WWII Reenacting Discussion Thread

[Dixon Cannon]

Erk.

...as for adults overreaching their impressions, my group of friends is odd in that they're mostly in their 40s and 50s, and they're all captains...!

I know exactly what you mean! When I hit the big 5-0, I went the whole enchelada and promoted myself to Brigadier General! That's SAVAGE!...General SAVAGE!

-dixon cannon

 

[Dixon Cannon]

Hey everybody,

I never quite got the whole re-enacting thing. I and a good friend were at an airshow over the summer and there were a aircrews decked out in full gear preflighting a B-17 and I gotta tell ya it looked like a photo from England during the War. It really enhanced the experience so maybe I've changed my mind about it; a little anyway.

Allen

That's what I like to do airfrog. Put on my regalia and go to airshows to hang out and add a little 'color'! I do think people appreciate it because it does lend a touch of authenticity - seeing a heavy bomber surrounded by fat legs in cargo shorts, baby strollers and ball caps just ruins the whole experience. I'm always surprised by people who ask for my picture or ask if I was "in the war"! It's a great way to go to the show, and end up being part of it. I guess I'm a 'vintage performance artist'!

-dixon cannon

 

[Warden]

I know what you mean, when we where asked to attend the Glenn Miller Festival, we said is there anything you want us to do?

"No just be eye candy" was the reply

It was a nice easy gig

Harry

 

[Story]

I guess I'm a 'vintage performance artist'!

lol

Try selling folks at the airshow some chocolate-covered Egyptian cotton!

 

[missjo]

I know what you mean, when we where asked to attend the Glenn Miller Festival, we said is there anything you want us to do?

"No just be eye candy" was the reply

It was a nice easy gig

Harry

You are lovely eye candy though

 

[missjo]

I am involved. Well, i would call it more imersing than reenacting.
There has been a couple of norwegian based WWII LARP's (live action roleplaying games) over the past years. Those i know was called: 1942 (norwegian fishervillage and the luftwaffes atemt to build a airstrip) 1944 (a boarding house that also were secetly involved in smuggling people to the neutral sweden), and "Vreden" (The anger) (wich portrayed a very worn down red army platoon at the eastern front) and then some POW camp games that were designed for schoolkids to experience a "Living history".

All of the games were carefully designed. Creating belivable characters and realistic confilicts/ intrigues, quite exact costumes and props, communication systems (working switchboards, field phones, postoffice)even vehicles and military equipment.

Wow, im very impressed, its more like what we do as well.
We call it living history but we roleplay all the way.
All our members have paperwork and fictional biography.
I've written long guidelines on behaviour and we study the subject as much as we can.

http://www.nederland4045.nl/richtlijnen/

 

[Miss Sis]

My group does English WW2 civillian. We're a pretty loose collective and do all sorts of scenarios. Our main hub is Myrtle the Teavan who loves to come out and play with us.

See us here: www.blackoutvolunteers.co.uk

I mainly do WVS - Womens Voluntary Service and serve lots of tea!

However, my BF and I are moving away from WW2 alot as there are a number of people whom we don't wish to associate with in the scene, so we are doing lots more 1930s things, which is an era we really love.

 

[fortworthgal]

Yep, I am. I'm a member of an AAF living history group, and a group that does an early war Philippine campaign (Bataan/Corregidor) impression. I do several impressions, mostly American women's services (WAC, WAVES, WASP, ANC, ARC, etc.) My main focus is the WASP program, as they trained and had bases here in Texas, and it interests me the most. I've been very fortunate in that I've been able to meet and befriend several local WASP veterans. They are truly fascinating ladies!

I've also been known to pull out the occasional partisan impression.

Here's a link to our AAF group website:

www.armyaircorps.us

The main discussion area is the proboards site someone posted a couple of pages back. There are also Yahoo groups for just about every aspect of the hobby. I know I'm in an AAF Yahoo group, a Yahoo group specifically for our AAF group, about 3 separate groups just for female WWII reenactors, and I also run a WASP reenactor Yahoo group.

 

[Diamondback]

New guy chiming in.

I've thought about looking for a group in the Seattle area, but it's highly unlikely I'll find anyone who can use a SouthwestPac specialist and MacArthur expert in-the-making (I've spent the past several years tearing his mind apart as part of a Masters' thesis in WWII Studies I'm preparing).

On the other hand, since I've been actively reconstructing my wardrobe and my entire personality after his (albeit with a dash of Patton attitude thrown in for flavor), maybe I already am reenacting in a limited sense. Too bad I'm about six inches short of target vertically...

For an idea, here's me playing some vintage "heavy metal" on the Chicago piano...

 

[Story]

Found this (while looking for something else) and thought it might be of interest to the FL's Japanese-Americans - the 2nd Sentai Division
http://ija2ndsendai.kk5.org/

 

[Story]

New guy chiming in.

I've thought about looking for a group in the Seattle area, but it's highly unlikely I'll find anyone who can use a SouthwestPac specialist and MacArthur expert in-the-making (I've spent the past several years tearing his mind apart as part of a Masters' thesis in WWII Studies I'm preparing).

Welcome to FL. You might want to contact these guys - http://www.nwha.org/
While there's no US/Commonwealth Pacific units listed in the organization, someone there might be able to point you to likeminded individuals nearby.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

...to see all these middleaged, heavy to overweight guys strutting around in paratrooper uniforms...

I once went into an antique store in Mesa, AZ to look at a 'crusher' cap the guy had. After a "discussion" about trying it on, I got a lecture about re-enactors "strutting around". The proprietor regarded his merchandise as priceless heirlooms and his retail store as a museum I guess. I think eBay has now put him out of business.

Last year I saw the same guy at the CAF dance. You guessed it. Strutting around in his uniform and crusher cap.

If you can't beat 'em (or sell to them!), join 'em! [huh]

From one strutter to another - keep 'em flying!

-dixon cannon

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Cool. The ultimate in reenacting. Create whatever scene you like and make it look as real as you can. The possibilities are endless with model making/diorama building.

 

[Paratrooper]

I'm in an Airborne unit here in the Minneapolis area 502nd PIR of the 101st (USA) Fox Coy 1st platoon. Well just started not quite a year so far, but I also do another era The Thirties Year War it was in the 1600's (think The Three Muskters) been doing that for over 8 years and having a blast in fact the wife got me into this and our Wedding was that era, so I'm an reenactor/living historiean and just a general history geek. Or as the wife would say "we are deep in the dork forest, just past the American Civil War guys" lol

 

[birddog]

I live in Germany & have a completely originally restored 1942 Piper L4-B observation airplane. It's been redone in the markings of a 1st Inf. Div., 7th Field Artillary Btn artillary scout plane, including all original interior equipment, radios etc.

While not being involved in any special reenactment group, I have it on display often, including several reenactment events, & historic aircraft displays around Europe. For the event I wear a period flight suit & equipment, but have been checked on occasion by police due to the plastic repro. Colt
.45 I wear. Germans are nervous about guns, so mostly I just wear it for photo shoots around the airplane & avoid walking in crowds.

What's interesting has been the German vets I've met who've seen the "Grasshoppers" during the war. Some great stories there, & obviously a lot of fear on their part, for the Cub was a small but dangerous airplane.

 

[thunderw21]

I reenact U.S. GI. No airborne for me, just plain ol' grunt. Unfortunately I don't have a recent photo of myself, the below picture is several years old from when I was starting out. Everything is original.

Here is a more recent picture. I don't reenact German WW2 but threw some things together, took this picture and aged it. The zeltbahn is original but the helmet cover is a repop that was used in the filming of "Saving Private Ryan".

Billy

 

[The Lonely Navigator]

I am, but because I do a U-Boat captain's impression, the whole reenacting thing takes a strange twist.

This is because: 1- I don't belong to a unit; 2- Not many people do Kriegsmarine (KM) impressions and therefore are 'rare birds' (although I do not see many Allied seamen either); 3- The simple nature of doing a U-Boat crewmember impression has its own 'life' because of the fact of not belonging to a large unit. There is only 1 captain, 1 LI (Chief Engineer), 1 IWO (First Watch Officer), etc. It's how a U-Boat is 'set up' that sets it apart from alot, if not all of the other impressions.

Because of the above, I don't really get involved in reenacting. I like to see myself as more of an 'enthusiast', but I would be considered a 'reenactor' when I put on all of my medals, and the 'dirty bird'. When not in 'reenactor mode' - I'm usually in 'enthusiast' mode, and being involved in my other interests at the same time.

Prien

 

[Story]

Not my ad, don't know anything about the seller or the items - posted merely for the benefit of the group -

WTS: Polish Para / Brit Commando Impression $900+s
By:Greg G. in Livonia, Michigan <mh_road_runnerREMOVETHIS@hotmail.com> (75.119.18.220)
Date: 8/26/09 17:24

WTS: Polish Para / Brit Commando Impression. This is your one time to purchase it all at once. Complete kit for your WWII reeactment (except rifle , blanks & stripper clips). These items belong to my Brother. He is 6'2" and 180 pounds. Gear fits him well with some room to spare. I am selling them for him. All items in my processtion. (1) Wool Uniform (Greek Post War), (2) Polish Para Collar Tabs (repro's), (2) Poland patches (repro's), (10) Brass buttons to convert for pants (repro's), (1) Brown Wool Gloves Brit WWII, (2) Helmet Nets (modern), (1) Bandage pack post war, (1) beret Polish Para with insigna "Light Blue" (repro), (1)beret Brit Commando "Green" (repro), (1) Demin Uniform (post war Brit), (1) Wool sweater (post war Brit), (1) Collar Less T-Shirt (repro), (1) Brown wool hat (modern), (1) Black jump boots size 12 (modern), (1 pair of gaiters) Brit WWII, (1) tent, poles, stakes, ground cloth, bag (Brit post war), (1) Hospital pillow (Brit WWII), (1) Toggle Rope (Brit WWII), (1) Jump smook (repro), (1) Polish jump pin (repro), (1) Camo veil (post war), (1) Web set includes canteen and pick shovel (Brit WWII), (1) Victory pack sack (Brit WWII), (1) Brown metal tea mug (post war). My Brother lost his bayonet at a reeactment. Price, $900 plus shipping. Please email me at: mh_road_runner@hotmail.com for pictures (I have a BUNCH of them). Thanks for looking, Greg

 

[FinalVestige79]

I am with the 2nd Infantry Division of the CHG....we are an infantry unit, an armored reconaissance unit, tank destroyer, heavy weapons company all within one division, depending on the scenario and what it allows. If its an Armor Battle like Camp Roberts we bring the tanks and heavy toys out, we restore tanks on an ongoing basis...there is a Stuart just arrived 2 days ago that we are taking apart right now. Our infantry arm is supported by the armor...and we have an M2A1 Halftrack to cart the mud crunchers around. We are based in Southern CA, and are HQ'd in Santa Barbara.

 

[priestyboy]

Am looking for some AAF group(s) in the Seattle/Olympia, WA area!