Little-Known Fact about Me: Mad for Halftracks
A couple of weeks ago, I attended a re-enactment event, World War II Days, at Midway Village near Rockford, Illinois. I joined my colleague Roger, who greatly enjoys History Channel documentaries, and his family.
Midway Village is a group of 19th century buildings moved together to make a little village among woods and prairie. General store, blacksmith shop, gazebo, town hall, and so forth. One weekend a year, the 1940s invade.
American and German soldiers mingle in the streets with 21st century spectators. Look carefully and you can also find British, Polish, and Italian units. Vehicles, cannons, and tents are on display, and if you're wondering about what your're seeing, you can usually get an answer by asking someone in a uniform. Gunfire rings out here and there as skirmish scenarios are enacted at various locations. Two big battles are staged each afternoon.
I have long been interested in armored vehicles and military aircraft. I have seen World War II vehicles in many museums, but this was a chance to observe them on the hoof, so to speak. (Oh-- there were a few mounted troops, too, both German and U.S.) I had a wonderful time, and even picked up a valuable book from the hucksters' room a vendor's tent, useful in my Heinlein studies.
Thanks to a friend of a friend, at the end of the day I even got to take a ride in one of the vehicles. Forgive my vagueness; as the waiter told the customer finding a fly in his soup, "Don't make a fuss, sir, or everyone in the restaurant will want one!"
As you might imagine, I shot hundreds of photos. Here are a few of my favorites.
Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251 halftrack, as used by German Army in World War II. This is actually a model manufactured in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War and used by Warsaw Pact armies. The reenactors have modified it to the configuration of an earlier Wehrmacht model. This was my favorite as a teenager, so I was enormously happy to see it running around the prairie.
GIs, Jeep, and M3 halftrack advance on the battlefield.
German Kettenkrad halftracked motorcycle.
I inspect the chassis of a German Kettenkrad halftracked motorcycle. Reenactment at Midway Village near Rockford, Illinois, 28 September 2008.
Horch command car replica, built on a Lincoln Navigator chassis.
Spectators watch Dodge three-quarter-ton truck with recoilless rifle 37mm antitank gun.
Rummage around my Flickr account to see more.
Midway Village is a group of 19th century buildings moved together to make a little village among woods and prairie. General store, blacksmith shop, gazebo, town hall, and so forth. One weekend a year, the 1940s invade.
American and German soldiers mingle in the streets with 21st century spectators. Look carefully and you can also find British, Polish, and Italian units. Vehicles, cannons, and tents are on display, and if you're wondering about what your're seeing, you can usually get an answer by asking someone in a uniform. Gunfire rings out here and there as skirmish scenarios are enacted at various locations. Two big battles are staged each afternoon.
I have long been interested in armored vehicles and military aircraft. I have seen World War II vehicles in many museums, but this was a chance to observe them on the hoof, so to speak. (Oh-- there were a few mounted troops, too, both German and U.S.) I had a wonderful time, and even picked up a valuable book from the hucksters' room a vendor's tent, useful in my Heinlein studies.
Thanks to a friend of a friend, at the end of the day I even got to take a ride in one of the vehicles. Forgive my vagueness; as the waiter told the customer finding a fly in his soup, "Don't make a fuss, sir, or everyone in the restaurant will want one!"
As you might imagine, I shot hundreds of photos. Here are a few of my favorites.
Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251 halftrack, as used by German Army in World War II. This is actually a model manufactured in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War and used by Warsaw Pact armies. The reenactors have modified it to the configuration of an earlier Wehrmacht model. This was my favorite as a teenager, so I was enormously happy to see it running around the prairie.
GIs, Jeep, and M3 halftrack advance on the battlefield.
German Kettenkrad halftracked motorcycle.
I inspect the chassis of a German Kettenkrad halftracked motorcycle. Reenactment at Midway Village near Rockford, Illinois, 28 September 2008.
Horch command car replica, built on a Lincoln Navigator chassis.
Spectators watch Dodge three-quarter-ton truck with recoilless rifle 37mm antitank gun.
Rummage around my Flickr account to see more.