Looking back at some information I posted a few years ago on a B-17 News Page at the aerovintage webiste, I found this tidbit that I though was interesting and one that may bear further investigation. As posted in the July 1951 issue of Flying magazine, a dentist built a 660-foot long hangar using surplus B-17 spars for structural support of the roof. Dr. Otis McKinley purchased surplus wing components from a reported 278 B-17s. The wing spars were used for roof supports, while the wing skins were used for hangar doors and hangar door hinges were made from B-17 wing tip parts.

The McKinley Airport at Fraser, Michigan (north-northeast of downtown Detroit), is no longer there. However, the always interesting website run by Paul Freeman, Abandoned and Little-Known Airports provides a detailed history of the McKinley Airport. This 1977 photo from that site shows that 660′ hangar still existent (upper right corner of the airfield).

The website reports the airport was closed in 1987 and the land sold to developers. All the hangars were torn down and the airport plowed under for a shopping center and residential areas. But, an intriguing question: does anyone know what actually happened to the parts of the hangar after they were hauled away? Scrapped, probably. But, maybe not. With the modern efforts underway to build up new B-17 wing center sections, it is a question that needs to be answered with a bit of certainty. A research project for a diligent detective, perhaps.