[MRCA] Eisenhower Farm WW II Reenactment Event AAR

Tue Sep 23 19:59:34 EDT 2025

Hi Matt, 

Don't despair, there are several WWII events to attend which often have
operational equipment, although you might have a travel some.

I know it's way in the future, but I plan to be at the 2026 Reading Air Show
(Mid-Atlantic Air Museum WWII Weekend) with the SCR-499 setup and
operational in Area-7 (group 81).  I skipped 2025, but have been there
several years before with the 499 or some other operational station.  There
are typically a couple other hams with WWII gear usually there. 

The next best biggest is probably the D-Day Ohio event in Conneaut Ohio.  A
few years ago we had 4 operational stations there, including some BC-611s,
one out on a Higgins boat who came ashore with a GI (ham) during the
reenactment, and then the BC-611 was captured by a German reenactor. That
was interesting.  

Not knowing what area you are in, we often also setup at the "Tennessee
Maneuvers Remembered" event in Carthage Tennessee, and I plan to be there
again in 2026 with operational gear, either an SCR-177B or SCR-499, and
probably an SCR-284 and BC-611's.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1817505575275337/  

There are a few other events in the Mid-Atlantic area, in PA, KY, TN, GA, OH
etc. There's one this coming weekend in Linden TN,
https://www.facebook.com/RememberingWWII

However I will not be there this year, and I don't believe there will be any
other military radio gear there. I can get you in contact with the right
people if you happen to be interested in going.

I won't repeat what Ray's already said, but your SOE gear would be really
cool to see and certainly a very unique contribution to any event. 

I'd be happy to stay in contact if you're interested in coordinating in the
future.  

Garret

W8BUG

scottgs at bellsouth.net <mailto:scottgs at bellsouth.net> 

From: mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
Behalf Of Ray Fantini via MRCA
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:37 AM
To: Matthew Halsey <rftb_cowboy at yahoo.com>; Mark K3MSB
<mark.k3msb at gmail.com>; Military Radio Collectors Association
(mrca at mailman.qth.net) <mrca at mailman.qth.net>; List Milsurplus
<milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [MRCA] Eisenhower Farm WW II Reenactment Event AAR

As much as I complain about them the Reading Mid Atlantic Air Museum and
that show would be the place for you to be. Area 3 has the French village
and that whole occupied France thing going on. Look at 26,27, 28 and 29.
Site 29 is the US Army Signal Section. I am no big supporter of the Reading
Show but that's just me, but they have maybe the largest and best show of
its kind.

As far as not being attached to any opinionized group, I found on several
occasions that just identifying an affiliation with the MRCA, MMRCG and am
also a member of the MVPA gets me admission and space at events for free.

Attached is the PDF of last years map and it shows the entire layout. Too
bad they just can't accommodate anything else like the Korean conflict,
Vietnam or the Gulf war, less and less WW2 veterans every day.

Ray F/KA3EKH

From: Matthew Halsey <rftb_cowboy at yahoo.com <mailto:rftb_cowboy at yahoo.com> >

Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 9:55 AM
To: Mark K3MSB <mark.k3msb at gmail.com <mailto:mark.k3msb at gmail.com> >;
Military Radio Collectors Association (mrca at mailman.qth.net
<mailto:mrca at mailman.qth.net> ) <mrca at mailman.qth.net
<mailto:mrca at mailman.qth.net> >; List Milsurplus <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
<mailto:milsurplus at mailman.qth.net> >; Ray Fantini <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu
<mailto:RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu> >
Subject: Re: [MRCA] Eisenhower Farm WW II Reenactment Event AAR

I am beyond frustrated with most of the shows around me, including
Eisenhower.

I am a one man band with an SOE display, including an original suitcase spy
radio.

I cannot get much, if any, interest from folks in the US for a display as I
am not associated with any recognized organization.

Well, yes that was the way that SOE operated!

I have also tried joining a French Resistance group but, despite their
acknowledgement of what I can bring to the group, I have still yet to be
invited to any events for over a year.

It would have been nice to operate a CW contact using your gear and mine.

I also have a working HRO which I could set up as the UK base.

Sorry for the rant.  I am passionate about SOE and educating folks on their
critical and highly risky role in WW2, but I just cant seem to get any
opportunity to share with the public.

Matt

On Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 09:45:49 AM EDT, Ray Fantini via MRCA
<mrca at mailman.qth.net <mailto:mrca at mailman.qth.net> > wrote: 

Great job, often think today we may have more in common along the lines of
shared interest with the Military Vehicle and collectors and reenactors
community then what currently passes for the Ham radio community. In these
days of micro size transceivers and automated contacts. But at the end of
the day if you want to use your radios on the air you got to have the
license, and we do have a thriving Boat anchor and AM community.

Doing just WW2 you have a harder road to travel. Your limited to AM or CW
and unless you are using some level of power and a good antenna your not
going to get much love on 3885 beyond local contacts. Hamvention always has
a good turnout of local AM QSO on 3885 and MRCA Gilbert will be beating the
drum this weekend but unless you are doing a medium or high power set up in
the field would not expect any success. Only time I have pulled off a QSO on
3885 under twenty watts was at the home QTH with a good antenna. Least
that's been my results.

If you move a couple generations up, like Korean War or Vietnam you can
start to use way better radios . The T-195/R-392 (GRC-19) can give you a 100
watts in the field or in my case running a GRC-106 allows you SSB and high
power and with that gear its more of a real possibility of checking into
existing on air nets. I regularly take part in things like the MMRCG RTTY
Net on forty and the 7296 and sometimes 5357 USB Nets on Saturdays from
shows, just running something like a BC-654 into a small vertical is not
going to get you much more then local communications. 

The issue I found is that the reenactor community can sometimes get sticky
about things, maybe my biggest complaint about the Reading show where they
push this WW2 thing only mantra. One of my favorite local shows is the
annual Delaware Goes to War event held at Fort Miles and have been doing
that for years now but the local historical group the Fort Miles Historical
Association has strict rules about it being a ww2  only and because I work
directly with the state park people I and several other post war vehicles
are allowed to set up only on the periphery of the event but not in the main
compound.  Talked with the people up at Reading before about bringing my
Vietnam - Cold War road show up and been told no thanks. 

This weekend will be the event at Gilbert, the Red Ball MVPA Show and Sale
and for twenty years now they have supported the MRCA and our military radio
show and field exercise in the Howell building and we are a mixed event not
just limited to WW2 stuff but will have equipment there and operating that
represent all generations. The field exercises will feature a large sixty
meter net on Friday that includes multipole backpack and field radios and
the ability for them to net with distant stations at the same time. We
typically have at least a half dozen local participants on air and at least
as many distant stations take part. We will also have a 3885 AM Net but see
that as being just a local thing like our 51.0 and 144.25 opps.

Anyway its great to see what your doing and hope this encourages others to
get out in the field also.

Ray F/KA3EKH

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