17th Annual WW2 Weekend in Reading PA (1 Viewer)

[Currahee Chris]

Hey everyone:

Just wanted to drop a plug about an event that happens each year here in Reading Pa- June 1-3 is the annual WW2 weekend at the Mid Atlantic Air Museum. What a blast!!! All sorts of WW2 re-enactors and vehicles and aircraft. It is very family friendly. A couple years ago, I met Sgt. Guarnere from Band of Brothers. This year, Lt. Compton is scheduled to appear. Lot's of other great folks. Just an all around good time!!

Be prepared to deal with crowds if you go. I have gone on Fridays as it is somewhat less crowded then. There are shuttle buses to run you around the airfield from the parking lot. Bring some sunscreen as you are on the runway.

An occasional dealer will sell toy soldiers there (this is my tie in to the hobby ) but there is a huge flea market where they sell militaria too.

More info

www.maam.org

STANDS ALONE!!

CC

 

[Halo]

Sounds like a good time.

 

[Currahee Chris]

It really is- it is fantastic. you should try to make it down here our way and take the time to enjoy it. It is a good time for the whole family.

 

[Currahee Chris]

Another thing I didn't realize- R. Lee Ermey is going to be there too

 

[Halo]

I saw/met him a few months ago at a large sports show in Milwaukee. As I was talking to him I kept thinking "Full Metal Jacket".

 

[Currahee Chris]

Ha!! That's funny-I know I will be the same way and hopefully won't embarrass myself by asking him to be the Drill Sgt and smoke me!!

Was he pretty laid back and easy to approach? I always get worried that one of these guys might be like some of these actors and actresses we hear about. So far nothing like that hasn't happened to me but you never know- any pre-encounter intel would be helpful

 

[Combat]

I went last year and met Paul Tibbets who flew the Enola Gay. Talk about a piece of living history. Most of these guys will not be around much longer so its now or never. They also had a lot of nice model planes on display and for sale. This year they have a German pilot with over 200 kills to his credit. A fun time if it doesn't get too crowded or hot.

 

[Halo]

He was easy to talk to and seemed pretty down to earth. I thought he was a nice guy.

 

[Combat]

Walter Schuck is supposed to be there. He is almost 90 so hopefully he can make it. Quite an amazing war record.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Schuck

 

[Louis Badolato]

Walter Schuck is supposed to be there. He is almost 90 so hopefully he can make it. Quite an amazing war record.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Schuck

Wow! 206 kills (including 8 in a ME262, probably making him if not the first, then one of the first jet aces)! Unbelievable. I wouldn't want to meet him though. If any of those kills are B17's, he could be the bastard responsible for my uncles.

 

[Combat]

Wow! 206 kills (including 8 in a ME262, probably making him if not the first, then one of the first jet aces)! Unbelievable. I wouldn't want to meet him though. If any of those kills are B17's, he could be the bastard responsible for my uncles.

Its an interesting thing to meet these guys. Last year I met Paul Tibbets who flew the Enola Gay mission. Although I'm 100% supportive of what he did, the fact that that mission led to 70,000 plus deaths is somewhat sobbering. Paul is now an elderly guy in a wheelchair who looks like someones grandfather. Regarding the Luftwaffe pilots, I think its fair to say that it must have taken a unique person to climb into that cockpit day after day. Particularly in the later stages of the war when they were outnumbered 20 or more to one. Also, the fact that they were defending their own cities and families from allied bombers leads me not to judge them too harshly. I think almost anyone would have done the same thing at the time.

 

[Currahee Chris]

Wow! 206 kills (including 8 in a ME262, probably making him if not the first, then one of the first jet aces)! Unbelievable. I wouldn't want to meet him though. If any of those kills are B17's, he could be the bastard responsible for my uncles.

They probably weren't but I wouldn't want to bet on it- I am pretty sure he was mostly Eastern Front -I think- I may be off here. He was there the last time I went a couple years ago- I saw him but didn't go up to him or nothing. Still wore his uniform and all. Nonetheless, there was just nothing I could do that made me want to go meet a former nazi. Sounds bad I know but the truth is the truth. I will always respect the german was machine for what it was- a destroyer of the planet. I have always had a hard time talking to any of the nazis I have ever met.

 

[Combat]

A hot time at the old airfield today. It must have been 110 plus down on the runway. I met Walter Schuck the German Ace and got a signed picture of the ME 262. There were some great wooden airplanes models on display by a company at www.warplanes.com

Overall a good time, but the crowds, heat, and too few buses are beginning to make this one less enjoyable.

 

[Currahee Chris]

Hey Mike-

sorry to hear it didn't go so well. My 11 year old son woke up Saturday and was bent over with some stomach ailment. My wife thinks he was BSing us since by lunchtime, he ate twice as much as me, spent the afternoon playing XBox and tried to make arrangements to go to a buddies house for the night!! I nixed that one though.

Funny how we joke here in Central Pa- Farmshow is snow- well, I believe that when WW2 show comes, so comes the unGodly heat.

Guess I'll have to wait till 2008- hope R Lee Ermey still goes!!