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Lest We Forget...



Saint Joseph and Benton Harbor

WWII Reenactment Weekend

June 17, 20-22, 2008

Event Details

Special Occasion: The veterans' organization Lest We Forget is hosting this educational event for the whole family to learn about WWII history, veterans, and the equipment utilized. This event includes static displays, entertainment, and battle reenactments.

Locations:
June 17: Silent Auction at Lake Michigan College to help raise funds for event

June 20: Shadowland Pavilion, Berrien County Silver Beach, Saint Joseph

June 21:
Morning: Tiscornia Park Beach at Saint Joseph
Afternoon and Evening: Benton Harbor's SW Michigan Regional Airport

June 22: Benton Harbor's SW Michigan Regional Airport
Admission:

FREE to public
Fees to enter or ride on some aircraft
Donation for parking and shuttle rides
Pay for meals at EAA 585 hangar at airport
Fee for souvenir programs

Tuesday June 17th
Silent auction at Lake Michigan College will include items donated by local businesses.

Location: Blue Hall Room 105

Time: Doors open at 5:30 pm.
Items include:


Friday June 20th.
Location: Benton Harbor SW Michigan Regional Airport
Rides to begin about noon (both helicopter and aircraft - see below)
Encampment with historians open at noon
Food Vendor: Lunch
EAA 585
Location: AVSAT hangar at airport
Time: 12 noon
Location: Shadowland Pavilion, Berrien County Silver Beach, Saint Joseph
Outdoor Entertainment

Pre-Show Military Vehicle Display
Time: 5 - 7 p.m.
Pavilion Show
Time 7 - 9:15 p.m.

Ernie Pyle Reenactor Show Learn about Ernie Pyle

Bob Heft – creator of the 50-star American flag.

Tribute: Army Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp Jr., a graduate of St. Joseph High School and West Point graduate currently serving as the Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Saturday June 21th
Food Vendor - Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
EAA Chapter 585
Location: AVSAT Hangar at airport
Times:
Breakfast - all you can eat pancakes for $5.00 at 6 a.m.
Lunch - 11:30 a.m.
Dinner - 5 p.m.

Aircraft on display with reenactor encampments and rides (details below)
Time: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: airport terminal

Pacific Beach Landing
Start Time with Bomber flyover: 10 a.m.
Location: Tiscornia Beach, Tiscornia Park, Saint Joseph
Intermission
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: North Pier

Entertainment: 40's Band Music by Saint Joseph Municipal Band

D-Day Beach Landing
Start Time with Bomber flyover: Noon
Meet with reenactors at North Pier/photos: 1 p.m.

Tentative Parachute drop at airport with battle: 3 p.m.

Military Parade
Through Saint Joseph and Benton Harbor
Start Time: 3 p.m.
Travel Route: TBD

Evening Activities
Location: Fiskars Hangar at BH/SWMI Airport
Time: 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
USO Show and Dance
Andrews Sisters singing trio
Bob Hope film clips (1940's shows for the troops)

Sunday June 22th
Food Vendor - Brunch
EAA Chapter 585
Location: AVSAT Hangar at airport
Times: 6 a.m.- 12 noon
Brunch - all you can eat pancakes for $5.00
Non-Denominational Church Service
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Airport

Aircraft on display with reenactor encampments and rides (details below)
Time: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: airport terminal

Ground reenactment battles

First Battle: 11 a.m.

Second Battle: Noon

Meet with reenactors/photos 1 p.m.

Aircraft and Helicopter Rides:


B-17 Flying Fortress
Main four engine bomber in the European Theatre during WWII.
Aircraft arrives at Benton Harbor airport at noon on Friday June 20th
Walk through tour:
Adults: $5.00
Kids: $2.00
Rides:
Cost: $425.00 per person
Total people required for 1 flight: 10
Flight time = 30 minutes
Ride availability is dependent on weather and enough riders signed up
On this aircraft, occupants may walk around after it is airborne and staff gives signal.
Sunroof will be removed by radio operator position. Must remove glasses and hats to view tail of aircraft, or these items will be swept away in airstream.
Rides begin noon on Friday June 20th and continue through Sunday June 22nd
Items for sale: B-17 polo and t shirts, books, post cards, key chains, hats, posters, pewter pin, models, toys, spotter cards, thermos, mugs, mouse pads, and decals.
History and photos
comes from The Yankee Air Museum

C-47 Skytrain (called Dakota by the English)
Transport aircraft of WWII utilized to deliver paratroopers and gliders on D-Day in Normandy, France
Aircraft arrives at Benton Harbor airport at noon on Friday June 20th
Walk through tour:
Adults: $3.00
Kids: $1.00
Rides not available
Items for sale: C-47 polo and t shirts, books, post cards, key chains, hats, posters, pewter pin, models, toys, spotter cards, thermos, mugs, mouse pads, and decals.
History and photos
comes from The Yankee Air Museum

B-25 Mitchell
Medium WWII bomber best known to have delivered bombs to Tokyo as Doolittle's Raiders
Aircraft arrives at Benton Harbor airport at noon on Friday June 20th
Walk through tour:
Adults: $3.00
Kids: $2.00
Rides:
Cost: $400.00 per person
Total people of required for 1 flight: 7
Flight time = 30 minutes
Ride availability is dependent on weather and enough riders signed up
Rides begin noon on Friday June 20th and continue through Sunday June 22nd
Items for sale: B-25 polo and t shirts, books, post cards, key chains, hats, posters, pewter pin, models, toys, spotter cards, thermos, mugs, mouse pads, and decals.
History and photos
comes from The Yankee Air Museum

UH-1H Huey
Medical Evac Helicopter used during the Vietnam War
American Huey 369 (stats and history of this particular helicopter)
Purchase rides: (cost unknown)
Friday noon - 5 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

"Come out and learn WWII History!"

WOW Slow, that's great! It looks as if you're the lucky one being right there!!! I'm going to make this an Announcement until the event is over if that's ok with you.

World War II reenactors will storm Tiscornia Beach and the airport

Jim Gifford and Annette Weston Reporting

The first day of summer in Southwest Michigan will see some unusual beach activity this year as Tiscornia Beach comes under attack in a World War 2 re-enactment being put together by Lest We Forget of Southwest Michigan.

Organizers laid out the 3 day event Thursday at the air port. Director Lee Scherwitz says the reenactments will show the more than 220 people involved what World War II was like.


They will be recreating a troop landing in the Pacific, and capturing the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport, and there will be a replay of Normandy, storming Tiscornia Beach.


There will also be commanders, briefings, USO style shows, weapons demonstrations at the airport - plus a military vehicle parade through Benton Harbor and St. Joseph.

More details are available on the Lest We Forget website at www.in-am.org/ww2.

WSJM Radio reporting WWII Re-enactment

a few pix (had to work the morning of 'the invasions') but went to the Andrews Sister concert at the 'hanger'...

slow


also dont know how long link will work but story in local newspaper..The Herald Palladium

South Bend Tribune

article

also on right click on lest we forget in online extras

more pix (bit handicapped aint I?

hmmm

Thanks for the pics Slow!! VERY nice!

Great shots Slow and I'll bet one heck of a weekend huh!!

Fraid to say though, there;s no way that's a recent pic of your good self.......

RAF.JPG

Super shots btw of the bare skin B25... to coin an english phrase... polished to F**K

Oi! I could make THREE of them RAFs!

I went up to the boy and said I want your picture flyboy - his arrogance kind of set me back - it come through in the pix tho (I think) LOL....

Yeah those brits are a cocky lot...but noone can outdrink a Canuck! anyone who disagrees I say BAH!

Chuck, he WAS a Canuck (eh?)
LOL

check out his shoulder patch

- HF_SlowHand

Chuck, he WAS a Canuck (eh?)
LOL

Never said a word... Honest Guv