thecommander

World War II Weekend in Reading PA, Meet NEAD for a great time in the northeast on Friday thru Sunday June 6th to June 8th, 2014.

I put off going for 5 years saying "next year" and still regret the years I missed. Luckily I did meet Babe Hefron & Wild Bill Guarnere from Band of Brothers fame there. It is a super venue and a first class operations that draws tens of thousand of people from all over the US & Canada. Brett met me there last year and we all had a super time.

Check out their website: http://maam.org/maamwwii.html

TheBennyB

Maia and I will be there early Sunday till mid afternoon.

ausf

I'll do my best to make it this year. My son has been scouring eBay for WWII militaria so he's pushing hard for going.

thecommander

My plans are to go out early Sat morning. I will need to leave at 3 PM for a family function in Harleysville. I will overnight there and then return on Sunday AM. Jeff.... I have a good place to park I have been using for a few years now. Brett met me there last year. We will need to pay but it is worth it to be across the street and not have to deal with the lines for shuttle buses to remote parking.


I would recommend we meet Sun AM at a diner if possible and go in together. Early bird gets the worm.

As for militaria.... it is heaven on earth.
New, used, repro... last year then had a Raketenpanzerbüchse AKA Panzerschreck. Only $2500+

There are loads of vendors, guys selling stuff off wagons and more.

thecommander

Sound good Brett. Perhaps we can meet at a local diner for coffee etc..with Jeff and his boys.

thecommander

He will be very happy there. Many items are sold privately too from other attendees as well as the vendors. I have bought cases of 21st Century items and such there.

thecommander

The weather is looking great. It looks as though 8 or so guys are attending form NEAD. How about the other Pennsylvania RC Tankers...after all this is in YOUR back yard? Wade???

TheBennyB

meeting at a local diner is fine with me, just don't want to spend too much time there. Maybe meet at a diner around 8:30? I've started looking for diners in the area and not finding much
by the airport. There is one off of 422 on Penn Ave though.

http://www.westreadingdiner.com/

cleong

I'm likely to make at least one, if not both Saturday and Sunday. I'd like to see the flying displays.

thecommander

Great Leong. Now you will really get to use those great camera lenses of yours. This is a fine event and loaded with people. You both will love it. Call me tomorrow night if you can. Bob

thecommander

It would be best to meet at our parking area. This is the address 2425 Leisczs Bridge Road, Reading PA. of W. Leesport Rd off 183 off Rt 222.

TheBennyB

Sounds good Bob. Plan on being there around 8:30 am.

thecommander

Weather was perfect...blue skies and light breeze. Here are some pix from Saturday.

I had a great chance to share the day with my Uncle George Baker. A US Marine who served in the late 40's shortly after WW II. Many of his instructors were WW II Vets loaded with stories and real life experience. He had a great time talking with some of the other marines who attended. Just like the we friends who all served together. The US Marines seem to share a solidarity that the other military branches do not.
Semper Fi Uncle George.




We can't wait to go back together again next year.

TheBennyB

Maia and myself had a great time! I didn't take pics but I'm sure Bob or Leong may post some. If you've never been and are in the area, definitely mark the calendar for next year. Nothing like laying on the grass with your 4yr old daughter while WWII warbirds, bombers, etc take low altitude passes!

cleong

I took heaps of photos but here's a familiar face:

cleong

You wouldn't want to mess with him:

thecommander

Heaps? HEAPS..... Leong had over 400 by lunchtime. I'd better post mine now before he makes me look like a putz.

Here is my favorite of the day. A nice group photo.

I only took 300 pix in two days. Leong had 1200+ by the close of the day.

We all had a great time. Seven of us aged 4 to 74 attended the WW II weekend and can't wait for 2015. Here are a few more pix. I bought a K-ration box (perfect for when you fly with a tank, Plus a few t-shirts and some books and magazines.

We did have a sad moment when I passed the vacant spot where the late "Wild Bill" Guarnere held court in the hangar. He and Babe Hefron left a very large void and I noticed the crowds in the hangar were diminished as a result. God rest their souls.

I was blessed to have me them.

thecommander

Some pix....

Strato50

You have an awesome collection of photos here! Love the aircraft here and there, and the original and repro vehicles of course.

What is the STUG based off of?

thecommander

It is based on a armored personnel carrier I believe it is British. This was from the Band of Brothers series. The 9th SS Hohenstaufen re-enactors based in NJ own it (and many other WW II vehicles). Here is a link: http://www.9thsspanzer.com/ They also have the Tiger I based on the T-34 from Band of Brothers too. But I believe the engine is kaput. I hope to join this group after my kids are done with school in a few years.

thecommander

A few more pix.

cleong

The STuG III is based off the British FV432.

My photos are ready, but I don't think I should be bringing the RC TANK forum content off-topic with a whole bunch of airplane photos! Bob has more than sufficiently covered the ground component - thankfully he's left me a bit of room to show some action photos of the reenactments:

thecommander

As usual....Leong makes my pix look like finger paintings.

HOT COALS

Great photos commander. Thank's for taking & and your time. From the lonestar state of texas.

thecommander

You must mean Leong's photos....I am a putz with a camera....just ask Leong. I have a good eye, but little time to learn all I can do with the newer cameras and the enhancements.

A few more pix....