World War II Weekend – A Step Back in Time

By A. Kevin Grantham and Stan Piet

The photograph depicting the flag raising at Iwo Jima was the most iconic image to emerge from World War II. Here the Marines from the Living History Detachment, Paris Island expertly recreate that heroic event. (A. Kevin Grantham) Everyone in their life has, at one time or another, wished they could go back in time and witness some historical event. Technology has come a long way, but as far as your authors can tell, no one has come up with a reliable time machine. But if you are interested in World War II history, there is a place located near Reading, Penn. that annually transforms itself into a magical world of 1940s culture. The event, held by the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum (MAAM), is better known by the thousands of people who attend it each year as World War II Weekend.

The following this event has cultivated over its 23-year span is one of the things that make World War II Weekend so special. The show opened on Friday June 7, 2013. Tropical storm Andrea was skirting the area and one may have thought that the wind, coupled with the buckets of rain, would have deterred many from attending. That was not the case. The gates did not open unto 8:30 a.m. but the line to get in started forming Airshow performer Michael P. Kennedy posing in front of his beloved BT-13. Lt.Col. Kennedy puts on a one-of-a-kind aerobatic routine in his vintage basic trainer. (A. Kevin Grantham) some two hours earlier. “We are very blessed to have such a following,” said Museum President Russ Strine. “This show is our single largest funding source, so we are very thankful for all the people who support this event.” Fortunately the bad weather cleared over the weekend, and many people showed up in 1940s era clothing, all wanting to be part of the gathering. Attendance records were not available at time of this article but most agreed that the show drew a record crowd.

One of the other things that make this event so unique is the hundreds of volunteers and re-enactors that come to the show at their own expense to support the cause. A quick survey across the air field showed military tents and encampment sites with hundreds of men and women authentically dressed up as soldiers, sailors, and airmen, and if you looked close enough, there were also some good looking pin-up types in the mix as well. The show director made good use of these generous volunteers by staging realistic battle recreations to educate the public of what it must have been liked to be part of the Second World War. This educational process was further augmented by the lectures that are given by real war veterans.  

Each year the MAAM hosts many veterans who are willing to share their unique experiences. Our country is quickly losing its historical memory in regards to World War II as our Greatest Generation passes on to a better world. The lines to meet and talk with these honored guests were long, but your authors were fortunate enough to speak with Russell Gackenbach. During the war Mr. Gackenbach was assigned to the US The Liberty Air Museum’s beautiful North American Aviation B-25J Georgie’s Gal made an appearance at the show. This aircraft in its current livery is a relative newcomer to the airshow circuit. (A. Kevin Grantham)Army Air Forces 509th Composite Group. He was the navigator of Necessary Evil, the B-29 camera plane that photographed the atomic bomb explosion at Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945. In talking with Mr. Gackenbach, we learned that he was also the navigator on a B-29 named UP an’ Atom. “Our B-29, UP an’ Atom, was originally decorated with a nude pin-up,” said Gackenbach.” We were later told that we were not allowed to have a depiction of a naked lady on our airplane. So we covered her sensitive parts with a see though nightgown and that seemed to satisfy the sensors until we returned to the States. We then had to cover her with a more opaque covering.”  (For more on the MAAM’s very special guest we suggest you check out MAAM’s website: http://www.maam.org/maamwwii.html)

Music and movies of the 1940s are perhaps the two things that help perpetuate the memories of the Second World War more than anything else and MAAM has that covered in spades with a This North American Aviation P-51D Mustang, owned by the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, was one of three ponies that attended the show. Rounding out the field of fighters was Doug Mathews’ Rebel and the CAF’s Red Nose Mustang. (A. Kevin Grantham)vast array of family entertainment. The Base Club Theater showcases the talents of real actors that come to Reading to perform comedy skits and musical numbers. One of the crowd favorites is the Abbott and Costello Tribute Show performed Bill Riley and Joe Ziegler. Their rendition of the famous Baseball shtick, Who’s on First, had the crowd laughing so hard, one could hardly think. Around the corner from the Base Club Theater is the homefront section of the event, which features a Gulf filling station complete with cars and authentic attendants, alongside an array of vintage Civil Air Patrol aircraft and vehicles. There is also a very interesting radio studio that actually broadcasts live plays, music, and even commercials. This dedicated bunch goes to great lengths to factually depict what it was like to sit by the radio and listen to Little Orphan Annie or how Bromo Seltzer is the ultimate choice for indigestion relief.

Air Boss Greg Witmer expertly directed the flying part of the Jim Beasley’s Rolls-Royce Griffon engine powered Supermarine Spitfire MKXVIII was clearly the fastest fighter at the show. (A. Kevin Grantham)show, which began by featuring the airplanes that were used to train the fighter and bomber personnel in World War II. One of the surprises this year was an aerobatic performance given by Michael P. Kennedy in a Vultee BT-13 Valiant (aka, Vibrator). Yes you heard it right – a BT-13 aerobatic demonstration the likes of which has not been seen since 1945! During the performance the public heard Lt.Col. Kennedy’s live cockpit narration as he attempted to teach his cadet how to fly each aerobatic maneuver. Then it is time for the student to take over. Suddenly, the engine sputters and the student and instructor are in fast trouble. But fear not –  Kennedy gracefully manages to get the young pilot back on course and to a successful completion of his training. The show then transitioned to fighters and bombers who beat-up the field at various times of the day with strafing and ordnance delivery runs. During the Pacific demonstration, Marine The live flamethrower demonstration is a crowd favorite. Flames were so hot one could feel the heat from the crowd safety line. (A. Kevin Grantham)re-enactors from the Parris Island Historical and Museum Society’s Living History Detachment thrilled the crowd with live flame-thrower demonstrations along with a moving reenacted of the famous flag raising on Iwo Jima – all of which was narrated by Tech. Sgt. Ted Schwartz the voice of World War II Weekend. 

The flying star of the show was the Commemorative Air Forces (CAF) Boeing B-29 Superfortress affectionately named FiFi. This is the only flying type of its kind and it recently went through an engine re-design that combine power plant parts from the engines that once supported Fairchild C-119 and the Douglas AD Skyraider. FiFi’s crew told your authors that their new engines are running fine but each has a mind of its own, so they decided to name them Ingrid, Mitzi, Rita, and Betty. (You can figure out the famous actress association.) When asked which engine was the most temperamental – the answer was, “probably Rita.”   

The only flying Boeing B-29 Superfortress in the world stunned the audience with high speed passes across the field. (A. Kevin Grantham)The sights and sounds of World War II Weekend go way beyond the meager words that we use to briefly describe this wonderful event. So, we would like to encourage all of you to circle June 6, 2014 on your calendars and come to Reading Army Airfield and take a step back in time.