My WW2 Weekend in Reading PA (pick heavy)

[AVGWarhawk]

You can take a ride in the B-17. The cost was $425.00. Believe me when I tell you she was non-stop. People were laying out the money.

[AVGWarhawk]

Cool video here. The Val is trailing smoke and two corsairs are on his six:

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q...Weekend123.flv

[August]

I wouldn't pay that for a ride on a B-17 but I would pay that to take part in a reenactment parachute jump from that C-47.

[bradclark1]

Anybody know what the scooter(?) is down the line of bikes?

Its probably something like this http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/welbike.htm , there were 1/2 a dozen or so different varieties used by the allied paratroopers.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by bradclark1

Anybody know what the scooter(?) is down the line of bikes?

There was all different types of scooters and bikes. Even motorized bicycles. Also 4-5 variations of German bikes with sidecars. This Packard was cool.





Inside this vehicle and the jeeps, etc. they were so simple. Speedometer and gas guage basically. Not like vehicles today with every gadget known to man. The engines were were very simple as well. Heck, even if they broke down you could find the part at a 5 and 10 store or make it yourself.

[Takao]

Those are some really sweet pics you took.

You only went one day, the is just to much to see and do in one day. I went Sat. & Sun. One day is for looking at all the reenactments, planes, and vehicles. The second is for listening to the veteran speakers that are present. "Dutch" Van Kirk(navigator on Enola Gay), Col. Clarence "Bud" Anderson(ace, 16 1/4 kills), Robert "Bob" Bolinger (P-61 pilot, 4 kills), "Buck" Compton(from Band Of Brothers). In addition, I listened to a B-17 pilot, 2 POWs, a sailor who survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, and some soldiers who fought with the 28th Infantry Division at the "Battle of the Bulge".

For once we had all 3 days of no rain, I can't remember the last time that had happened. And , WOW!, I was amazed at how large the WW2 Weekend has become.
Even with the cost of gas sky high, there were more reenactors there than I have ever seen before.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Takao

Those are some really sweet pics you took.

You only went one day, the is just to much to see and do in one day. I went Sat. & Sun. One day is for looking at all the reenactments, planes, and vehicles. The second is for listening to the veteran speakers that are present. "Dutch" Van Kirk(navigator on Enola Gay), Col. Clarence "Bud" Anderson(ace, 16 1/4 kills), Robert "Bob" Bolinger (P-61 pilot, 4 kills), "Buck" Compton(from Band Of Brothers). In addition, I listened to a B-17 pilot, 2 POWs, a sailor who survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, and some soldiers who fought with the 28th Infantry Division at the "Battle of the Bulge".

For once we had all 3 days of no rain, I can't remember the last time that had happened. And , WOW!, I was amazed at how large the WW2 Weekend has become.
Even with the cost of gas sky high, there were more reenactors there than I have ever seen before.

I would have loved to gone another day but other things in life preclude that. I did arrive when the gates opened and was able to talk to the owners/pilots of the planes. Specifically the owner of the P-40. He flew in from Long Island. Very nice guy. I was able to sit and listen to two vets and their experiences. I did watch one re-enactment. I spent a majority of the time obviously taking pics and video. I will certainly be there next year. The submarines were represented and a fella was up from the Cavalla. He knows Neal. Small world it is. The sun french fried me. I'm red as a lobster.

Here is the funny part. Ticket $20.00, T-shirt $15.00, 2 hot dogs and three waters $12.00, pencil print of a P-40 $10.00...........gas $65.00!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cost more for gas then the entire day of activity. All in all.........I would spend it again. It was a great show and will be there next year

[bradclark1]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Inside this vehicle and the jeeps, etc. they were so simple. Speedometer and gas guage basically. Not like vehicles today with every gadget known to man. The engines were were very simple as well. Heck, even if they broke down you could find the part at a 5 and 10 store or make it yourself.

They still have radio. I guess that was general officer privilege. (antenna centered above windshield)

[Oberon]

Fantastic pictures, wish I could have been there, there's nothing like a front row seat to one of those birds starting up. Particularly the Mustang, that Rolls engine is a beaut

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Fantastic pictures, wish I could have been there, there's nothing like a front row seat to one of those birds starting up. Particularly the Mustang, that Rolls engine is a beaut

Front row ment front row. They had a twenty foot rule when the planes were running. So, yep, it was in your face, sight, sound and smell just 20 feet away. I will tell you, open headers off the V-12 and the radials are loud! The prop wash was something I was not expecting either.

[kurtz]

Originally Posted by bradclark1

They still have radio. I guess that was general officer privilege. (antenna centered above windshield)

Yes when a car was 16 valve then it meant 8 in the engine and eight in the radio

[Hitman]

I wouldn't pay 425 bucks for a ride in a B-17, but I would have gladly paid them for a ride in the P-51

Nice pics...