Course Detail: 34YANKEE - 34 Yankee Air Museum Tour, Lecture, and Book Discussion

The Yankee Air Museum is an aviation museum located at Willow Run Airport in Belleville, Michigan. We'll begin the day with a talk on the history of the "Willow Run story," and learn how Detroit saved the world. A docent-led tour of the Yankee Air Museum will follow this discussion. Historic artifacts will help provide additional insight into the development of Detroit's aircraft industry that focuses on the Ford Willow Run B-24 Bomber Plant and the significant contributions of "Rosie the Riveters" to the war effort. Learn how a B-24 was built and how both men and women helped with the efforts of World War II in various ways. During WWII, the Willow Run Bomber Plant located near Ypsilanti was the largest factory under one roof in the world. Some 40,000 employees, mostly women, turned out B-24 Bombers at the rate of one every 55 minutes. Following our tour, we'll have lunch at the Twisted Rooster in Belleville. Our package includes the tour, lecture, "Arsenal of Democracy" book discussion* on May 24, lunch at the Twisted Rooster and motorcoach transportation from SVSU. Please note that you must register for the book discussion by May 1, and there is no additional fee if you have registered for this day trip.

*Included Pre-trip Class: (363) Arsenal of Democracy Book Discussion. OLLI member Beacher Pearce will host this book discussion prior to our day trip visit to the Yankee Air Museum on June 6. Learn about this dramatic transformation of Detroit from "motortown" to the "arsenal of democracy." As the United States entered World War II, the military was in desperate need of tanks, jeeps, and, most importantly, airplanes. Germany had been amassing weaponry and airplanes for five years - the United States for only months. So, President Roosevelt turned to the American auto industry, specifically the Ford Motor Company, where Edsel Ford made the outrageous claim that he would construct the largest airplane factory in the world, a plant that could build a "bomber an hour." And so began one of the most fascinating and overlooked chapters in American history. *This book discussion is open to anyone, whether or not you are registering for the day trip to the Yankee Air Museum; however, you must be registered by May 1 in order to receive the book on time.

Available Sessions

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