WillowRun
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3509 AAF Base at Willow Run
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Saturday, June 21, 2008 8:25 PM
Trying to do some research tonight on some items related to the FO WR entire property which included the 3509 AAF Base at WR as the physical bomber plant, airport hangar, technical training school and "out buildings". What was the insignia (patch) of the 3509? Is there anyone out there related to someone who was stationed there? I do not have too much in the way of information and very few pictures. What little bit we had at YAM was destroyed in the fire of 09OC04. Any personal comments as well as leads or pics would be most appreciated! Thanks! Best Regards! Steven [image]local://11777/1FB5A126F68F4A36A235BF7E50ACD7F0.jpg[/image]
Steven Puhl Willow Run Historian Willow Run: Home of 8685 Ford Built B-24 Liberators Life Member: YANKEE AIR MUSEUM (YAM) "Where History Flies" "They are not forgotten!"
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WillowRun
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RE: 3509 AAF Base at Willow Run
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Saturday, June 21, 2008 8:34 PM
Another view of the 3509 AAF Base (barracks) at WR. Best Regards! Steven [image]local://11777/BF4DB157296F405B8F829E65A8B94F47.jpg[/image]
Steven Puhl Willow Run Historian Willow Run: Home of 8685 Ford Built B-24 Liberators Life Member: YANKEE AIR MUSEUM (YAM) "Where History Flies" "They are not forgotten!"
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bernies
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RE: 3509 AAF Base Unit at Willow Run
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Wednesday, June 25, 2008 12:35 PM
The 3509 AAF Base Unit (Factory School) replaced the 37 AAF Technical Training Det as the AAF unit for training at Willow Run on 1 May 44. The school predated them, but these two units were there from about 1 Jul 43 until the spring of 1945. You might get some more information from: AF Historical Study No. 26: Individual Training in Aircraft Maintenance in the AAF, by Raymond Walters (1944). 180 pages. Available at http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/numbered_studies/studies1.asp AAF Historical Study No, 53: Organization of AAF Training Activities, 1939-1945, by Martha E. Layman (1946). 67 pages. Available at http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/numbered_studies/studies2.asp
Bernie Shearon Push the stick forward, the houses get bigger. Pull the stick back, the houses get smaller (unless you keep pulling -- then they get bigger again)
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WillowRun
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RE: 3509 AAF Base Unit at Willow Run
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Thursday, June 26, 2008 7:37 PM
Bernie, Your post jogged my memory about an article which Al Blue had sent me that had appeared in the USAF Museum Publication about a year ago. Unfortunately I have it stored in a "safe place" along with other notes, manuscripts and pics, etc. Now 've got to find that "safe place" as I'm down sizing. Once I have it, I'm sure it will help me with some of the questions. I am going into the links you sent later tonight. Best Regards! Steven
Steven Puhl Willow Run Historian Willow Run: Home of 8685 Ford Built B-24 Liberators Life Member: YANKEE AIR MUSEUM (YAM) "Where History Flies" "They are not forgotten!"
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WillowRun
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RE: 3509 AAF Base Unit at Willow Run
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Sunday, June 29, 2008 7:55 PM
Found it!!! Th article: "The Army Air Forces Technical School: Willow Run, Michigan" by Lou Thole appeared in the quarterly publication of the Air Force Museum magazine entitled: Friends Journal, Vol. 30, No. 1, Spring, 2007. Again, Thanks to Al Blue! Best Regards! Steven
Steven Puhl Willow Run Historian Willow Run: Home of 8685 Ford Built B-24 Liberators Life Member: YANKEE AIR MUSEUM (YAM) "Where History Flies" "They are not forgotten!"
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atait
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RE: 3509 AAF Base at Willow Run
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Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:11 PM
Steve, Picture of those tarpaper shacks sure brought back a few memories. I noticed a coal bucket sitting on top of the coal box.
I really cant remeber too much about Willow Run but the shacks in Gulfport, MS were about the same thing. a Warm Morning coalstove at eack end of the barracks. Fired the stoves with what was laughingly called coal but was 90% slack.
It was not uncommon to return from class to find a stove had blown up and soot covering everything around the stove!
Art 3rd Air Force
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WillowRun
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RE: 3509 AAF Base at Willow Run
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Monday, July 07, 2008 6:32 PM
ORIGINAL: atait
Steve, A bit of trivia. I went through R-2800 school at Willow Run. We were aware that the B-24s were being made there but were never in the area.
Art 3rd Air Force
Art, Good to see your post!!! I've resurrected a section of a post you did in July 2007 and have attached a pic. The attached pic are the P&W's being readied for shipment either to FO WR or other Facilities from another Ford Plant. I am sure that these were the same ones used in the AAF Training School. Either way, it tells part of the storied history of the FO WR Complex Best Regards! Steven [image]local://11777/01F506FE21C741258C7DDCC57A205EA9.jpg[/image]
Steven Puhl Willow Run Historian Willow Run: Home of 8685 Ford Built B-24 Liberators Life Member: YANKEE AIR MUSEUM (YAM) "Where History Flies" "They are not forgotten!"
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