AAFCG at Collings Foundation’s Battle for the Airfield

AAFCG member and events coordinator Don Reed (as AAF Colonel) is seen here 

with eighty second airborne re-enacators at the annual Battle for the Airfield in Stow, MA. 

The October 11-12 event featured scores of US, UK, Soviet and German re-enactors. 

On hand were many WWII vehicles including tanks, halftracks, jeeps, troop transports 

both allied and axis. 

One of the interesting displays on the field was this full size V-1 rocket reproduction.

It was a fine day with lots of smoke and noise.

2014-2015 PROJECTS

In England during WWII the Eighth Air Force utilized trailers like the one depicted above to communicate with arriving combat aircraft. These trailers were pulled to the end of the active runway and provided real time information on landing aircraft. The trailers known as Runway Caravans or Mobile Control Towers were equipped with ARC-5 radio stations and capable of communicating with the main tower as well as landing aircraft. The trailers were also equipped with signal lights, basic weather equipment, and flare guns. These trailers were primarily modified utility trailers available in England at the time and varied in design from base to base. Some used B-17 or B-26 plexiglas noses for observation domes while other had a constructed observation tower.

After extensive research of archival photos and limited documentation AAFCG has undertaken the task of recreating a Runway Caravan. As progress continues, photos will be posted. We are hoping to bring it to events in 2016.

If anyone reading this blog has any technical or anecdotal information concerning these trailers please leave a message below.  

World War II Weekend Part 2

Liberation of Reading

Among the many exciting events that occur each year during the 3 day show is the Friday morning "Liberation of Reading" convoy and re-enactment. AAFCG proudly joined the column and we road approximately eight miles into downtown Reading. Along the route were hundred of citizens of all ages waving, cheering, honking and enthusiastically welcoming us to Reading. We had three WWII motorcycle MPs moving ahead of the column stopping traffic in each intersection, all the while with the Mid Atlantic Air Museum's B-25 "Briefing Time" flying top cover. The column of over 50 vehicles was comprised of jeeps, troop carriers, light armored vehicles, motorcycles  and assorted other WWII military vehicles both allied and axis. 

As the column arrive in the heart of the city a battle broke out between US and German troops with small arms and heavy weapons fire. Once again the good guys came out on top. At one point as we were stopped near the city center a woman approached our jeep and pointed to an elderly lady in a wheel chair. She told us that the broadly smiling woman was her mother and that she (the mother) wanted to come and see the re-enactors because it was her 90th birthday and she was a concentration camp survivor. The daughter told us that she never forgot the day she was liberated by the allies so long ago.  It is moments like this that takes the whole re-encating experience to another level. All in all It was a beautiful day, lots of fun and a great experience. 

Army Air Force Composite Group's first WWII Weekend Part One

Mid Atlantic Air Museum's
WWII Weekend 2014 

 AAFCG Members with American Air Power Museum's

Pilot and Co-Pilot

L-R John Purdy C-47 Co-Pilot, Tim Shantleler, Don Reed, Jim Vocell C-47 Pilot, John Rupple and Steve Miller

The 2014 addition of World War II Weekend featured the best weather we had in 12 years. We had a chance to catch up with old friends and make some new ones.

Here is Major Miller with an old friend from the 101st Airborne re-enactor group. We take our hats off to these fine group of guys who helped us stow our equipment and  provided lots of laughs. Special thanks to Big Mark, Small Mark, Mark I and Mark II.

Don had the privilege of participating in a photo shoot featuring members of a Chinese National re-enactor group. During the war thousands of Chinese soldiers were trained by the USA and then transported from bases in northern India to Kunming in China to fight the Japanese. Special thanks goes to Al Mello with the Warriors and Warbirds group who allowed us to take these shots inside their beautiful C-46 Commando.
www.warriorsandwarbirds.com
Also thanks to Major Peter C. Chen (third from left in photo) for helping to organize the photo shoot. 

Here's the AAFCG relaxing after a great WWII experience.

We will be adding lots of other shots of the show as soon as possible.

New York Visit

    

In April the boys of the AAFCG traveled to the American Airpower Museum  on Long Island and the next day visited the Intrepid Air Museum and the Empire State Building. The following day on the way home the gang stopped into the Military Museum of Southern New Engand before heading home.


Day 1:

The American Air Power Museum is located at Republic Field in Farmingdale Long Island and occupies one of the old Republic Aircraft hangars next to the runway. Jim Vocell, who was one of the Atlantic Warbirds pilots/owners in the 90's treated the guys to an exclusive tour of the Museum. For more information about this fine air museum vist: http://americanairpowermuseum.com/

Pictured at dinner after visiting the American Air Power Museum

 are, clockwise from bottom left:

Tim Shanteler, John Rupple, Steve Miller, Dan Demeo, Jim Vocell and Don Reed.

Dan is is a fine pilot with lots of hours in the F4U Corsair as well as many other famous warbirds. 

Jim...well let's just say he flies just about anything that has any kind of wings. In the words of

Gordon Cooper from the Right Stuff...."Who's the best pilot you've ever seen???...You're looking at him".

Day 2:

After driving from Farmingdale to Hell's Kitchen in New York City everyone was getting hungry for breakfast and we were lucky to find POM POM'S DINER. Wow, great coffee and super food.

Breakfast at Pom Pom's Diner
L-R
Tim Shanteler, Steve Miller, Don Reed and John Rupple
"Miller's Marauders"

The Intrepid Air Museum was very interesting and inspiring. Launched in 1943, the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid fought in World War II, surviving five kamikaze attacks and one torpedo strike. The ship later served in the Cold War and Vietnam. Intrepid also served as a NASA recovery vessel in the 1960s. Intrepid was decommissioned in 1974. Today,Intrepid is berthed on the Hudson River as the centerpiece of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. For more info: http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/

As a side trip the group visit the Empire State Building where we went all the way to the 101st floor. What a view!

Day 3:

Last but not least we stopped into the Military Museum of Southern New England to see lots of tanks and other military displays. For more info http://www.usmilitarymuseum.org/

Lots of fun was had by all!

2014 Journey back to WWII

The AAFCG is currently preparing to head to the Mid Atalntic Air Museum's WWII Weekend 2014 in Reading, PA. As we get closer look for updates on our activites.

Please click on the link below to visit the WWII Weekend website for more info about the show.
http://maam.org/maamwwii.html

Introducing Army Air Force Composite Group

Welcome to the Army Air Force Composite Group's blog site.

Please come back soon for new photos and information regarding events and appearances.

All the members of our group are seasoned air show veterans having participated since the early
90’s in civilian and military shows all along the east coast. In the 90’s we were all part of
Atlantic Warbirds which owned and operated three historic WWII transports, the Douglas C-54
Skymaster, Douglas C-47 Skytrain and C-45 Expeditor. Two of our members are military veterans
(one USN, one USAF).

Today our group, Army Air Force Composite Group, is comprised of 5 primary members. Three of
the members own WWII military vehicles.

Our motor pool consist of:

1-1942 Willys MB Combat Jeep with 2 50 Cal (non-functional reproductions)
1-1945 Willys MB Service Squadron
3- WWII era bicycles
1-1944 Dodge Weapons Carrier w/ 1 50 Cal (non-functional reproductions)

As a living history group we are happy to educate spectators about the WWII experience and
the equipment, uniforms and weapons of that era.

We have been active participants at the Mid Atlantic Air Museum’s WWII Weekend since 2008.