MAAM WWII Weekend Reading (Pics)

[TAdan]

Wow. Nice C-54....

Seriously, I spoke to a few WIXers at MAAM, but unfortunately, I was pretty busy and didn't get much time to chat with you.

I apologize for that.

I hope you all enjoyed watching the Candy drop as much as we enjoyed doing it.

Also, I hope you made the time to come over and meet Col. Halvorsen. He's back in Arizona already. IF you missed him, he will be visiting us at OSH this year as well.

All the best!

I listened to Col. Halverson give a talk on Friday, it was great. The C-54 looked excellent

[Mudge]

Re: Operation Bolero...didn't get to talk to the guy. Talked to his wife, however. After our discussion, I'm convinced I didn't miss anything by not getting to talk to him. She's extremely knowledgeable about the entire operation. It's fantastically ambitious and will take a lot of $$$. She said they're racing a German team that's also trying to get the planes out. She explained the Greenland law is pretty much "Stake Your Claim" . ie. You get there first and "tag" 'em and you've got exclusive rights to the salvage.
They also plan on bringing up the B-17s. Not to restore, as they're too far gone, but to display as they exist when they bring 'em up.
She said they're planning on getting all the P-38s flying again so they can have they only Squadron of airworthy P-38s in the world. Now that IS ambitious
Hope I'm around to see it. I'll only be somewhere in my late 80s.

Mudge the geezer

[Shedwork]

Thanks for posting the photos guys - looks like an awesome weekend.

Can someone ID the Cat for me please - what an immaculate looking aircraft!

Cheers

Mark

[Pilotgrl24]

The Cat is from Fighter Factory

[CH2Tdriver]

Hello All,

Well the 'Lawn Guyland' WIX contingent consisting of myself and PatM, did our part to save petrol for the war effort and carpool'd to the show on Saturday. We were over by the AA gun at 11:00 but didn't get to hook up with you guys. We did get to say hi to Kevin at the C-54. I'm sure to meet everyone next month at Geneseo.

The new show line layout worked out great. We were about 1000' from the approach end of Rwy 18, and the fighters seemed to be cutting the crowd line on their photo passes, which resulted in some nice buzz jobs! I'm not complaining!

Since Bill beat me to posting some pics (I think we all got the same shots) I'll try something different.


Somewhere in England 1940



The Hurri pilot from the UK (I didn't get his name) looks like he came back from a mission over the channel, a result of flying a Hurri on a 90 deg day.


The war in Europe:









Pacific at War:




Cheers,
Peter

[Shedwork]

Thanks Pilotgrl24! Checked out the Fighter Factory web site - that sure is a fine aircraft.

Very atmospheric shots shots Peter thanks for posting. The re-enactors look like they take it seriously.

Cheers
Mark

[Mudge]

Peter...Nicely done. The B&W gives the pictures an "authentic" look. Cool

Mudge the authenticator

[CH2Tdriver]

........and for those who like TECHNICOLOR





WAS IST DAS? WASSER IM PLASTICHE?!!



Here we have an example of 'family friendly' nose art. This time it looks like the "boob job" is in the cockpit?
(I wonder if Larry and crew are planning an Amiens style prison raid to...eh....'Liberate Paris'?)



"Bob is My Co-Pilot"




Cheers,
Pete

[Robbie Stuart]

Great pics all! Thanks for sharing.
Robbie

[LARGEFLYER]

Mudge,

The TBM reported a minor hydralic problem with the gear. He could get them down just fine but was having a little problem getting to stay up. He worked it out and then made a few passes before recovering. He left Sunday morning due to the forcasted heavy rains later in the afternoon.

Just wanted to give you an FYI

Greg Witmer, Airboss
Mid Atlantic Air Museum's WWII Weekend

[Forgotten Field]

Greg did a great job as usual. Thanks a million and see you next year.

[LARGEFLYER]

Also,

Regarding the Bf-109, it was stuck in Bradford with a bad right brake. The Bf-109 and Hurricane diverted to Bradford Friday afternoon when a line of Thunderstorms prevented them from arriving at Reading. When the Bf-109 brake problem was discovered upon landing in Bradford, the Hurricane pilot decided to fly on to Reading on Saturday. The Russell Group worked all day Saturday trying to fix the brake problem and made several taxi tests but decided that they could not fix the problem and determined that it was just too dangerous to attempt to fly on to Reading. I just thought everyone might want to know why the Bf-109 did not make it to WWII Weekend.

Greg Witmer, Airboss
Mid Atlantic Air Museum WWII Weekend

[Mudge]

Line of thunderstorms my ass-podestra. That was a full fledged "french STRANGLER". Wiped out the electricity at our motel 'til 2245.

Greg...Mrs. Mudge had never gotten to listen to the "ground to air" transmissions before. She got a big kick out of hearing what was about to happen and then watching it happen. I had to 'splain some of the "piloty talk" to her but she enjoyed it.
Ya' done good.

Mudge the survivor

[krlang]

Too bad about the brake,

The TBM problem didnt go away either, it was hanging as he passed the Quality Inn on Sunday morning.

Thanks guys, we had a good time.

We hit the Bronx Zoo on the way home on Monday, now I'm pooped.

Heres a Pic from Sunday.



And another C-54 Shot

[Waltz41]

Well...now that I'm done unpacking and finally back to 'normal - non 1940s' life, I finally got a chance to go through my few pictures from the weekend. This is the 6th Reading I've been a reenactor with the 25th ID at, and although there is nothing like it, sometimes I wish I just could go as a spectator...so much to see and do. Anyways.....yeah there was some rain, but it was not as much as other years. Thursday nite I heard the loudest crack of thunder ever, apparently a bolt of lightning hit the T hangar about 40 yards behind my tent! Hope everyone enjoyed themselves, here's a few pics of our encampment and those flying things