For many years there was held a fantastic WWII reenactment annually at The Buckley Homestead state historical site in Lowell, Indiana. Unfortunately several years back it was decided that this annual event would be discontinued. Down through the years I have collected many interesting and realistic photos from the event.

If the folks at Armorama will indulge me yet again I would like to do a historic photo series on this event. I assure all there will be plenty of close-up vehicle reference to justify the blog.


( All photos are the property of Michael Koenig and all rights are reserved.)

Great looking PAK 40 firing near full powder loads. After the first concussion my quote was "You won't get that on the History Channel."



After the battle:

These first photos were all shot on my original Army Issue 1945 PH-324 35mm Kodak Camera. This is what would be considered a "miniature" camera in the day.

Into the battle:



(My understanding is that this is a back-dated post war Swedish?? Sd.Kfz. 251. In any case I know the muffler layout of this vehicle to be incorrect for WWII.)

Thanks Michael for the excellent photos ! Nice touch using the old Army issue camera !
Could this re-enactment have moved north to Rockford IL ? I've never attended it before but by all accounts it's quite large. I THINK it's on Labor Day Weekend. Maybe our Illinois members can help on the date.
I do know that they hosted a major WWI re-enactment last weekend.
MAN, that must of been awesome seeing/hearing that PAK 40 going off !
Thanks for sharing with us Michael !!!
Tom

Some excellent pics, especially of the PAK. Use of B&W gives the feel of actual period photographs. More please if you have them!

Tom, I'm guessing that the popularity of Rockford and it's growing size might have helped, at least in part, to do in the Lowell event. I am seeing plenty of familiar faces (and equipment) at Rockford that I was used to seeing every year at Lowell.

Thanks guys for your comments.

I attended the Rockford event several times when I lived in IL; we were 20 miles from there; it's usually the third weekend of September; a couple years ago I was told it was the third largest in the world; great event; lots of cool stuff with 1200-1500 re-enactors; lots of armor, etc. even a T-34/85; very cool photos; looks like they were taken "back in the day"

Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL Horch 1a 4x4 Field Car:



. . . . .

M-22 Locust light airborne tank from the Roberts Armory Collection:

Polish Lancers:

All very cool pics but POLISH LANCERS !!!! Wow,that is VERY cool.
J

This group also did a German horse drawn artillery impression with the six horses pulling a small wooden wheeled short barreled gun and limber. Unfortunately I missed photographing that and I kick myself to this day!

Another shot of the Roberts M22.

It is my understanding that the turret is an after market, home made piece that does not exactly match the profile of the original.

I did catch the Polish reenactors after they had already packed up their German impression. I was able to get these few photos.

More of the Polish kit:

Different trailer a few years earlier:

Beautiful Feldklüche presentation:

and Another German Field Kitchen.

Now a few vehicles somewhat out of the mainstream:

Studebaker Weasel in Mountain Snow Camo:

Early war German Ford Artillary Tractor:

Mike,

Superb!

I wish I knew of this gathering when I lived a couple of hours to the east.

The one and only TINMAN belonging to J. Eric Junker (and in my favorite camo paint scheme too!)