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World War II Weekend in Reading:

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by Gatorrari, Jun 6, 2017.

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  1. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Jim Pernikoff
    #1 Gatorrari, Jun 6, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum at the Reading Regional Airport in PA has been putting on their annual World War II Weekend on the first weekend in June for over 25 years. Not an airshow in the traditional sense (and in the early days there was no flying at all), but perhaps the most educational show of its type I've seen.

    There were hundreds of re-enactors portraying American, British and German troops, with dozens of tents and encampments depicting different units that fought in the war. From pup tents to mess and sick-bay tents, with all manner of vintage equipment. It was fun to see wartime packages of familiar brands like Lux, Hershey, Barbasol and Lucky Strike. Vintage radio gear, any sort of weapon you can think of, from knives up to armored vehicles. And dozens of Jeeps! It was delightful to see the participants telling young people "how it was". A separate hangar depicted the "home front" with vintage kitchen appliances, radios and furniture, and of course the people were all wearing period clothing. In another area, a fellow was doing a decent impression of the young Frank Sinatra.

    Of course, there were airplanes, from the museum's own collection to the CAF (multiple wings), the Yankee Air Museum and others. The B-29 "Fifi" was there, as was a B-17 and a trio of B-25s. Fighters included a P-40, P-51, Spitfire, Wildcat and a Corsair; other carrier-based types included an Avenger and a Helldiver. Trainers and liaison types did formation fly-bys.

    Here are two of the more interesting aircraft. The P-63 is from the CAF Dixie Wing here in Georgia and was recently returned to flying condition, though it did not fly on Sunday. The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's own P-61 has been a long-term restoration to flying condition; the member I asked thinks it will fly within 2 years, though I think that 3 is more likely. I'll post a few more photos in the weeks ahead when I get a round tuit.
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  2. Bob Parks

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    #2 Bob Parks, Jun 6, 2017
    Thanks, Jim. Good stuff. The P-63 reminded me of the one that NACA was testing at Langley Field when I was there. They had a two bladed prop on it to improve the efficiency but it had such a violent oscillation on the ground and vibration when it was run up that I don't think that they ever flew it. Strange stuff.
     
  3. southnc

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    #3 southnc, Jun 6, 2017
    Do they still have that channel-wing plane there? I remember it when flying an Tobago TB-10 in there from Frederick (MD) back in the '90s.
     
  4. Gatorrari

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    #4 Gatorrari, Jun 7, 2017
    It was there the last time I visited the museum proper, but since this was a WWII show, they had all of their non-complying aircraft (including the airliners) parked elsewhere on the airport.
     
  5. Tcar

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    #5 Tcar, Jun 7, 2017
    What's the 'channel-wing' plane?
     
  6. Bob Parks

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    #6 Bob Parks, Jun 7, 2017
    I think they are talking about the Custer Channel Wing, a twin engined affair with side-mounted fuselage engines and propellors. The wing formed half a tube on each side by paralleling the arc of the props, thus forming a half venturi to generate lift. Would have been great fun when one engine quit.
     
  7. southnc

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    #7 southnc, Jun 7, 2017
  8. jwol

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    #8 jwol, Jun 7, 2017
    Bob, that P-63, 42-68941 is the NACA test aircraft and no doubt the one you saw at Langley. Current plans are for the Dixie Wing to add the NACA markings just prior to taking her to Oshkosh this year.
     
  9. Bob Parks

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    #9 Bob Parks, Jun 9, 2017
    That's really interesting that it is still alive and that you know about it. I spent a lot of time at the NACA tarmac when I was off duty since our barrack was just across the road from their location. I can't believe the changes in Langley from recent pictures and how empty it is now. It was packed with B-17's and B-24's when I was there. But I can still see my old barrack at the east end of the base. Also the lighter than air hangar is gone. I can still hear the constant roar of engines that was with us 24 hours a day and remember how tough it was to sleep when I got home on the beach that was almost silent.
     
  10. Gatorrari

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    #10 Gatorrari, Jun 12, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  11. tbakowsky

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    #11 tbakowsky, Jun 12, 2017
    Hard to believe these aircraft are fast approaching 100 years old.
     
  12. Bob Parks

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    #12 Bob Parks, Jun 13, 2017
    Jim, of the airplanes that you showed I have flown or had stick time in 7 of them. Nothing in the SB2C, thank God, or the TBF but many of the others. The N3N was very interesting with its aluminum angle frame but a nice flying airplane. I flew with an ex-SBD pilot who survived the war and in the rear cockpit was a plaque that read, " Forever Vigilant or Forever Asleep". There was always some kind of an aura attached to those who survived action in the War.
     

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