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Flying With Faber: Willow Run Airport -A Journey Through History
By Stuart J. Faber
A portion of Willow Run plant today. (Stuart J. Faber)Our minds often work in mysterious ways. It’s hard to explain. I often can’t recall the name of a person I met yesterday, yet frequently the visions and memories of certain folks I met during my childhood tiptoe into my thoughts with uncanny clarity.
It’s been over 75 years since Jack Jerstad drove up to our Racine, Wisconsin house. Donning a bright Hawaiian shirt, he emerged from his 1930s Ford Woody Station Wagon, greeted us gleeful, screaming kids and whisked us off to day camp where he taught us about nature’s magic-water creatures, weather, identification of species of trees and birds. He honed our swimming, boating and hiking skills. I only knew Jack for a few weeks during that summer of 1940, yet, he has had a profound impact on my life. It was Jack’s enthusiasm and dedication to the kids which sparked my passion for nature’s earth and its innumerable gifts.
Thunder Over Michigan 2010: A Fast Flight Back In Time
By Mike Heilman
Texas Raider was one of the eight B-17Gs to fly at the Thunder Over Michigan air show. (Mike Heilman)The ramp is full of B-17s waiting to launch for their next mission. It sounds like August 1944, but it is August 2010. There were eight B-17G Flying Fortresses that took part in the Yankee Air Museum’s 12th annual air show, “Thunder over Michigan.” The two-day event was held Aug. 7-8 at the Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan.
The theme for this year’s show was “Gathering of Fortress & Legends.” Show organizers billed the event as the world’s largest gathering of World War II heavy bombers and veteran aircrew and maintainers since the end of the war. The B-17, B-24 and B-25 heavy bombers all were a part of the show. Also, the show hosted several former World War II crewmembers. The veterans were available for air show spectators to meet and thank for their service.