Authentic WWII Weekend in Reading, PA.

Authentic WWII Weekend in Reading, PA.

By: Don 'Donster' Miller
Date: 2005-05-16

Spring is finally here, and it's almost that time of year for Air shows! That's right! One of my favorite summer pass times. Now I would like to tell you a bit about one of my favorite events, The Mid Atlantic Air Museum's "World War II Weekend Air Show". June 3rd-5th, 2005 at Reading Pennsylvania's Regional Airport (Carl A. Spaatz Field). I have attended this show twice in the past few years, and it is a very fun event to visit.

Now I must tell you that the WWII Weekend event isn't your typical air show. In my opinion, it is a fantastic blend of aircraft, ground displays, vehicles, and yes even people dressed in the clothes and hairstyles of the era. You can visit with vets that fought in the great struggle against Fascism, sit and watch these men and women tell their own personal accounts of what they went through. Take in a ground battle re-enactment. Listen and dance to live "Big Band" music, laugh along as you watch actors bring back a radio show of the times.

American, British, Russian, German ground encampments are set up in historic detail, while the re-enactors dressed in uniform, carrying the weapons of the period, are there to help answer any questions you may have. These people take what they do seriously; they enjoy it and are very knowledgeable. A few hundred vehicles help to bring even more realism to the camps. And they even parade many of them into downtown Reading, PA!

The Navy isn't forgotten either. A small pond is used to display some very fine radio controlled ship models. An indoor area is also set up with these models on display, when they are not sailing around the pond!

One of the hangers is used for a large flea market. Tables are set up to purchase photos, books and get autographs from featured Vets. T-shirts, jackets, memorabilia abound! Oh and you can find plenty of good food on the grounds too!

And of course, vintage war birds! B-17 Flying Fortress, P-51 Mustangs, F4U Corsairs are just a few of the many aircraft you can see parked and in the air over the weekend.

So if you are in the Reading area, I recommend a visit to the "World War II Weekend Air Show". It's a lot of fun, a great family outing!

For more info, visit The Mid Atlantic Air Museum's web page at http://www.maam.org/maamwwii.html

Check out these pics from the last event: