Reading, PA 1973-4

billtate · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:53 am

From the 1950s through the early 1970s the Reading Airshow was considered one of the best shows in the US or the world. Of course in the early days it was more of a trade show than an airshow. As a kid I loved modeling aircraft and my mother made sure that my subscription to “American Modeler” and “Air Progress” were up to date. I always looked forward to the issue which covered the Reading Airshow.
After join the Navy I was finally stationed at NAS Willow Grove, PA in 1973 and thus I was close enough to attend the Reading Show. This is a continuation of my attempt to digitize my early slide collection. These picture were taken the Summer of 1974.

Wildchild · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:16 pm

Ive seen that Flying Lab before. Neat plane :drinkers:

Matt Sharkey · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 2:27 pm **Posts:** 223

why the paper on the props of Fat Albert?

raconnel · **Posted:** Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:13 am

Plaid pants - the Horror! :shock:

Great shots, thanks!

Richard

Glenn Wegman · **Posted:** Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:46 am

Nice pics!

I'll show Jack Shaver the pics of his Mustang when I see him for lunch.

Unfortunately, Dick Foote is no longer with us to see the pics of his.

JDK · **Posted:** Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:55 am

Wow, that Tiger Moth's in pretty accurate colo(u)rs for the period, certainly! Thanks for sharing, more please.

PreservedAC · **Joined:** Sun Dec 26, 2010 12:09 pm **Posts:** 63

[quote]

[quote]

Looks like the Tiger Moth is now at the Air Force museum at Dayton.

DH-82A TIGER MOTH ,N39DH (RAF) by PreservedAC, on Flickr

Johan

K5DH · **Posted:** Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:22 am

I was at Reading in '73! I helped secure the Goodyear blimp when it arrived (along with dozens of other bystanders who were told to "Grab a rope and start pulling!"). Great times!

JDK · **Posted:** Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:43 am

Thanks, Johan, it sure does. Shouldn't still be carrying its US civil registration rather than its RAF serial number. Tsk. :wink:

dors · **Posted:** Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:21 am

Thanks for the pics... these are awesome. I wasn't around then and pictures of those events seem to be rare. To me the Reading Show has always felt kind of mythical. It is great to see actual evidence of it's existence!!!

LARGEFLYER · **Joined:** Thu Aug 10, 2006 12:31 pm **Posts:** 181

WOW does this take me back to the good ole days!! Good to see John Van Andel's Corsair. It used to be based at Coatesville Airport back in the day. Also nice to see Miss Kat Brat now Miss Behavin down south.

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Tue Apr 24, 2012 2:12 pm

Great stuff as always Bill! Keep the oldies coming. :supz:

billtate · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 11:51 am

Thanks for the kind words all. Matt I believe that the paper/tape on Fat Albert were masking for the painting of the prop tips yellow which has to be done quit offend. Unusual then, but not done at airshows now unless in a maintenance area (EPA).
Cheers Bill

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:02 pm

FYI, The P-51 "Tokefugo" was lost in a crash in the late 1975 in Martha's Vineyard, Mass. It was the very first P-51 I saw fly at the Meriden, CT Airshow in 1975. When I saw it do it's fly-bys, I thought I was gonna piss in my pants because I was so excited!!!
The wreck is still in storage. Had been owned by Dick Foote and then Chuck Krueger before going to John Crumlish who was killed in the crash.
Jerry

John Kerr · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:54 pm

TOKEFUGO stands for: Too Keep From Getting Old. Just in case you didn't know.

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Reading, PA 1973-4

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