WW II Weekend
My first born, Daniel, might have been eight years old the first time we ventured to WWII weekend. It was misty that day and cool. He loved listening to the stories from the WWII veterans and the reenactors enjoyed outfitting him with their antique gear.
I went again when the boys were teenagers. Daniel loved WWII history, still does. My youngest, Zach, too has acquired this love of war history.
So, I was delighted when Zach asked about going this year. It is always the first weekend in June and we had just arrived in Pennsylvania the 2nd of June. Yes, let’s go!
What is WWII Weekend?
What began as a small airshow to benefit The Mid Atlantic Air Museum has grown into an enormous event sometimes garnering up to 100,000 attendees. It attracts 1,500 reenactors with 20 acres of encampments, featured 9 Veterans of the Great War, over 80 aircraft and 200 military vehicles.
Quentin Stambaugh WWII Veteran B-25 Radioman
bi plane
HISTORY of the Black Widow.
The United States Army Air Corp recognized it’s need for a dedicated night fighter. In 1940 the concept for the Black Widow began on paper, in 1942 she took her first flight and in 1943 manufacturing began. The P61 first entered combat in 1944. This aircraft pioneered radar guided night fighting. It wracked up 53 manned kills in Europe alone and also appeared in the Pacific and CBI theaters.
P-61 Black Widow
Out of the 700 manufactured during WWII, there are currently only four Black Widow P61s in existence and one is undergoing restoration at the Mid Atlantic Air Museum. This is quite a story, how they created the museum, purchased the downed aircraft and disassembled it to return it to American soil. I invite you to read the story here: The Mid Atlantic Air Museum
A day at the WWII Weekend is a day well spent. Zach was child like in his admiration of the WWII veterans. Gary enjoyed watching people of all ages and backgrounds line up for an autograph and a handshake from this dwindling group of heroes. The little boys enjoyed the activity of the planes taking off and landing and the vehicles on parade. It is not a cheap day nor for the faint of heart. Parking is not close, but it is free and shuttles are offered. Bags are searched upon entry and there is a list of do’s and don’ts. The entry fee is over $40.00 for an adult but children under 10 are free. We did purchase the $5.00 book and I am glad we did. Inside the program guide were spaces for the speakers to sign their autograph.
A few of the Veterans are now centenarians. It is only a matter of time until they are all deceased. What a sad day in history that will be. If you have a family member that was in WWII, see if they will open up and share their history. This was an interesting group of humans. I look back at my grandfather and understand more about his personality – war heroes that didn’t have the benefit of the PTSD conversations or counseling. They were not an easy bunch to converse with, they held a lot in. I regret not getting more information from my grandfather when he was still living.
I love you dearly. Bless you for stopping by!!
Also, here is a link to my TC video on WWII day: TC at the WWII Weekend in Reading, Pa.