Collings Foundation, Airfield Assualt, Stow, MA.

Was unaware this event even took place! Larger than I thought as well. I few phone snaps. They had 2xShermans, 2xHalf tracks, one with 4x.50 cals. 3 STugs, 2 different german half tracks (my german armor iding isn't so good when it isn't on tracks.). Anyway..anyone in the area should take a look, they do another event tomorrow.







The allies attempt to take control of a small german airstrip..it is surprising well choreographed...and loud

all the vehicles are running. They have a german Storch observation plane flying as well.

EDIT** here is the link, just click on the airfield assault tile. http://www.collingsfoundation.org/menu.htm

Wow, that's very cool. Would be a great event to attend.

Hey, I was there too!
'twas raining and cold in the morning for the first battle, but much nicer weather for the 3PM engagement. Am getting my photos ready now. I was impressed by this event! 320 re-enactors and much more armor than I expected. VERY cool event. The cacophony of small arms fire punctuated by the big booms of the tanks and the 88's seemed very realistic.

Doc, very cool. I didn't get a chance to stay for the 3pm event. I had a 5yr and 8yr old with me and the rain and chill did my youngest and wife in..

It was a great event, it was awesome when that MG42 started to open up. Very well choreographed as well. My only concern was that some poor reenactor playing a wounded would get smooshed by some of the armor..but they had designated folks to police them up.

My wife is a great photographer, but she left her equipment in the car due to weather. Her camera is not weatherproofed. We ended up standing on the small hill between the allied camp and the hangar to watch.

Good to know others got out there to see it!

Hey guys. I am not a photographer (as my phone pictures show), but figured I would add a few to this thread.

It was very cool to see some of the Jacques Littlefield piece here already!


Jagdpanzer 38(t) (Sd.Kfz. 138/2) "Hetzer"














German SdKfz 222 reconnaissance vehicle


StuG III


StuG III

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.

Nice pictures Doc! Way better than my phone pics LOL! I only live 45 minutes away, so I knew it was going to rain
Saturday and stayed home.



This is my 5th year in a row and the locals are troubled over traffic to the place. Rumor is that the Foundation
is going to build a road into the place and bypass the homes.

One thing I don't understand is the front side skirts on the Stug III. They were a different color and had a flange sticking out. They were different at the Littlefield place.

Wow..great shots!! It really was a great event!

Its great that there are so many private citizens restoring and maintaining these vehicles around the country. Since we don't in the US have a any sort of real legit living history vehicle museums these private folks and organizations are great. And of course, the Little Field collection is now auctioned off after his passing.

So in short... vary cool.

A few more shots from the reenactment:







Herman Goering inexplicably makes an unexpected visit to a frontline grass strip airfield. Perhaps he heard they had foie gras?