Two Decades and Counting
Every year as spring ends, many people spend their time carefully planning their yearly escape to the beach to kick off summer. Whether it is a weekend road trip or a flight to some tropical paradise, a lot of people have made it a tradition to start summer off with a bit of fun. However, my father and I kick summer off with a rather different destination. Instead of a trip to the beach, the last two decades have started with a trip back in time in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Now, 20 years may seem like a long time for something, but for those who are involved with WWII Weekend its only a part of the story. In reality, the story dates back to 1990, when the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum held its first WWII Weekend at Reading Regional Airport. The show was something new versus Reading’s Aerofest that had been running yearly since 1985. Instead of highlighting modern high-performance acts, WWII Weekend was exactly what it sounded like. Swapping jets for 50-year-old propeller aircraft while bringing reenactors, vehicles, and veterans center stage. Ever since then, WWII Weekend has grown to become one of, if not the largest event of its type in the country.
Taking place every year during the first full weekend in June, the event is truly a sight to behold. Vintage WWII Aircraft, “warbirds”, line the taxiways and flight line. Olive drab and tan canvas tents create a forest behind each aircraft which visitors weave their way through to take in the sights. Reenactors man displays of vintage weaponry, clothing, and other goods from the war all while others prepare for mock battles that are spread out throughout the day. Other reenactors spend their time in the French Village where visitors can take in displays, home life, and stop at the Cafe Napoleon to beat the June heat. There is even a market area filled with various vendors selling military surplus items, clothing, vintage bikes, home goods, and more. It can be very hard to see everything, even if you go all weekend.
Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s P61 “Black Widow” under restoration to be the only airworthy P63 - Photo By Nick Chismar ‘22
Even with all the things to see and do, one of the most important places to see is the main hangar, where the events special guests are located. These guests, Veterans of the Second World War, sadly shrink in numbers every year, but many make it their mission to come out and meet the visitors at the event. One of the first I met at the show was 1st Lt Robert McClurg, way back in 2003. McClurg had flown Corsairs with VMF-214, the famous “Black Sheep Squadron” and had been Gregory “Pappy” Boyington’s wingman. Another Veteran who had only been to the event in recent years was Clarence Smoyer, who famously was recorded knocking out a German Panther tank in Cologne during the war. I had met Clarence before he first came to WWII Weekend during author Adam Mako’s book tour for his book “Spearhead” which tells Clarence’s incredible story. Sadly, like many others, both McClurg and Clarence have since passed away, in 2007 and 2022 respectively.
WWII Veteran Herbert Ridyard, 301st Infantry regiment, 94th Infantry Division - Photo by Nick Chismar 2022
Other special guests in the past include the likes of R. Lee Ermey, who’s performance in the movie “Full Metal Jacket” brought him into the spotlight. For myself though, it was his show “Mail Call” where I saw him. Ermey made a few appearances at the event, always with his tent and desk from the show, and sometimes with his famous jeep.
R. Lee Ermey at WWII Weekend in 2006 - Photo by Dave Chismar
One thing that both the visitors and veterans enjoy together is always the airshow. Over the last 20 years, WWII Weekend has had an amazing spread of aircraft come to the show. There are many regulars who attend nearly every year, as maintenance allows, but there are also some who have made their debuts at the show. One of the highlights of 2018 was the arrival of the B29 “Doc” which had only returned to the skies the year before. That year, both Doc and Fifi, the other remaining airworthy B29, shared the field at WWII Weekend for the first time. Just one year before, in 2017, the Commemorative Air Force brought it’s newly restored P-63 King Cobra to the event after it returned to the skies just months earlier.
Another debut happened this past year in 2022 when the C-53 “Beach City Baby” was welcomed to the event for the first time. Beach City Baby had only just returned to the skies in May after a long and thorough restoration in Franklin, Pennsylvania.
C-53 “Beach City Baby” at WWII Weekend 2022
While it is always amazing to see these vintage aircraft in flight, it is something truly special to fly in them, which is what my Father and I did back in 2014. The two of us went up in the B17 “Yankee Lady” which is one of the regulars that attends the show. The sounds, sights, and experience as a whole is hard to describe in words, but it was incredible.
From the cockpit of the B17 “Yankee Lady” over Reading, PA in 2014 - Photo by Nick Chismar
Flying above the show really gives you a whole new perspective on just how enormous the event is. Taxiways packed with people and warbirds, tents and displays filling every gap, and thousands of visitors overwhelmed with the vastness of it all. Every year brings something new to see, whether it’s a display, and aircraft, tanks, or a veteran. All of this done to remember history and honor those who served in WWII. As the 32nd Annual WWII Weekend approaches (32 since Covid put a hold on 2020’s event) and those involved continue to prepare, it is nice to look back at a tradition that will soon span 20 years. After all that time, each year is still as exciting as the last, and even with this June being my 20th year going it is really the next 20 years that are even more exciting to look forward to.
To learn more about WWII Weekend and the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, click Here.