YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI — With just over a month left in the Save the Bomber Plant campaign, the Yankee Air Museum announced Friday that they only have $1.5 million left to reach the $8 million fundraising goal.
 
The deadline for the year-long campaign to save the historic Willow Run Bomber Plant is May 1.
 
The Yankee Air Museum and the Michigan Aerospace Foundation have been working since last summer to save an iconic piece of history, formerly known as the “Arsenal of Democracy.” Once saved, the museum plans refurbish the Bomber Plant and relocate into that space.
 
The Save the Bomber Plant campaign has been working with RACER Trust, the organization in charge of the former 5 million square-foot General Motors plant, to save roughly 175,000 square feet of the property.
 
When the campaign launched in May 2013, the Yankee Air Museum originally had until Aug. 1, 2013 to raise the money required to save the plant. That deadline was extended several times before RACER, inspired by the museum’s commitment to the cause, ultimately agreed upon a May 1, 2014 deadline.
 
“Support from individuals and organizations from around the world have helped the Save the Bomber Plant campaign get within reach of our historic goal,” Dennis Norton, president of the Michigan Aerospace Foundation, said in a statement from the museum.
 
“It’s our hope that over these last few weeks for the campaign, we can reenergize and rally the community one more time to preserve a special piece of World War II history right here in Michigan.”
 
One event designed to rally the community in support of the Save the Bomber Plant campaign will take place Saturday.
 
A second attempt to set a Guinness World Record for “The Most Rosie the Riveters in One Place” will take place Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Willow Run Airport, Hangar 1. In order to set the record, a minimum of 250 Rosies following official costume guidelines will need to be gathered on site.
 
Yankee Air Museum to make 2nd world record attempt with 1 month left to Save Bomber Plant