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Saint Joseph and Benton Harbor
WWII Reenactment Weekend
June 17, 20-22, 2008
Learn about D-Day - click here
Learn about Peleliu - click here
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.
LWF Presentation of this event - click here
Honor Our Veterans - Click Here
Please do not contact the museum about this event - use the contacts below...
Contact Us: (Lest We Forget, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization needs volunteering and financial assistance for this event)
General Questions: Don Alsbro - dealsbro@sbcglobal.net 269-925-7176
Media/Marketing: Melinda Michael - 269-876-2923
Volunteering: Hank Richmond - hankpattyrichmond@sbcglobal.net 269-982-0151
Amphibious Operations: Bill Dillingham - Dillinghamw8@aol.com 269-925-7176
Financial Assistance: Jim Brinkmann - 269-983-7700
Airport Operations: Lee Scherwitz - 269-927-3194
Military Vehicle Operations: Dale Jeffers - 269-429-3733
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
Schedule: (printable schedule - click here)
Tuesday June 17th
- Silent auction at Lake Michigan College will include items donated by local
businesses.
- Location: Lake Michigan College Benton Harbor Campus – Blue Lecture Hall
- Time: Auction to Begin at 5:30 and will end at 8:15 p.m.
- LECTURE COST: FREE. The principal speaker will be CPT Charles “Sully” O’Sullivan of South Bend. Captain Sullivan was shot down in his P-38 Lightning while flying over an area in New Guinea controlled by the Japanese. He survived 30 days in the jungle after his plane crashed on Sept 20, 1943.
- Some of the items up for auction are:
- Ride on B-17 from Ypsilanti to Benton Harbor on June 20th
- Ride on B-25 from Ypsilanti to Benton Harbor on June 20th
- Ride on C-47 from Ypsilanti to Benton Harbor on June 20th
- 4 - Rides on Vietnam Medevac
- Ride on Warbird from Al Todd
- Aerial Photograph by Don Ames
- 3 - Autographed American Flags by Designer Bob Heft
- Autographed Sprit Flag by Dale Hemphill
- Autographed book “Forgotten 500” autographed by Clare Musgrove
- 4 - Rides on DUKW
- 4 - Rides on Lake Michigan on a Gator used in “Flags of our Father” movie
- Ride in WWII vehicle in Military Parade thru BH/SJ
- KitchenAid Pink Blender Donated by Whirlpool
- Whirlpool Microwave Donated by Whirlpool
- Gift Basket from Lemon Creek Winery
- 3 Hour Sunset Cruise on Lake Michigan donated by Sea Hawk Charters
- Tandem Sky Dive with the Hastings Skydivers, Hastings Michigan
- 2 – Prints by Thomas Kinkaid (11 x 14)
- 8 - Water Color prints by Monica Allen Perin – Women in the Military
- 30 Minute Sightseeing Flight, plus 30 minutes of ground time with FAA Certified Instructor Al Todd – up to three riders
- Lots more items will be there - this is just a sample - for more information contact: Melinda Michael – Media/Marketing for “Lest We Forget” (269) 876-2923.
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
- Pavilion Show
- Time 7 - 9:15 p.m.
- Ernie Pyle Reenactor Show Learn about Ernie Pyle - click here
- 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.
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