WWII Week at Reading, PA

[tmark]

Compared to the $6 to $8 tickets to enter a gun show, the $10 ticket fee for the PA event proved to be, again, the bargain of the year. The WWII vintage aircraft, vehicles, firearms, and equipment on display by collectors, is awesome, not to mention the re-enacting demonstrations involving U.S., German, and Japanese firefights using blank-firing weapons.

During the airshow, the announcer made a glum comment. He said enjoy (videotape) these warbirds in flight now because the day will come when they will no longer be flying. Acquiring and restoring a vintage fighter takes $250,000. But that's not what will be grounding these WWII planes.

He said: 1) fuel costs are high 2) the hi octane fuel these aircraft take just isn't available anymore. In actuality, these relic planes have to have their respective engines "retuned" to take a lower octane fuel. 3) Insurance is a factor, too. He didn't explain but either insurance companies won't insure these relics or, if they will, the premiums are sky-high.

He said there is no problem getting qualified mechanics to maintain these planes nor is there a problem getting parts for them. In fact, there are companies that produce new parts for these vintage planes.

I did manage to get inside a C47 fitted to carry a stick of paratroopers. The movies make the inside of one look MUCH more spacious than what it really is.

As usual, I marveled at the sight of four remaining band of brothers autographing books in their usual place in the museum hangar.

Other than being stuck in a snail-crawl 1.5 hour traffic jam 2 miles before the expressway exit into the airfield, it was a great experience.

Another interesting bit of info came from one of the German re-enactors. I admired his Mauser 98 whose muzzle end (front sight) was "different" from the usual Mausers I see. He said it was modified by the Israeles. He said Russia sold a bunch of captured 98s to them. I think he even said some Mauser chambers were redone to accommodate the .308 cartridge. You guys on the Mauser forum might shed some light on this.

If you haven't been to the Reading show, I encourage you to go just once. You won't be disappointed in the variety of sights and experiences of the WWII generation.

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[Louis of PA]

Mark - thanks for the nice write up. I was there from about 1 to 7:30 P.M. with my son Sean and his three-year old son.

A very large crowd, probably helped by the beautiful weather, and tomorrow is to be just as nice.

I kept an eye out for veterans and was pleased to get photos of these folks. We won't be blessed with their presence on our soil for too many more years.

Louis of PA

This man fought in the Ardennes and in the Bulge

[Louis of PA]

[Louis of PA]

[TomSudz]

What a fantastic time I had! To be able to hear some of the stories, awesome. If you didn't get the chance to attend, I'd highly suggest planning on going next year (unfortunately you may not get to see some of this year's guests). To be able to hear the story of the Doolittle Raid told by Doolittle's co-pilot, Richard Cole, was incredible. Or hearing about dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima from "Dutch" Van Kirk, the navigator on the "Enola Gay." I also got to hear some colorful and interesting stories from the men known as the "Filthy Thirteen." Those guys were hysterical! And that's only a tiny fraction of the special guests who spoke.

The re-enactors do a great job, top notch. These folks really get into their historical "character" and during the reenactments, they even had the French underground represented! The home front is also well represented. Abbot and Costello clowned around everywhere they went. The Andrews sisters sang for the crowd. FDR rode around in his limo, complete with MP motorcycle escort. The officers club offered entertainment for all and you could even watch a radio sow being performed live, or listen in.

The vintage aircraft were simply marvelous to look at, but then you get to see them fly! The sound of those old engines is awe inspiring, to say the least. Fighters, bombers, trainers, transports, and liason were all represented. You've seen them in the movies, but let me say, the movies don't do justice to the awesomness of these aircraft. If you're lucky, you'll get to go up in one of them, as you can make advanced reservations to fly on a few of the planes. I was VERY lucky, my wife paid for me to go up in the "Yankee Lady" and I spent 25 minutes flying in that B-17. It was expensive, but it was worth it.

Bottom line, if you haven't gone, GO! You can visit the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's website to check out their information about the WWII weekend. I can't remember what the time frame is for posting next years information, but bookmark it and check back now and then. You won't regret going.