kscheel
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Attention!
The date for Thunder Over Michigan 2015 is August 29-30. As with the past two years, setup is available as early as Thursday the 27th at 2:00pm. Participant check-in will be available 2pm-8pm Thursday, 8am-4:30pm Friday & Saturday, and 8am-1pm on Sunday. The event is open to the public Saturday and Sunday, August 29-30.
You can also check out the show's facebook page at: facebook.com/groups/ThunderOverMichiganBattles
Registration is required to participate. Registration information will be made available as we get closer to the show date.
For those of you unfamiliar with the show, Thunder Over Michigan is an annual airshow put on by the Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It incorporates a spectacular array of WWII-Present aircraft and also a series of large battle reenactments. The reenacting portion, in addition to the battles, includes an encampment for period displays, military vehicles, etc.
The event is free of charge for reenactors and military vehicle owners/crew. There is camping on site in the encampment area during the event. Campfires will be allowed. Any tents used should military style. If not, they will have to be stowed and out of sight during show hours. Participants with travel trailers or RV's will not be allowed into our encampment/display area, but arrangements can be made with the Wayne County Fairgrounds located 1/4 mile from the airport. Lunch from the WWII field kitchen will be provided for registered participants on Saturday and Sunday. Remember to bring your own mess kit, silverware, and canteen cup!
For those of you interested in participating with the Friday evening convoy and parade take note of the following times: 5:00pm convoy form-up, 5:30pm convoy departs Willow Run, 6:30 parade begins in Belleville, 7:45pm depart Belleville.
The encampment display area is open to all eras of 20th century military vehicles and reenactors. The vehicle theme is US Halftracks. Look out for one of every model used during the war. The goal is to get about 12-15. They should fill out the encampment nicely and help draw spectators into the area.
The aircraft theme is WWII heavy bombers. Can you say B-29, B-24, B-17s, B-25s! Look out for a return of the Luftwaffe to the show. Yes, for the first time since 2006 the Axis will very likely dominate the skies during the battles!! More details to come on that.
Both morning and afternoon battles each day will be WWII, ETO. We again plan to hold a weapons demo in the encampment area. It was a big hit with spectators last year, especially since it was the first time we had ever tried it. We will again need some volunteers that want to show off their weapons and pop off a few rounds. A new addition will be a bayonet training demo! We will have a series of replica training stations where you can hone your skills and put on a little show for the public. That is sure to be a good time for all.
The next new addition will be a Vietnam skirmish in and around the encampment area. It will involve a vehicle convoy that is ultimately ambushed by the Viet Cong. We are looking for both Americans and Viet Cong reenactors to participate in this. Further details to come on that.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to post here or to PM me.
The date for Thunder Over Michigan 2015 is August 29-30. As with the past two years, setup is available as early as Thursday the 27th at 2:00pm. Participant check-in will be available 2pm-8pm Thursday, 8am-4:30pm Friday & Saturday, and 8am-1pm on Sunday. The event is open to the public Saturday and Sunday, August 29-30.
You can also check out the show's facebook page at: facebook.com/groups/ThunderOverMichiganBattles
Registration is required to participate. Registration information will be made available as we get closer to the show date.
For those of you unfamiliar with the show, Thunder Over Michigan is an annual airshow put on by the Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It incorporates a spectacular array of WWII-Present aircraft and also a series of large battle reenactments. The reenacting portion, in addition to the battles, includes an encampment for period displays, military vehicles, etc.
The event is free of charge for reenactors and military vehicle owners/crew. There is camping on site in the encampment area during the event. Campfires will be allowed. Any tents used should military style. If not, they will have to be stowed and out of sight during show hours. Participants with travel trailers or RV's will not be allowed into our encampment/display area, but arrangements can be made with the Wayne County Fairgrounds located 1/4 mile from the airport. Lunch from the WWII field kitchen will be provided for registered participants on Saturday and Sunday. Remember to bring your own mess kit, silverware, and canteen cup!
For those of you interested in participating with the Friday evening convoy and parade take note of the following times: 5:00pm convoy form-up, 5:30pm convoy departs Willow Run, 6:30 parade begins in Belleville, 7:45pm depart Belleville.
The encampment display area is open to all eras of 20th century military vehicles and reenactors. The vehicle theme is US Halftracks. Look out for one of every model used during the war. The goal is to get about 12-15. They should fill out the encampment nicely and help draw spectators into the area.
The aircraft theme is WWII heavy bombers. Can you say B-29, B-24, B-17s, B-25s! Look out for a return of the Luftwaffe to the show. Yes, for the first time since 2006 the Axis will very likely dominate the skies during the battles!! More details to come on that.
Both morning and afternoon battles each day will be WWII, ETO. We again plan to hold a weapons demo in the encampment area. It was a big hit with spectators last year, especially since it was the first time we had ever tried it. We will again need some volunteers that want to show off their weapons and pop off a few rounds. A new addition will be a bayonet training demo! We will have a series of replica training stations where you can hone your skills and put on a little show for the public. That is sure to be a good time for all.
The next new addition will be a Vietnam skirmish in and around the encampment area. It will involve a vehicle convoy that is ultimately ambushed by the Viet Cong. We are looking for both Americans and Viet Cong reenactors to participate in this. Further details to come on that.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to post here or to PM me.
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