Willow Run Airport (YIP/KYIP)

USA / Michigan / Belleville /
 Upload a photo
Willow Run Airport has a rich history, dating back to 1941 when Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh built the world's largest bomber facility at the airport.

During World War II, almost 8,700 B-24 "Liberator" bombers were built at Willow Run. During its peak production, the plant employed 42,000 people including "Rosie the Riviter." I-94 freeway was extended to Willow Run by Henry Ford to ease transportation to the bomber plant.

After the war, the bomber plant was converted into a luxury passenger terminal. Commercial airline traffic was transferred from Detroit City Airport, and Willow Run became Detroit's principal airport.

In 1947, the federal government sold Willow Run to the University of Michigan for $1.00. In the 1950's, some commercial air traffic began moving from Willow Run to Detroit Metro Airport. By 1966, all commercial airline traffic moved to Metro. Willow Run has been a cargo, general aviation, and executive aviation airport since.

In 1977, the University of Michigan sold Willow Run to Wayne County for $1.00. Today, Willow Run operates as a base for general aviation and charter passenger and freight flight operators.

The airport is also home of the Yankee Air Museum.
yankeeairmuseum.org/

www.willowrunairport.com/
flightaware.com/live/airport/KYIP
www.globalair.com/airport/airport.aspx?aptcode=YIP
www.airnav.com/airport/KYIP
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_Run_Airport
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   42°14'7"N   83°31'34"W

Comments

  • Actually, the fire was only in one hangar and an adjoining building. The Enola Gay is at the Udvar-Hazy annex of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC, not at this airport.
  • This Ford B-24 bomber plant, built here by Henry Ford as his contribution to the war (WWII) effort, was a manufacturing failure. Always behind schedule and under-utilized, the taxpayers of that era spent millions of defence dollars supporting Mr. Ford's political squables. The factory was even built 'L' shaped to avoid crossing geographical/political boundries between townships. The plant currently builds GM transmissions!
This article was last modified 10 years ago