ORANGE — Immediately following the distinct sound of hissing fuel, a ball of flame exploded from the cannon of a Sherman tank, leaving scorched earth below and thick, black smoke rolling up into the overcast sky in the fiery aftermath.
Almost at the same time, a wave of intense heat enveloped the crowd of thousands gathered next to a runway at Orange Municipal Airport Saturday to recognize and remember “the Greatest Generation,” during the World War II Weekend event.
Across the airport grounds, about 160 re-enactors garbed in military regalia lounged in foxholes, cleaned their weapons and explained the history behind their characters. Throughout the day, re-enactors demonstrated the use of flamethrowers, howitzers, rifles and machine guns. six WWII-era planes periodically flew over the crowd.
“This, I think, is wonderful,” said WWII veteran Vincent “Bill” Purple, a retired Air Force Captain who flew B17s over Germany. He’s sitting in the VIP section, telling stories of the war to anyone who wants to listen. WWII veterans didn’t have to pay admission.
Purple was just over 20 years old in 1945, when he flew the 13th bomber of almost 1,000 during the bombing of Berlin. At 92 years old, he still works as a building owner and has a driver’s license.
“That day we used almost 2.9 million gallons of gas,” he said, with a spark in his eye. “The bomber column was 134 miles long. That’s like watching 12 plane (formations) flying overhead for 45 minutes.”
Purple was stationed in England during the war, and flew 34 missions, many of them combat-related.
“People have no concept of the immenseness of that point in time,” he said. “No one who hasn’t studied it can know what this country is capable of.”
Dan Eaton, an event planner who organized the event along with David Kerr, said remembering veterans like Purple is what the event is all about: “The primary mission of today is to honor the members of the ‘Greatest Generation’ — World War II veterans,” Eaton said, adding that he hopes to make the event annual.
This is the second year the event has been held, and the first year it was open to the public.
Only a few hours into the event, the airport parking lot was full, and visitors had to be shuttled in from offsite parking. Cindy Hartwell, Purple’s daughter, said re-enactments are important because it’s easy to forget about the sacrifices made by past generations.
“This war was so long ago, that I don’t think today’s kids have any exposure,” she said. Others, such as Dan Desgroseilliers, who was at the event with his two sons and two M35 2½-ton “deuce-and-a-half” military trucks and a Dodge Powerwagon, related that history can be easily forgotten.
“Pretty soon,” he said, “there won’t be any (WWII veterans) left.”
Re-enactors came from all over New England: Kurt Toucey, a firefighter in Framingham, portrayed a German soldier in the 914th Grenadier Regiment. Peter Hugh and Gene Krupa spent the day in a foxhole dressed as soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division.
Another actor — a science teacher from New York who went by his stage name, John Silvio — brought his horse, Puck, and dressed as a German cavalry officer. He said re-enacting is important because of the history that it represents.
“It wasn’t all sugar,” said retired Army Air Corps Sergeant Earl Cooley, a former C-47 crew chief and WWII veteran. “People (should) know what the boys went through.”
The day culminated in a massive re-enacted battle between the Axis Powers and the Allies. The event continued Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More information can be found at: www.WWIIweekend.com
You can reach Andy Castillo at:
acastillo@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 263
On Twitter: @AndyCCastillo