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
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ray Fantini via MRCA
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:37 AM
To: Matthew Halsey <[email protected]>; Mark K3MSB <[email protected]>; Military Radio Collectors Association ([email protected]) <[email protected]>; List Milsurplus <[email protected]>
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 <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 9:55 AM
To: Mark K3MSB <[email protected]>; Military Radio Collectors Association ([email protected]) <[email protected]>; List Milsurplus <[email protected]>; Ray Fantini <[email protected]>
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 <[email protected]> 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