2004
World War II Weekend, Reading, PA
4-6 June 2004
On
the first weekend of June each year, the northern ramp of the Reading Airport is
transformed back into the early 1940s as the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum hosts the
World War II Weekend. 2004
marked the 14th Anniversary of this event which helped to commemorate
the triumphs and sacrifices of the men and women of the "Greatest
Generation."
Taking place over the weekend that commemorated the 60th Anniversary of D-Day, there were several special guests in attendance as well as numerous aircraft and displays. The three day event opened under good weather conditions on Friday with a very large crowd also in attendance to see the numerous displays, encampments and aircraft arrivals. Along with a 1940 big Band, the event concluded with just about all of the aircraft on hand for the weekend's festivities.
Saturday started very wet and overcast. Nearly 5,000 folks braved cold and wet conditions to see the displays and to witness only three flying events for the afternoon. The event featured a USAF KC-10A Extender 2-pass flyby from the 514 AMW at McGuire AFB and a two-pass flyby from the 327th AS in their C-130E Hercules from NASJRB Willow Grove, PA. After these military flybys, Rag Wings and Radials B-25J "Panchito" took to the sky for numerous flybys under their Disabled American Veterans sponsorship. Soon after the conclusion of the B-25 flight, the skies opened up and the flying activities were cancelled for the remainder of the day.
Sunday
started wet as well however conditions improved throughout the day so that
flying could take place. Once again the flying opened with a flyby from the
KC-10 from McGuire AFB. The
two passes performed by the KC-10 helped to showcase the modern aircraft
capabilities that currently help to protect the freedoms of United States and
its allies. Following the
flyby, the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation taxied up to the show center
point and was a part of the FDR arrival ceremony as the official start
of the
flying activities for the weekend.
Following the opening ceremony, the L-Bird and Primary trainer flight
flew as did the Advanced Trainers.
At the conclusion of the Advanced Trainer flight, Kevin Russo performed
his SNJ-6 Aerobatic Demonstration.
Also flying in the afternoon was Dan Dameo
in the FG-1D Corsair; a fighter flight consisting of a Spitfire, Mustang, P-38
Lightning; the Pacific Theatre flight of the Corsair, TBM Avenger, and Val
replica; a transport flight of a C-47 Skytrain and C-60 LodeStar; and the bomber
flight with a pair of B-25s and a B-17.
Static
Display Listing for 2004
The Commemorative
Air Force was present in the display with the B-29 Superfortress and B-24
Liberator however these aircraft did not fly during the weekend.
A nice addition to this year's event was the inclusion of the USAF A-10 East Coast Demonstration team from Pope AFB, NC. While low clouds kept the A-10 from performing its normal tactical demonstration, the aircraft was joined in the air by Ed Shipley in the P-51D Mustang for the USAF Heritage Flight. This marked the first time for the USAF Heritage Flight at the World War II Weekend and it was greatly received by all in attendance. Two Heritage Flights were flown back-to-back on Sunday afternoon.
The afternoon of flying concluded with a missing man formation performed by the B-17G Flying Fortress, P-38J Lightning, P-51D Mustang, and Spitfire.