BERN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Bern Township, Berks County, is abuzz, preparing for an historic event flying into town. World War II Weekend is coming up, where folks can not only learn history — they can also fly in it.
“One thing we found is people from this generation, the people that were in the war and that support them, they didn’t want to talk about it to their families,” Jim Hevelone, a flight loadmaster with the Commemorative Air Force, a nonprofit based in Arizona, said.
As the history of World War II flies farther away, volunteers running World War II Weekend say the importance of keeping the brave soldiers’ battle alive, grows.
“We don’t get that many WWII veterans anymore that are alive still,” Mike Garrett, Tour Director with the Commemorative Air Force, said. “So our role is to educate people around the greatest generation of WWII and what they did and the sacrifices that many of them made.”
Starting Thursday at Reading Regional Airport, folks can get off the ground in some World War II rarities, like the North American B-25 Mitchell and the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
“So they haven’t had a B-17 here in three years,” Garrett said. “And they said, you gotta come because you’ll sell out everything. And they’re right. We have 17 flights on the B17.”
Organizers are expecting some 80 aircraft this year.
“One of the biggest collection of warbirds in the country every year,” Garrett said.
Folks can also find military vehicles, food and entertainment, like World War II-era reenactors.
“Dressed up like Germans and Brits and Americans,” Garrett said.
Doug Spencer was high up on a ladder, making sure all the screws were tightened on one of the group’s planes when he spoke with 69 News.
“I’m looking forward to passengers flying in this beautiful airplane right here,” he said.
“Sounds kind of cliche-ish,” Hevelone said. “But we enjoy people coming, looking at our airplanes. We ask them to remember the history.”
For tickets, times and more information, you can click here.