origin story

Beginning With a bang

There is nothing more satisfying than hearing the audience gasp in surprise as a 75 foot fireball explodes into the sky to kick off a World War II battle reenactment. Shortly after, a squad of five Sherman tanks take the field, the thundering staccato of 50 caliber machine guns announcing their arrival. With their turrets swinging around to take aim at the enemy, the main gun fires with a resounding blast and enormous cloud of smoke. In front of the enemy trench, dirt flies into the air. The audience gasps again. “Are those tanks really shooting at the enemy?!”

For nearly every shot from one of the tanks, a blast flings dirt and sand into the air, leaving a small crater. As the battle rages on and the infantry slowly works their way to the trenches, an enemy tank takes aim and fires at one of the American tanks. This time, instead of dirt, sparks fly off the front of the Sherman, followed immediately by flames and black smoke. The crew bails out of the smoking vehicle to fight on foot, the remaining tanks move up to fill in the gap, closing in on the enemy. Soon, the infantry swarm into the trenches, taking prisoners and declaring victory. The audience cheers for the exhausted Americans as well as for the enemy, who are gracious in ‘defeat’.

building the show

My primary employment has been, and will continue to be, with WW2ARMOR.ORG. The part I play in the battle is to prepare everything that goes “BOOM!!!”.

From the machine gun ammunition, to the tank rounds, the ‘ground effects’ that flung dirt, to the explosion on the front of the tank. I’m on the sideline of the battlefield watching carefully, with my tablet in hand, setting off explosions at the right moment.

What the audience doesn’t see in the weeks, days, and hours leading up to the battle is the preparation it took to make it look smooth and effortless. Hours spent linking blank ammunition, weighing black powder for the tank’s main gun rounds, measuring and assembling hundreds of charges and then wiring & burying them in the field, preparing the explosion effects that go on the front of the tank. It is this precision and preparation that I thrive in, and how it results in a stunning display has become my fixation.

the results

Starting off being taught by former Disney pyrotechnicians on the basics, I have developed and refined all of the effects that help complete the spectacle of battle reenactments. This is what spawned my love of pyrotechnics and special effects. I enjoy the challenge of trying to create effects that will not only ‘WOW’ the audience, but are also safe, easily repeatable, and can be set up on an empty field . I love what I do for WW2ARMOR. I believe in our mission - To honor the men and machines of World War 2.

This passion for detail and results drives me to produce stunning pyrotechnic moments for other events. I’ve gained experience in the industry, including working as a contracted technician for major sporting events. And I am ready to bring some enchantment to your event.