Warbird Information Exchange

They seem to show up at more and more shows now, in varying degrees of official capacity.

People can do what they want, of course. Personally, I find that pot-bellied accountants in their 40s and 50s dressed up as fighter pilots in their teens and 20s are just an annoying, verging on ridiculous type of clutter that I have to keep out of my photos. Those guys in Randy's shots are a perfect example, I'm afraid.

August

Not only jail. The local NRA members got wound up. read "militia".

I like the reenactors and what they do. I see them at many of the airshows I go to here in the U.S. They do seem to be more prevalent at airshows held at civilian airfields rather than at Military bases. Perhaps it's a security concern and might be harder to get uniforms and fake weapons onto an active base.

To me, anything that adds to the atmosphere, the aura, the vibe that recreates that time period and helps people understand and comprehend what happened is good. This includes period dress, the music, the equipment and last, but not least, the airframes. I wish there was more of that type of thing.

The only thing I don't like, and August hit on this - is unrealistic looking reenactors. Someone who is 50 years old, massively overweight, and has long hair just totally kills the mood and destroys the reenactment. If you are that type of person, then dress as a full bird Colonel or General, then it might be believeable. And for God's sake, don't be a hippie and have extremely long hair trying to pass off as a Military person. I saw one reenactor at an airshow once who had a pony tail - no kidding! He was in a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot uniform. (Before anybody asks, no it wasn't Kermit Weeks!) To me that is disrespectful of the uniform and the Veterans. I'm not saying you have to get a buzzcut to reenact a Marine, but at least make it semi-plausible to create a passable illusion.

For you reenactors - PLEASE, NO extremely long hair, piercings or other "image-destroying" presentations. I like the fact that you guys/gals are trying to honor our Veterans, but please do it respectfully and responsibly!

I'll agree with most people, I enjoy seeing them and think they can add a certain interesting element to photos but I'd rather see the younger guys as pilots and privates and people who you believe can properly look the part.

These shots are all from Geneseo over the last couple of years. It's especially great there because the surroundings help add to the photo since you can't see T-hangars or modern office buildings, powerlines, etc.

Randy, here in the UK, most of the 'Living History' Groups (we don't really like the term re-enactment here that much) have very close links with the various veteran associations and give up a lot of there spare time helping veterans at events and such like, so we certainley regard it as something more than wannabee dressing up. Most of the good groups have fairly strict rules about correct look and kit etc.

I don't do much re-enacting anymore, as I'm now over 50 and truely believe that re-enactiors should try to present appropriate age representations. I just don't look that good anymore, but when I started to do it in the mid 1980's, it was more of a response to educate the visitors on the personal aspects of the crewmen.
I couldn't afford a warbird, but I coiuld help out the shows and events where I was a memeber by playing the part. This usually included describing to the public each item and what it was used for as I donned the equipment.
There are a lot of 'wanna bes? who take it too seriously, but I always made sure if I was doing an impression or wearing the uniform that it was done correctly and by the book.
As far as it being illegal to wear the uniform, I believe that only applies to what ever the current military branches are wearing as uniforms. Since I only did WWII, I was never concerned about it being illegal, just wearing everthing correctly in honor of those who have helped to keep us free.
I think air shows could do a lot more to creatively integrate re-enactors into the show.
Blue skies,
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Very interesting replies - sure shows some amazing dedication by some people...

What age is correct ? 20-40 for a pilot?
I have seen somephotos where 50yrs try to passs themselves off as RAF WW2 pilots, so i can see where you guys come from...

What is the most common theme - WW2 europe, WW2 pacific?

How does airshow nowdays, cater for these renacting people.
Do they require special setup areas or passes to access the flightline?

Do these groups require approval from warbird owners to come near their planes or if very lucky sit in them? Are aircraft flightline security issues with the FAA enfirced or is it a local airport decision?

What does the gear feel like?
Is it heavy or you become adapted to it after a while? I would assume fitness is paramount if in heavy gear and a chute?

Im in mid 30s, i dont know if i could get time to do this but would look cool

I’ve had some funny experiences wearing a Nomex suit with CAF patches. I think a lot of people just don’t pay attention and miss the word “Confederate” (now Commemorative) right before “Air Force”. You’d think that Reeboks would be another giveaway that I wasn’t in the military.

One time I was told I get all the fuel I could take on, but it turned out the free stuff was limited to JP-4. Not much use for our kind of round engines, LOL.

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Tom...Sorry, my man...I don't see any resemblance.

Mudge the observant

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Land of the free because of the brave

All due respect to those of you who think re-enactors should be "age and physique" relevant, (ie. "No pot-bellied accountants") to carry that "ideal" to it's conclusion, all re-enactors should be 5'6" and weigh no more than 125lbs.
After all, that's about what the crew of a B-17 would look like. Ever seen the plate in the B-17 that says, "Max. crew weight 1200 lbs."? That's some pretty diminutive troops. When you think about it, "Ma-deuce" weighed almost half what the guy firing it did. INCOMING!

Mudge the re-inactive

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Land of the free because of the brave

I find this discussion interesting ... I knew there were 'living history' types who take their hobby seriously and dress up in period clothing and mill about trying to add 'atmosphere' to events, which I believe they indeed do, but I had no idea there was any sort of 'controversy' about their activities until this thread. Wow ...

Speaking of DX, I attended the 2002 Legends show and I was pleasantly surprised to see a group of "RAF pilots" wondering around and posing for pics. They appeared to be very well organized and from what I remember they were very popular with photographers. They did 'Scrambles' for us, and I found myself shooting a bunch of pics, hoping "one day" to be able to use some poses.

As I was shooting, I turned my head and one guy was standing alone and, unusually for me, I had my camera cocked and ready. I quickly turned my point-and-shoot vertically and fired off a single frame. The pose I captured ended up as a large 16" high drawing (see below), and when I was halfway through with the drawing I scanned the WIP and he became my "logo" of sorts, appearing on my business cards and letterhead, and if you look to the left, my Internet logo as well ...

Carry on guys! You do good work!



Wade

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Most W.W.II era pilots were 18-25. There were a few older, obviously the more senior active aircrew at the start of the war would be in their 30s, maybe even 40+ (very rare) but as the war progressed they were either killed or promoted, so the unit leader ages dropped - a person leading a squadron or group at 25 wasn't that unusual by the war's end.

Obviously the other answers depend on the country depicted and the country you're in. In France, there'll be 'resistance' reenactors, and French Indo China etc will feature, which you won't see elsewhere. To dress up in German gear on the Continent would, generally, be a bad idea - wearing a swastika for instance. There are a few though.

At the Omaka show in 2007, they had a lot of W.W.I and II reenactors, some very good, and the recreation of 'Market Garden' was excellent.

The accuracy point is pretty valid - of course it depends on what you are used to - many warbirds (we'll leave the crews out of this) are about as 'accurate' in paint and configuration as a 50 year old fat ponytailed accountant is as a 'Screaming Eagle', and the public generally will see a P-40 in odd colours and a guy in odd uniform as about the same amount of odd!

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Now you look two, you can't just use the old bait and switch here . Tell the story or quit teasing us!

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"I knew the jig was up when I saw the P-51D-20-NA Mustang blue-nosed bastards from Bodney, and by the way the blue was more of a royal blue than an indigo and the inner landing gear interiors were NOT green, over Berlin."

Totally knackered.


Over paid, over sexed and over here? Yes please.


PeterA

Great link thanks for sharing it, that bloke really looks like (dare I say it) a Sabredriver... :wink: