Sorry for the OT, but some might appreciate the news.
It's a sad day in southeast Michigan for many as the WWII era hanger, home for the Yankee Air Force, burned to the ground saturday October 9th.
The main thing is, apparently no one was hurt or killed.
Three flyable aircraft were saved, the B-17 Yankee Lady, the B-25 Yankee Warrior, and the C-47 Yankee Doodle Dandy.
From what I understand, the last plane, the C-47, was being pushed out by several brave people as the rafters above their heads were catching fire.
Planes lost were a OV-10, F-105, C-60, and a wooden glider. Not to mention everything else that goes along with a WWII aviation museum, uniforms, books, newspaper clippings, WWII artifacts, etc....
The Yankee Air Museum of course, also had a fairly decent model display. I know a few guys personally who lost some of their model aircraft.
Its sad that history, real history, is lost. A lot of WWII vets who frequent the hanger, hanging out, telling war stories and giving tour to kids, have lost a real part of their past.
I've been a member there for about 10 years, went out as soon as I heard only to find the hanger reduced to small piles of fire. Members found each other along the side of the road and started to talk to each other. It was an eerie image to see our B-52 (outdoor static display) and rescued B-25, backlit by the fire, orange glints on each planes bodies.
If you have a museum like this close to you, don't take it for granted, because someday it might not be there.
There is already plans to rebuild, and I hope to be deeply involved in rebuilding the model display. Someday soon, I may come back and appeal for a donation or two.
Thanks for listening guys.
It's a sad day in southeast Michigan for many as the WWII era hanger, home for the Yankee Air Force, burned to the ground saturday October 9th.
The main thing is, apparently no one was hurt or killed.
Three flyable aircraft were saved, the B-17 Yankee Lady, the B-25 Yankee Warrior, and the C-47 Yankee Doodle Dandy.
From what I understand, the last plane, the C-47, was being pushed out by several brave people as the rafters above their heads were catching fire.
Planes lost were a OV-10, F-105, C-60, and a wooden glider. Not to mention everything else that goes along with a WWII aviation museum, uniforms, books, newspaper clippings, WWII artifacts, etc....
The Yankee Air Museum of course, also had a fairly decent model display. I know a few guys personally who lost some of their model aircraft.
Its sad that history, real history, is lost. A lot of WWII vets who frequent the hanger, hanging out, telling war stories and giving tour to kids, have lost a real part of their past.
I've been a member there for about 10 years, went out as soon as I heard only to find the hanger reduced to small piles of fire. Members found each other along the side of the road and started to talk to each other. It was an eerie image to see our B-52 (outdoor static display) and rescued B-25, backlit by the fire, orange glints on each planes bodies.
If you have a museum like this close to you, don't take it for granted, because someday it might not be there.
There is already plans to rebuild, and I hope to be deeply involved in rebuilding the model display. Someday soon, I may come back and appeal for a donation or two.
Thanks for listening guys.