Exciting World War II Weekend at Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, Reading, PA Every June

The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum of Reading, Pennsylvania is(called MAAM for short) is the place to be every first weekend in June. During the 3-day weekend, World War II is remembered and commemorated at the air museum at Reading,'s airport.

What started as a rather small regional affair over 27 years ago is now a re-enactor's paradise bringing in guests and participants from all over the country. The number of participants and scenarios portraying nearly every country and every experience of the era seems to increase yearly. One thing a visitor can depend on, though, is that it will be the summer of 1944 when one passes through the gates.

I remember the first one I attended (I'm a local.) It was organized with a few swing bands, a live radio re-enacting troupe, a few United States service re-enactors (including a modest field hospital), a few vendors and a few period airplanes. The focus was on the planes.

I remember that I was shocked that three young lads came to that early festival costumed in German Nazi uniforms. At the time, it seemed very daring to me - albeit I admitted to myself and to them that ,of course, Nazis were part of the WW II story. However, the rest of the weekend at that time was extremely oriented to U.S. military.

This is no longer the case. In my mind, neither planes nor the 48-star-flagged U.S.A. are the focus (despite the MAAM focus on aircraft.) Instead, it is on the time travel into the past for ALL the groups.

The WW II week-end draws re-enactors of all the Allies and many of the Axis troops. There is a re-created French village full of citizens sipping wine at the cafe in which a battle is re-played several times. One sees kilted officers and many companies of historically authentic Nazis (still gives me the willies to see shiny black German cars with neat swastika flags at the corners. My mind automatically mentally plays the God-awful sound of the Gestapo sirens.) And, now re-enacting participants attend in a Japanese military uniforms.

There is also a home front display and, of course, constant old-time authentic radio broadcasts by the SOAP radio actors. This dedicated group puts in a tremendous effort to keep the live entertainment rolling for three days. By the way, everything they perform is from real scripts of the era. I wonder if there will be a draft board at some point or a conscientious objector re-enactor?

Of course, there are restored working airplanes. Local residents get to see and hear them buzzing overhead on the Thursday before the official opening. That's when participants are setting up and the planes are arriving from all over the country. The sound of a 1940's propeller plane certainly takes me back in time. For a hefty price, one can take a ride in one of these beauties.

Also, several American WW II vets who have written books attend and sit in a shaded hangar to talk with guests. Additionally there are groups such as the John W. Brown Liberty ship folks ( this was a Merchant Marine ship - those sailors get little credit for facing danger taking supplies to our forces all over the world) and AmericanWWII Orphans Network, an organization devoted to preserving the memory of fallen parents never known by the infants they left behind.

The parking takes a while. Imagine a trip to Disney World with lots stretching forever and shuttle buses transporting guests to the actual event. Now replace the macadam lots with grassy fields and you have a picture of what parking is. Plan on 30 minutes to get from your car into the weekend. After that, all is rather smooth. Everything is well-organized and signs are everywhere.

Caveat: plan to deal with the weather. Air conditioning is NOT part of the WW II atmosphere.

If you plan to go, bring lots of memory for your camera!