plant viable as a standalone structure. RACER Trust has been supportive of the campaign, even reconfiguring engineering and demolition plans to save cost for the museum. By the May 1, 2014, deadline, the Yankee Air Museum had raised over $7 million of its original $8 million fundraising goal, which was enough to enable the building's owners to move forward with signing a Purchase Agreement with Yankee, with the actual purchase expected to be finalized in late summer or fall of 2014. Meanwhile, the remaining portion of the Willow Run property, which includes over 95% of the historic original bomber plant building, was optioned to Walbridge, Inc., for redevelopment as a connected car research and test facility. The option to Walbridge has since lapsed and the property remains available for purchase and redevelopment. Decommission and demolition Michigan Live reporter Amy Biolchini toured the empty Willow Run facility in early 2013, observing: Part of the tour led them to a hidden room within the facility: Demolition of the majority of the Willow Run facility began in December 2013. The Yankee Air Museum was able to gain control of approximately 144,900 square feet of the plant, and plans to develop a permanent home for the museum. By mid-2014, the majority of the facility had been demolished and cleared. See also B-24 Liberator Willow Run Airport Willow Run Assembly Willow Run Transmission World War II aircraft production Yankee Air Museum Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Collection References Bibliography Baime, A.J. The Arsenal of Democracy: FDR, Detroit, and an Epic Quest to Arm an America at War (2014) excerpt and text search Hyde, Charles K. Arsenal of Democracy: The American Automobile Industry in World War II (2013) External links A Bomber An Hour History of Michigan Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United States Motor vehicle assembly plants in Michigan Airports in Washtenaw County, Michigan Ford Motor Company Kaiser Motors United States home front during World War II Michigan State Historic Sites in Washtenaw County, Michigan Defunct manufacturing companies based in Michigan