World War II Weekend - Reading PA Air show

                                                                                                               Thanks to Mike D.

      I used to go to several air shows every year.  Little by little, air show politics, budget cutbacks and fatigue from seeing the same aircraft have cut down the number of events I attend.  Nowadays, the one show I do not miss is the World War II Weekend and Air show at the Reading PA airport, home also to the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum.  It's not just the air show that brings me there; it's the working WWII vehicles running about belching diesel fumes, the re-enactment groups and the famous aces and other heroes from WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War 1&2 and other combat hell-holes, such as Somalia, that ensure the average modeler a great time.  It's always held the first weekend in June, so mark you calendars early every year.

      Planes of Fame contributed several warbirds this year including an F4U-1 Corsair, an F6F-5 Hellcat and a P-40N.  Some of the other notables included a Spitfire Mk.IX out the Fighter Factory in Virginia Beach, a privately owned Yak-9, also out of VA Beach, an SBD-5 from Peachtree City GA, a P-47D-30/40 ( not the P-47N listed below), two P-51D's, two B-17G's, including the one Joe Smith and I took a ride in at Teterboro Airport a couple of years before 9-11,and the other, a conversion of a "G" model to an "F" to represent Memphis Belle.  All of these aircraft taxi right in front of the crowd, take-off and perform for the crowd. My only complaint was the weather which  was crappy all day and got worse as the day grew longer. Prior to flight ops, all of the aircraft are available on the ramp or taxi ways for close-up inspection. It takes patience to get clear views, not to mention gentle prodding of the crowd, followed by copious and loud "Thank You's" when they cooperate.   As with any air show, get there early for the best views. See the list below for other attending aircraft.

I       n the hangars, there are displays and the famous featured guests are available to buy autographed books, prints and photos from and talk to when they have a breather.

Tents and stages around the main hangar provide venues for lectures by these same people and it really taxes one's agility to see everything.  Two days is what is really needed to get the maximum out of the show.   Some of the famous guests have included Robert Morgan of Memphis Belle fame,  AVG guys like Tex Hill, Dick Rossi and others, "Wild Bill" Guarniere and a passel of 101st AB guys from Band of Brothers, participants in the Blackhawk Down two-day ordeal in Somalia, Navajo Code Talkers, Paul Tibbets and other participants in the A-Bomb Raids in Japan, just to mention a few.  In the main hanger you can follow-up on the progress of the Mid-AtlanticAir Museums restoration of their Northrop P-61 Black Widow. Man, I can't wait to see that up in the air some day.

        At least two times during the show the re-enactors put on their show, including a fire-fight in a mock French town, complete with attacking German Skdfz 234/4

8-wheeled armored car and Schmeissers chattering galore.  The other mock battle occurs out just behind the taxi-way and it's loud as hell with 105mm and 57mm guns going off and a plethora of small arms popping around you. The Germans always lose.   Last year, they set the grass on fire by accident.  One also has to be careful about the armored vehicles running around. last year they brought them through the crowd to get to the second battle demo. I still have some mud on my camera bag from the M-36 Jackson that trundled by me about a foot away - man do they throw clods of earth while on the move !

       When not in combat, the re-enactors have their campsites off to the left of the field and everybody's there. Waffen SS, Big Red 1, Soviets, a couple of different British units, the New Zealanders, the Poles, of course, Luftwaffe ( they won the best-dressed competition last year), Wehrmacht units, Canadians, etc., etc. You can walk among them, examine their weapons and gear and talk with them. They even let you sit in some of the vehicles ( ask first, though).  While you're in that area don’t miss the large military flea market.  I have gotten some rare stuff and great buys over the years.

Vintage military vehicles include Kubelwagens, BMW and Zundapps - some with side cars,  Jeeps, Bren & Universal Carriers, White Halftracks, M19's, M7 Priests, Wreckers, WWII Harleys, M8 Armored Cars and the aforementioned M36 w/ 90mm and the German armored car.

Even the food is great  - my personal recommendations being the BBQ Beef stand - usually on the far right of the food concession area - and the Stewarts Orange Whip for a perfect balanced air show meal.

So, don't miss next year's show.