From the Air to the Ground

For the last 20 years, there has been no better way to kick off summer than a trip down to Reading, Pennsylvania for the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s WWII Weekend. An event like no other, it’s more than just another airshow. Over 1,500 reenactors pack the event field creating forests with their canvas tents tucked between the warbirds. Veterans tell their stories to gathered crowds while battle reenactments rage in the village below. First time visitors are often awestruck by the sheer size of the event and quickly realize that one day isn’t enough to see it all. What started as a one-day trip for my father and I in 2002 eventually became a weekend excursion. This year however, things were a little different, at least for myself as things changed not only on the ground, but also in the air.

Held from June 2nd to 4th, the 32nd Annual WWII Weekend seemingly went off without a hitch, despite some hot days and pesky thunderstorms. While the event officially begins on Friday, things kicked off for me the day before with a drive down to the airport. Across the field reenactors were busy setting up their camps and displays as vendors prepared for the next three days. Back on the opposite side however, things were getting set up for something completely new.

Over the last 32 years, spectators and photographers have been enjoying the show from within the event itself. As the gates open each morning, visitors make their way around the show while aviation enthusiasts and photographers make their way to the flightline to stake their claim on some front row real estate. The images they capture can be incredible as shooting from the flightline can make for some amazing takeoff and landing shots, but by noon the sun has moved behind the aircraft which isn’t exactly ideal. Over the years this has brought many to set up outside the airport on what has been lovingly nicknamed “cheater hill.” Overlooking the airport, the hill let photographers capture images with the sun lighting up the aircraft. Even then however, there is still the airport fence in the way, and while the hill makes for a great lookout, you’re not nearly as close as you would be from the flightline.

Finding a place for photographers that has the best of both locations has been the goal of WWII Weekend’s media coordinator David Brown for the better part of six years. As the preparation for this year’s event began, so did the planning for this new addition to the show. Thanks to David and his wife Christina, along with Jason Smith, Jeff Hunt, and Jim Duncan, this year marked beginning of the new WWII Weekend Photo Pit.

Located on the opposite side of the show, the new pit sits above runway 13 inside the airport fence giving photographers an unobstructed view of the performances. Being closer to the display line, and closer than the hill, the pit offers a unique experience free from the noise of the crowd. All you hear is the thunder of the engines and the sound of your own shutter. This became apparent on Thursday afternoon as those of us setting up the pit eagerly watched as the B29 “Fifi” and other warbirds arrived at the show. Outside of the sound of cases of water being brought in, all you could hear was the warbirds overhead. Aircraft taking off would just be getting airborne right at the pit, making for some great takeoff shots.

It wasn’t too long until the photo pit was set up and ready for it’s first official day on Friday. While everyone went their way to rest up or photograph some of the aircraft, I made my way over to the show side of the field. Being able to see things getting set up was quite the site after simply being a visitor for 20 years, but I wasn’t there to work this time. Instead I had to make my way over to the C-47 “Hairless Joe” to do something I haven’t done since 2014.

Once checked in with the rest of the passengers, we all walked over to the aircraft in the early evening light. The crew gave their detailed safety briefing and tested us all individually on the use of our seat belt and safety measures. Soon enough it was time. The call came to strap in as the fuel pumps began to whine before the engines burst to life. After a few minutes of taxiing and a runup check we began our roll down the runway. The C-47 lifts into the air with ease and more or less floats around like you’re cruising in a vintage Cadillac. Once given the signal, we all unbuckled and began to move around, taking turns in the cockpit or talking to crew members. Seeing Reading and the rolling hills of eastern Pennsylvania in the evening light was truly a special sight. The aircraft gently rocked back and forth with the wind as we made our way back to Reading. A butter smooth landing capped off the flight before we all took a few minutes to walk around the aircraft back on the ground. It had been my first time flying since 2014 when my father and I flew in another of the Yankee Air Museum’s aircraft, the B-17 “Yankee Lady.” To kick the weekend off like that was simply amazing, however as I learned early on Friday morning, I had another flight to take.

I had originally planned to be in Reading for 9:00 AM on Friday to help at the photo pit for the day, but plans changed quickly as I learned that I was scheduled for the first flight in the B-25 “Panchito” which would depart at 9:00. Luckily, I made it along with a few others who also ran a bit late for the check-in time. The crew and members of the Delaware Aviation Museum Foundation were more than understanding and it certainly helped that “Panchito” was still up in the air for a check ride when I got there. A few people got into a Willys Jeep while the rest of us walked with a few crew members, crossed the flight line fence, and waited for Panchito to taxi back in. Soon enough, the mighty B-25 came down the taxiway to run up its engines before pulling back into its spot to shut down. The crew and pilots got out and looked over the aircraft while another wrote in his log. Then our group was separated based on the seats you were assigned. Unlike the C-47 where you can freely move anywhere, the B-25’s bomb bay only has a small crawlspace above to move across which the crew use to store various items. I would be sitting in the rear with two other riders and a crewmember. With the safety briefing complete, we all climbed the ladder into the rear of the B-25 to strap in, and then we were off.

If the C-47 was a Cadillac, the B-25 is more like a Hot Rod, blasting into the sky with ease. We all soon understood the stories of B-25 crews losing hearing as we swapped from our Dave Clark headsets to normal earmuffs. The sound of the engines was deafening, but the experience was incredible. The rear escape hatch was open, leaving a perfect circle to take photos through. If you carefully passed by the escape hatch while making your way to the rear, you would end up at the tail gun position, which was another amazing place to experience. The half-hour flight felt like it was five minutes as the excitement of it all was on another level. We all took turns moving around and soon enough had to strap back in to land. Yet another smooth landing, but this time to kick off the day instead.

Back at the photo pit things were going well. The first group of photographers were set up, some bringing chairs (something I should have done) and pop-up canopies to add to the ones we had already set up. The Friday show, however, had an interesting start as a quick but powerful storm blew through. Unfortunately, two canopies were lost to wind damage despite our best efforts. Once the storm passed the show began and the pit got the chance to prove itself. Having photographed from show center amongst other photographers and the crowd before, the pit was a whole new experience. All you heard was the sound of your shutter and the occasional call out from another photographer as an aircraft came in for a pass.

Over the course of the weekend nearly 40 photographers would make use of the photo pit with plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the show. Having spent all of Saturday back on the show side, I can honestly say that the experience from the pit is truly unique. The whine of the T6 Texans and brilliant display by the Jersey Jerks and Kevin Russo were spectacular as expected. The bombers, transports, and other aircraft all put on great displays, however for those in the pit there was certainly a crowd favorite. This came in the form of CAF Airbase Georgia’s FG-1D Corsair “530” with Stan Musick at the controls. At first it was simply the whine of the Corsairs massive engine that took many by surprise, but as we quickly learned on Friday, Stan was prepared to play for the pit.

Stan Musick brings the Corsair past the Photo Pit — Stan Musick bringing the Corsair in for a close pass on the photo pit - Friday

Speeding in from the right, Stan brought the Corsair out of a loop and over the pit which is located not far off the display line. He then turned back, climbing up and to our left before diving down at high speed. With the Corsair whining, Stan pulled it in close giving all of us an unbelievable photo pass before returning to show center. Of all of the aircraft and pilots that weekend, Stan and the Corsair would have to have been my favorite, especially from the pit.

The rest of the show went off as usual despite another storm late Saturday. Saturday night’s dance packed the main hangar as I and other photographers took part in the third annual night engine run photoshoot. This year’s shoot featured three incredible aircraft, a P63, Stearman, and replica D3A Val which was recently donated to the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum. The night shoot is an amazing experience, expertly run by Pete Lerro who specializes in these sorts of amazing shoots with his company Lerro Photography.

Having spent Friday in the pit and Saturday at show center, Sunday was more of a day to walk around and enjoy the show with my father. As many long-time visitors will know, you simply can’t experience WWII Weekend in one day, or honestly one weekend. The reenactments are always a hit with many happening at various places throughout the day. From fighting in the town to reenacting the flag raising at Iwo Jima, there is always something somewhere. The displays are also quite the sight. The passion that the reenactors have for their unit and the history is palpable. Many have relatives who fought in WWII or have an immense passion for history. Either way it shows, and if you get a chance to stop and chat with a reenactor, do so! Not only will you learn a lot, but you will experience the show in a new way while also making new friends in the process.

Once again, the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum had done it. For my father and I, it was the 20th year of a summer tradition, but for many others it may have been their first time. The experiences at WWII Weekend are unlike anywhere else. From the reenactments, the displays, the battles, the airshow, and most importantly the Veterans, the show has more than many can imagine. After 32, WWII Weekend is still more than an airshow, and moving into it’s 33rd next year it will just keep getting better.