Posted on Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
Thunder Over Michigan Air Show: World War II battle re-enactment wows crowd
By Jeffrey Smith
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U.S. forces capture a German tank as a P-51 Mustang flies over during a World War II reenactment at Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport. Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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U.S. forces capture a German tank as a P-51 Mustang flies over during a World War II reenactment at Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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World War II reenactors load ammunition into a machine gun during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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World War II reenactors fire weapons during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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World War II reenactors run for cover during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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World War II reenactors fire machine guns over a bunker during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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A P-51 Mustang flies during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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World War II reenactors make their way down the battfield and advance on the German troops during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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German troops surrender during a World War II reenactment at Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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P-51 Mustangs fly over during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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A MH-60S Knighthawk hovers over the crowd during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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Two P-47D Thunderbolt aircrafts fly in formation during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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A B-17 flies over the crowd during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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People watch from the grandstand as a B-17 flies over during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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People watch as an aircraft flies over during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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A Sea Harrier F/A2 flies over during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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Northville resident Tom Patterson watches in awe with his daugher Maggie, 8, as a Sea Harrier F/A2 hovers above ground during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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A P-51 Mustang is parked during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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Dressed as U.S. riflemen, St. Clair Shores resident Joseph Coppens throws a ball to Utica resident Josh Kuligowski during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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Ohio resident Ashley Lane, dressed as a German Red Cross nurse, or "DRK," sits in a tent during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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Australia resident Chris Tomic puts on his German infantry uniform during Thunder Over Michigan Saturday afternoon at Willow Run Airport. Tomic heard of the event on the internet and flew here to participate, he said. "I've always liked aviation ever since I was a kid, and my grandfather served in Germany during World War II," Tomic said.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
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The Thunder Over Michigan Air Show brought thousands to Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti Township Saturday to see dozens of aircraft and a World War II battle re-enactment.
P-51D Mustang fighter planes buzzed over tanks, artillery and infantry as re-enactors representing U.S. and German troops squared off in historically accurate dress. Aircraft such as the Sea Harrier F/A2, B-29 Superfortress, and more than 20 P-51 Mustangs flew as the crowd looked to the sky. The show continues Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Photographer Jeffrey Smith captured these images.
Comments
Major
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 1:56 p.m.
Nothing like the sound a P 51 with a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine! Really bland show this year, not even a quarter of the planes they usually have, even when the Blue Angles don't show, offensively high priced tickets!
Townie
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 5:44 p.m.
It's an AIR show by an AIR Museum and what does the ANews choose to show? - tanks and infantry. I stopped going when the show became a celebration of war, not vintage aircraft and pilots.
jns131
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 1:08 a.m.
They added it because they needed the money to pay for a new facilities. Plus some love the war games. I enjoyed it, but because of cost? We stay home now.
jns131
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
With the rain today, this will keep much of the flying force grounded. I love them flying over my house, it is the house that shudders when it roars over.