restoration and cata­ the new museum complex. Once au­ the Yankee Doodle Dandy it is also often loging, to movie nights and educational thentically restored, it will house the new featured as part of Yankee movie night, outreach programs. The long term plan is museum library. The library that burned when it is open for tours. to build a multi-function museum com­ in the old Hangar was often used by plex that will be a destination location for scholars and researchers as it had an ex­ Yankee planes, particularly the B17 four visitors to southeast Michigan. A sign tensive collection of reference materials. engine heavy-bomber, are booked for showing the plans for the new museum Its loss was just one tragedy of the fire. airshows most weekends in the summer. complex is visible on A - Street, off Beck Yet not even two years after the fire, more For now, as we have no museum or hangar Rd on the way into the old Hangar site. than 1000 new or replacement items have as such for the general public to visit, ap­ been cataloged by Yankee volunteers to at pearance fees and rides in the airplanes are This summer Yankee Air Museum volun­ least partially restock the library. our primary source of income. The public teers disassembled and moved a Quonset may purchase a flight experience (FLEX) hut donated by Van Buren Schools to One very popular Yankee member only ride for $425 in this historic and beauti­ Willow Run Airport. Eventually it will be benefit, is to buy a ticket to fly on our his­ fully restored aircraft. These are offered at used near the old Hangar site to facilitate toric C-47 Skytrain cargo plane and go on a airshows, and also Wednesday evenings at visitor reception and store supplies and Yankee excursion. The C-47 is the military hangar two on the southwest side of Wil­ tools for the crews restoring and main­ variant of the Douglas DC-3, perhaps the low Run airport. The Flying Fortress last taining the static aircraft in the airpark. greatest aircraft ever. This plane is largely flying season had more than one thousand This hut is a historic structure itself, hav­ maintained by professional Yankee volun­ people climb aboard for these rides that ing originally been used at the Army Air teers (except for major engine overhauls) last about forty-five minutes. The Yankee Force base that was part of the Willow and is flown exclusively by volunteer Yan­ Warrior B-25 twin engine bomber, a very rare model that actually saw combat in Run "Arsenal of Democracy" complex. kee pilots who are high-time military and/ COMING SOON! SEE BACK PAGE FOR MEMBERSHIP FORM www.yankeeairmu.seum. org Layout of the Air Museum complex. Ypsilanti Gleanings • Special Issue Yankee Air Museum - unvw.yankeeairmuseum.org IUSEUM Golf War 2006 C-47 taking on fuel at Pellston, Michigan. 18 HOLE SCRAMBLE WWII, also offers FLEX rides at airshows with the EMU museum program faculty, & FUNDRAISER and Wednesday evenings. To take a ride staff and students to restore and preserve on one of these aircraft call the museum at artifacts donated to Yankee Air Museum. September 6th (734) 483-4030 or [email protected], or Yankee has plenty of things happening for 10:00 am shotgun start [email protected]. you to attend or become a member and get involved in to help us grow. Read be­ Pine View Golf Course The Yankee Lady (the name given our B- low for a list of normally scheduled events, Whittaker& Textile 17) {see image on front cover) was used in but check the web site www.yankeeair the 2006 filming of Closing the Ring, star­ museum.org for the latest information. South ofYpsilmti ring Shirley MacLaine and Christopher Plummer, directed by Oscar-winner Sir Ri­ Yankee Movie nights — We invite you to Entry Fees chard Attenborough. The film is a WWII attend our monthly movie nights, held the $62 by Aug 15th drama/romance. Yankee volunteer crew third Saturday of most months (check the members were there to handle the plane, web for the latest). These usually include (seniors - $57) including all the flying sequences. This aircraft tours and/or re-enactors and free $70 at door isn't the first time this aircraft has been in pop and popcorn. The museum store is (seniors - $65) the movies however. Under previous own­ open during these events as well as normal ership and with a different paint job it was business hours. "Entry fees due by Aug 15 to be in the 1970 Pearl Harbor film, Tora! Tora! eligible for bomber ride drawing" Tora! It was also in the movie The High Hearts to Yankee Auction — This dinner/ and the Mighty staring John Wayne. auction benefit is held in February, the Event/Hole first Saturday after Valentines Day. Come Yankee also operates a classic AT-19 and bid on the many unique aviation and Sponsorships Stinson four seater, made in Wayne, MI non-aviation items to help raise money for $75 in 1943. Christened the Yankee Friend the new Yankee Air Museum. Ship, it is flown to local events to pro­ Grand Prize Drawing mote Yankee Air Museum; members only Polishing Party in April — Members and may ride in this aircraft. the general public are welcome in early Ride in April to polish the planes in preparation for Yankee Lady - B-l 7 Yankee Air Museum has been working the flying season. This annual event lets closely with Eastern Michigan University, you get up-close-and-personal with these cooperatively making use of its resources, planes like no other event you can attend at Call: 734-645-1150 including utilizing student projects, closely any other museum. Make no mistake. Yan­ overseen by professors and teachers to assist kee is not your brand X aviation museum. or Email: Yankee Air Museum in reaching new pla­ [email protected] teaus of service and professionalism to its Spaghetti Dinner in April — Also in April members and the public.