Air museum to mark Ford’s 100th anniversary

BANGOR – In honor of Ford’s 100th anniversary, the Maine Air Museum will hold a special showing of vintage Ford automobiles and P-W aircraft engines 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31 – Labor Day weekend – on the museum grounds at Bangor International Airport.

Six decades ago, the saying was, “There’s a Ford in your future,” but for many young men in the Army Air Corps in World War II, the “Ford” was a Ford-built B-24 “Liberator” bomber.

Ford built hundreds of these aircraft at their Willow Run plant.

The B-24 was the longest-range U.S. bomber of WWII until the B-29 in the Pacific Theater.

The B-24 could overfly the North Atlantic and attack enemy submarines while escorting convoys of troops and material. It was the primary bomber used in the air campaign that brought liberty to Europe. Ford also built aircraft engines, the most famous being the Pratt & Whitney R-2800, which powered the C-46, P-47 and A-26 aircraft of this period.

Directions to the museum: From I-95 take the Hammond Street exit and head for the airport. Once at Hammond and Maine Avenue, turn right, and the museum will be on the left. Museum hours will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and admission is $2 per adult and $1 per child with a maximum of $5 per family.

For more information, call the museum at 941-6757 or (877) 280-MAHS, or visit the Web Site at: www.acadia.net/mahs.