PHOTOS BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
SPIRIT OF FREEDOM … As part of the annual Fly-In Breakfast activities held on Saturday, July 4 at the Williams County Airport, there were guided tours involving the Spirit of Freedom aircraft, also known as the “Candy Bomber,” a U.S. Air Force aircraft used in the Berlin Airlift in 1948-49.
CAR SHOW … Taking part in the Fly-In Breakfast Car Show held at the Williams County Airport on Saturday, July 4 were Kathy Bruce (left) and Dick Bruce (right) of Bryan.
By John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
It has been an annual Fourth of July tradition, as the annual Fly-In Breakfast sponsored by the Williams County Airport Boosters was held on Saturday, July 4 at the Williams County Airport.
In addition to serving as a fundraiser for various airport projects, it also featured a historic aircraft display with the Spirit of Freedom, which attracted many visitors with guided tours through the U.S. Air Force aircraft that took part in the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49.
The airlift helped carry tons of supplies to more than two million citizens where roads had been blocked by the Soviet Union.
Known as the “Candy Bomber,” which ironically was sponsored by Spangler Candy Company and the Williams County Airport Boosters, the plane dropped candy wrapped in handkerchief parachutes to children in the affected area.
Brent Wilson, who is the assistant manager of the Williams County Airport, said that Spangler Candy Company had donated some money to bring in the “Candy Bomber” and noted it was a nice event for the 250th birthday of America.
The Williams County Airport Boosters is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to support the airport. The group has helped raise over $150,000 from local businesses, service organizations, and individuals over the past 10 years.
It also has helped generate over $13 million in federal matching funds to fund airport projects.
The next project for the airport is the installation of an automatic weather observing system for Williams County.
Williams County is one of the few counties in Ohio without weather reporting at the airport. It will provide weather data to all county residents.
Once installed, the device will be located on the south side of the runway.
“We have purchased the land this year, and we’re hoping that next year we’ll start construction of that,” said Wilson.
“It will help us not only at the airport, but it also helps the whole community as school districts can use it for fog advisories and also law enforcement and emergency management.”
Not only will the new system benefit the community, but also the airport, especially getting more traffic for charter operations.
Proceeds from this year’s Fly-In Breakfast, which also included a car show, will go toward the Williams County Airport Boosters.
The boosters will use the money to help with things at the airport that the FAA doesn’t pay for, or toward the purchase of items to keep the airport moving.
The Williams County Airport is one of 151 public airports in Ohio. It features a 4,800-foot runway, which is the longest in northwest Ohio besides Toledo.
Last year, there were 3,059 take-offs and landings, and it generated over $5 million in economic benefit for Williams County. It also included over 200 crop-dusting flights, supporting local agriculture.
It includes annual fuel sales of $100,000 that helped support operational expenses at the airport.