Ashland Times Gazette May 30,1933
William J. Esch of New London has been named pilot at the Ashland Airport. He succeeds Howard Pry. One of the interesting facts about Ashland's new pilot is that he gave Pry his first ride in an airplane.
Each who has had several years of flying experience has spent over 1,000 hours in the air. His father Joseph Esch, also a well known pilot , is head of Lorain Airport.
With warmer, clearer days, activities at the airport are expected to assume their usual liveliness.
Esch will be at the port Saturdays and Sundays as well as clear evenings during the week.
Student training work is to continue as usual as well as chartered flights in the cabin plane.
Many improvements have been made to the flying field. Weeds have been cut and grass seed planted, A new fence partially encloses the field.
In the picnic grove 10,000 small trees have been planted. Fish are to be added to the lake soon.
Ashland Times Gazette July 31, 1933
Announcement was made today that an Air Show is to be staged at Port Ashland on Sunday afternoon, August 20, 1933
Arrangements for the event are being made by a committee of local men interested in aviation. The event has been endorsed by the Ashland Chamber of Commerce.
That interest in aviation is increasing is proved by the fact that large numbers of persons are attracted to the aiurport daily. On Sunday, July 23, when a parachute jump was staged at the airport, a crowd of 2,000 was present. Two years ago when the port was formaly dedicated by Ohio's first lady, Miss Mary White, daughter of the governor, a crowd of between eight and ten thousand people was present for the afternoon program.
A tentative program now being arranged for the show on August 20, includes the following events ;
- Airplane races.
- Two parachute jumps.
- Stunt flying.
- Ballon bursting contest.
- Maneuvers by a squadron of Ohio National Guard planes, Fred Smith is expected to be here for the show
It is expected that there will be 18 or 20 planes at the airport to take part in the various events on the program.
The airport is operated by a company headed by Dr. George Riebel.
The committee formed to promote the air show includes the following, S.R. Finley,general chairman, Harold Stockwell, Dr. William R. Firherty, Dr. Riebel, Don Mowrey, Dan Caldwell, Harry Flasher, Robert M. Beer, E.P. Helbert, Harry L. Horne, L.F. Berry, and Harold Elson.
 Fred L.Smith is expected to be in Ashland Sunday August 20, 1933 to attend the air show at the local airport.
Posters announcing the Ashland air show were distributed today throughout Ashland county and all surrounding counties.
With a program that included all types of flying, racing, stunting and air maneuvers as well as a sham battle put on by Company E. of Ashland an estimated crowd of between 12,000 and 15,000 people were present yesterday at the airport.
Several prominet guest as well as many out of town planes among which were included seven Ohio National Guard planes from Columbus and Cleveland, were present forthe day and furnished many of the program high spots,
Over five thousand adult admission tickets were sold, children under 12 being admited free.
Fred L. Smith arrived in the red Stinson state-owned plane and addressed the crowd prior to the exhibition put on by the O. N. G. planes. The program was informally opened about 10:30 a.m. with the arrival of the blimp Defender, flagship of the Goodyear fleet. However, it wasn't until shortly after 2:00 p. m. that the planned program got underway when Roy Myers of Mansfield made a parachute jump.
Myers chute jump from the red Waco plane, piloted by Jim Berry of the local port, was the first of a series of three that he performed during the day's program.
Stunt Flight --Stunt flying by Bill Esch, pilot at port Ashland, was the second feature of the program. Esch's stunts, performed in the red Waco plane, included barrel rolls, loops and spins, flying upside down and many of the other usual stunt features.
The only air race of the day was held during mid-afternoon with the entrants all of Ashland. They included G.W. (Jim) Berry who flew his red Waco plane. Bill Esch who piloted the Ashland Stinson cabin plane and George Riebel Jr. at the controls of the Ashland Travelaire plane.
The 35 mile race was won by Berry with Riebel coming in second. Prize for first place was ten dollars and five dollars for second.
ISSUES STATEMENT -- S.R. Finley, Chamber of Commerce president, who served as general chairman of the Air Show today issued a statement thanking everyone who had a part in the succesful event. The committee in charge of the show included, Finley, Harold Stockwell, assistant starter; Dr. George Riebel and E.P. Helbert, airport officials; Don Mowrey, Legion commander, in charge of ticket sales; Major Frank J. Wensinger and Dan Caldwell, in charge of free blimp rides; Harry Flasher of the state highway department; L.F. Berry, Harold Elson, H.O. Hoffman, Harry L. Horne, publicity chairman and Lewis Helbert announcer.
contributed by
 Russ Shopbell
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