Mid Atlantic Air Museum recently hosted 24th annual “WWII Weekend” event

Spaatz Field (Reading Regional Airport) Reading, PA — The Mid Atlantic Air Museum hosted their 24th annual WWII Weekend this past weekend. The air was filled with the smell of musty canvas tents, fried food and the sounds of vintage aircraft engines. The event is well known not only for the airshow and aircraft on display but also for the large contingent of WWII re-enactors representing civilians and service personal from all branches of the service from both allied and axis countries. The weather on Saturday was perfect. The sky was blue with just enough clouds to make for interesting backdrops for aircraft flyby photo-ops and a slight breeze to keep visitors from overheating with a temp hovering around 80 F.

The show featured the usual collection of WWII era aircraft from primary trainers, to liaison aircraft, to fighters and bombers. Rides were available in several aircraft including the PT-17 Stearman, AT-6 Texan (Navy SNJ), the CAF’s Douglas Dauntless dive bomber, P-51D Mustang, the Yankee Air Museum’s B-17G “Yankee Lady”, and the CAF’s B-24 Liberator “Diamond Lil”.

Also on display was MAAM’s P-61 Black Widow which is currently undergoing restoration. This aircraft was rescued from a mountain side in New Guinea and is being restored by museum volunteers to flying condition. Once completed the Museum’s P-61 will be the only flying example of its type in the world. The aircraft’s restoration is funded largely in part by donations and profits from the sale of souvenir items.

Also on hand were the American Airpower Museum’s Republic P-47D Thunderbolt and their Douglas C-47 Skytrain, the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation’s C-54E, the CAF’s Curtiss C-46F Commando “the Tinker Belle”, and many more.

The airshow features flybys by many of the aircraft on display in addition to an aerobatic demonstration featuring Jerry Wells and his Bücker 133 Jungmeister. Pyrotechnics were set off during the Pacific theatre flyby adding the feeling that you might actually be watching the U.S. Navy Wildcat, Dauntless and Avenger take down the Japanese “Val” (replica) dive bomber.

This was the 24th year for MAAM’s WWII Weekend and it just gets better each year. The weather also cooperated to make this year’s event a hit. If you’ve never attended this event, start making plans for next year’s as this is a must attend event for any WWII and/or warbird enthusiast.

Can’t make the airshow? Visit the museum anytime. http://maam.org/