Great Lincoln exhibit at the Adrian Public Library ... Save the Willow Run WWII Bomber Plant!
To the editor,
Congratulations to the staff at the Adrian Public Library for securing the exceptional exhibit, “Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War.”
My husband and I had the chance to see the exhibit Monday and would highly recommend it.
The exhibit will be at the Adrian Public Library until Jan. 22, 2014.
Paul and Diane Meyers
Save the Willow Run WWII Bomber Plant!
To the editor,
Efforts are ongoing to raise the necessary funds to save a portion of the Willow Run Bomber plant in Ypsilanti. The Yankee Air Museum and Michigan Aerospace Foundation have raised some $6 million of the $8 million dollars needed to save this historic site. The deadline is May 1, 2014, to reach this goal.
Most Americans and many Michiganders don’t realize what an impact the U.S. auto companies and the skilled work force of southeast Michigan had on the outcome of World War II, which quickly became an industrial war dominated by modern, new weapons produced by industry. Willow Run would become a manifestation of America’s ability to out-produce anyone in the world. At its peak, it employed more than 40,000 workers and produced more than one heavy B-24 bomber every hour!
At the time of the blitzkrieg, May 10, 1940, when the Germans invaded the low lands of France, Holland and Belgium, the United States had the 18th largest air force in the world, right behind Romania. The blitzkrieg prompted Washington to act. On May 16, 1940, FDR went to Congress and made his famous speech that called for 50,000 airplanes per year.
Detroit’s production miracle would be manifested in the Ford Willow Run bomber plant. The U.S. not only met its 50,000 airplane per year goal, but exceeding that number in 1944 by producing nearly 100,000 aircraft!
By the time of Pearl Harbor, America’s war production effort was approaching that of Hitler’s Germany. By the end of 1943 it was bigger than that of Germany, Britain and the Soviet Union combined!
This “crown jewel” of FDR’s “Arsenal of Democracy” should be saved from the wrecking ball! When needed most, the corporations and people of the great state of Michigan stepped up and answered the call. The story of Michigan’s historic role in not only saving the U.S. but saving the world needs to be preserved and passed on to future generations. A portion of this national treasure deserves to be transformed into a museum and displayed as a tribute to the patriotism and resolve of the corporations and the people who made it happen. This legacy, owned by the Detroit automakers and the people of the state of Michigan, has yet to be equaled!