Wow Richie, you had much nicer weather there today than we had yesterday!
Yeah Gunslinger, brought my Canon DSLR with me but left it in the car for the morning battle due to the steady rain. Used my camcorder, which I could keep in my rain slicker pocket, then got my DLSR when the weather cleared up later.
Was going to start my own thread but might as well post my photos here! Drove almost two hours in a steady rain from Connecticut with my son (who will be five years old tomorrow). He was a real trooper and made it through both battles with great enthusiasm. That's why most of my video carries the sounds of battle and the incessant plaintive cries "Daddy, are the bad guys winning?" I was quite impressed by the whole thing. Clearly however, there is significant local opposition to this event because nearly every home in the neighborhood sported a "NO TANK MUSEUM!" sign on the front lawn. I hope the local zoning board doesn't decide this event is too noisy...
Here are shots of the Hetzer in a very buccolic setting:
The business end of one of the two 88mm artillery pieces present:
A Feisler Storch takes off at almost walking speed to scout for signs of approaching allied troops. Amazingly short take off run for this very rare bird:
Awaiting what's to come:
As the battle begins, an approaching American half-track is rapidly dealt with by one of the 88's. You could feel the woomph of that gun firing in your chest a fair distance away.
An American Stuart tank suddenly emerges from the woods opposite the German position...
...and meets a similar fate:
The action heats up as more American troops and armor push forward. The sound was exhilaratingly loud. Here are screen captures from some of my video:
German armor responds in this video screen cap:
The Americans continue to push forward in the face of heavy defensive fire:
Video screen cap:
Closing with the enemy:
Which responds in kind:
Unfortunately, the "Bad Guys" took that battle and successfully defended the airfield.
There's almost nothing about these photos that betrays the fact that they were not taken in October 1944 but rather in October 2014:
2014 or 1944?
Will be editing my video when I get the time.