Willow Run Airport was named for a small stream that meandered through pastureland and woods until the late 1930s. Automobile pioneer Henry Ford bought the property that became the airport’s runways and taxiways in 1931, and used it for almost a decade as farmland for a “social engineering” experiment that brought inner-city boys to Willow Run Farm to learn about nature, farming tasks, and the rural way of life.

In 1941, after the USA entered World War II, Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh built the world’s largest bomber facility at what they named Willow Run Airport. During the war, almost 8,700 B-24 “Liberator” bombers were built at Willow Run, and at its peak production, the plant employed 42,000 people including “Rosie the Riveter.” 

I-94 freeway was extended to Willow Run by Henry Ford to ease transportation to the bomber plant.

After the war, the bomber plant was converted into a luxury passenger terminal. Commercial airline traffic was transferred from Detroit City Airport, and Willow Run became Detroit’s principal airport.

In 1947, the federal government sold Willow Run to the University of Michigan for $1.00.

In the 1950’s, some commercial air traffic began moving from Willow Run to Detroit Metro Airport. By 1966, all commercial airline traffic moved to Metro. Willow Run has been a cargo, general aviation, and executive aviation airport since.

https://www.willowrunairport.com/about-us#:~:text=Willow%20Run%20Airport%20has%20a,were%20built%20at%20Willow%20Run.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_Run_Airport