Rosie the Riveters at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, Ypsilanti Michigan 1942

October 24, 201-5-2,096 women and girls came together dressed as Rosie the Riveters to raise awareness for the Save the Willow Run Bomber Plant campaign in Ypsilanti Michigan.  They came from sixteen states, some from Canada, and there were even 44 “real Rosies” from the WWII era.  AND they blew the lid off the record set in September  at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California.

About the Save the Willow Run Bomber Plant Campaign

The goal of the campaign “….is to mobilize the resources needed to preserve and renovate roughly 144,000 square feet of the 5 million square foot former Willow Run Bomber Plant, to eventually become the new home of the Yankee Air Museum.

The Yankee Air Museum, based on the eastern edge of Willow Run Airport since 1981, houses aviation- and history-related exhibits and programs, and preserves and maintains a small fleet of WWII-era flyable aircraft, including the majestic Yankee Lady B-17. Yankee has a collection of static aircraft on display, and hosts the popular Thunder Over Michigan Air Show every August.”

Read more about the campaign at the website–>

The Willow Run Bomber Plant began production in 1941, first to build component parts, then–with the help of many women (the original Rosie the Riveters) they manufactured the B-24 Liberator.

Note:  the above photo comes from the Library of Congress’ collection ( Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USF34-9058-C])