Reading WWII Weekend Coming Up

[Aragorn243]

They have had a Storch at this show but I don't recall any other German aircraft. They had a 3/4 scale Stuka there a few years ago but I don't count that. They have a couple of Japanese aircraft lookalikes built out of US trainers. They look nice but not the real deal so I don't get excited about them either. Mostly US aircraft but they have had the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster there. Also a Russian Yak which was pretty cool because he was putting on a real show, not the usual fly bye with photo ops.

[Doco overboard]

Been to the Reading show a few times and remember the 109 not being able to make it a few years ago, the mosquito would be awesome to see in flight. I picked up these items as handouts from interesting people who have appeared at the event. The brass medallion was gifted to my son from R. Lee Ermy who liked his haircut and the Green wrist stretch was given to me by Maj. Winters of Easy Co. The obverse of the medallion displays a globe and anchor and the child does now as well that he's grown.The aircraft would occasionally travel north over the Blue Mountain and fly over my place with passengers or to stretch their wings so to speak and I could watch them cruise the valley from the house on top of the Stony. They said it looked like Europe for the lucky ones who could get on board. It's a must attend I think if you can make it.
Attachment 73295

[Aragorn243]

Show was good as usual but two out of the three planes I was expecting didn't show. The Spitfire that was to replace the BF109 didn't make it either and the P-38 was a no-show.

I took over 2000 photos and 1980 of them were good. I have created a photo gallery of some representative ones on photobucket. 2016 WWII Weekend by Steven Smith | Photobucket

A sampling:

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I am mort than a bit jelious.
Thanks for the consolation prize.

[Aragorn243]

My treasures for the day include a 1907 NWR Indian MKII* bayonet in a cut down Australian scabbard and a practice rifle grenade for the Garand. The newest group of reenactors was the Chinese represented by both Nationalist and Communist troops. Their weapons were a bit heavy on the Japanese side rather than the Mauser side in my opinion but they were enthusiastic.

[jonnyc]

The Spitfire was there, but it did not fly due to engine trouble. It was parked out past Fifi.
I missed the Chinese encampment. Oh well, next year.

[Aragorn243]

We did not walk out to that end of the strip. It seems like every time I go there I have less time and I can't quite figure that out. Used to walk the entire thing twice, hang out in the hanger for hours, watch the battles and even used to walk out to the car at lunch and watch some of the shows. This year we zipped through the hanger although I did go back once for a second quick trip. We basically walked the encampment once, saw one battle in the village and went through the flea market once. I guess we sat more during the air show. I don't think I used to sit during the light planes and waited until the fighters started flying before going out to the strip.

[cipherk98]

Great shots! Looks like you may have been there around the same day/time I was, as I recall the Kate replica being in the air around the time of the flamethrower demonstration. I tried to get out their Friday but couldn't, so I took a family member with me Saturday. I got a few pictures but they were mostly random stuff with my 35mm rangefinder, as I didn't have the strength nor desire to lug an SLR and a good telephoto lens so once I finish that roll I'll develop it and see what I got. This pretty much pushed me away from my Nikon setup, along with it being a PITA during the Indy 500 the previous weekend, towards something mirrorless; less weight to carry, more compact and easier to handle telephoto lenses.