What is willow run?

Answer 1

Located between http://www.answers.com/topic/ypsilanti-Michigan and http://www.answers.com/topic/belleville-michigan, the Willow Run Plant was constructed during http://www.answers.com/topic/world-war-ii by http://www.answers.com/topic/ford-motor-company for http://www.answers.com/topic/mass-production of the http://www.answers.com/topic/b-24-liberator aircraft. http://www.answers.com/topic/ford-motor-company, like virtually all of the United States' industrial companies, directed its manufacturing output during http://www.answers.com/topic/world-war-ii for http://www.answers.com/topic/allies war production. The firm developed the Willow Run site to include an http://www.answers.com/topic/aerodrome and aircraft assembly facility. The plant held the distinction at the time of being the world's largest enclosed "room." At its peak, in August 1944, Willow Run produced 428 B-24 aircraft or almost 14 for each calendar day.http://www.answers.com/Willow+Run?gwp=11&ver=2.4.0.651&method=3#wp-_note-0 The airfield continues to operate as the http://www.answers.com/topic/willow-run-airport. After the war, ownership of the assembly plant passed to Kaiser Motors and then to Ford rival http://www.answers.com/topic/general-motors, which still owns and operates part of the facility as http://www.answers.com/topic/willow-run-transmission. The airfield is primarily used for http://www.answers.com/topic/cargo flights. The http://www.answers.com/topic/yankee-air-museum is also located on the airport grounds. On http://www.answers.com/topic/october-9 http://www.answers.com/topic/2004, a fire destroyed the museum's main hangar, H-2041. The plant has given its name to a community on the east side of Ypsilanti, defined roughly by the boundaries of the Willow Run Community Schools district. On the other side of the airport from the assembly plant were a group of World War II http://www.answers.com/topic/hangar, which were sold to the http://www.answers.com/topic/university-of-michigan in 1946. The university operated Willow Run Laboratories (WRL) from 1946 to 1972. WRL produced many innovations, including first ruby laser and operation of the ruby http://www.answers.com/topic/maser. In 1972, demonstrations by Vietnam War activists forced the university to detach WRL from it. * http://www.answers.com/topic/world-war-ii-aircraft-production * http://www.answers.com/topic/yankee-air-museum # http://www.answers.com/Willow+Run?gwp=11&ver=2.4.0.651&method=3#wp-_ref-0Lewis, David L. "They may save our honor, our hopes-and our necks." Michigan History, September/October 1993. * "Willow Run and the Arsenal of Democracy" by Jenny Nolan for The Detroit News * Yankee Air Museum * Michigan Aerospace Foundation * A Bomber An Hour

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Located between Ypsilanti and Belleville, Michigan, the Willow Run Plant was constructed during World War II by Ford Motor Company for production of the B-24 Liberator aircraft.

Ford Motor Company, like virtually all of the United States' industrial companies, directed its manufacturing output during World War II for Allied war production.

The firm developed the Willow Run site to include an airfield and aircraft assembly facility. The plant held the distinction at the time of being the world's largest enclosed "room." At its peak, in August 1944, Willow Run produced 428 B-24 aircraft or almost 14 for each calendar day.[1]

The airfield continues to operate as the Willow Run Airport. After the war, ownership of the assembly plant passed to Kaiser Motors and then to Ford rival General Motors, which still owns and operates part of the facility as Willow Run Transmission. The airfield is primarily used for cargo flights. The Yankee Air Museum is also located on the airport grounds. On October 9 2004, a fire destroyed the museum's main hangar, H-2041.

The plant has given its name to a community on the east side of Ypsilanti, defined roughly by the boundaries of the Willow Run Community Schools district.

On the other side of the airport from the assembly plant were a group of World War II hangars, which were sold to the University of Michigan in 1946. The university operated Willow Run Laboratories (WRL) from 1946 to 1972. WRL produced many innovations, including first ruby laser and operation of the ruby maser. In 1972, demonstrations by Vietnam war activists forced the university to detach WRL from it.

See also

* World War II aircraft production

* Yankee Air Museum

References

1. ^ Lewis, David L. "They may save our honor, our hopes-and our necks." Michigan History, September/October 1993.

External links

* "Willow Run and the Arsenal of Democracy" by Jenny Nolan for The Detroit News

* Yankee Air Museum

* Michigan Aerospace Foundation

* A Bomber An Hour

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors

http://www.answers.com/main/health.jsp http://www.answers.com/main/government.jsp