Airplane had interesting side stories

Last week this column talked about an airplane that was constructed in Fremont.

It wasn't the only one. Paula Slager-Schreyer, the former wife of Joseph Slager, told me years ago her husband, who operated an airfield on Oak Harbor Road and then off East State Street until he was killed in a landing accident, used to take the pieces from wrecked airplanes to build a new one.

And, I imagine there were others.

But the airplane constructed in 1930-31 by E.H. Van Valkenburg had some interesting side stories.

First, there was the trip from Valkenburg's shop on Garrison Street down Front Street and out State Street to Oak Harbor Road. That must have been a sight to see.

Then there was the announced planned test of the air ship at Overmyer Field — the predecessor to Slager Field on Oak Harbor Road.

That test didn't come off as planned. The Fremont Daily News reported the planned March 1 flying test turned into only a ground test as Van Valkenburg determined the motor was too new and too stiff to attempt flight.

But, not long after, the test apparently was completed because the craft produced more interesting side stories, both in Fremont and Columbus.

The Fremont Daily News of May 2, 1931, provides this tale:

"Story of the visit of a noted German World War ace to Fremont was exploded Saturday with the announcement that E.H. Van Valkenburg, builder of the Fremont Monovan plane, made a flight to Columbus on Thursday in the Fremont-made plane.

"Shortly after the ship left Columbus, word was received in Fremont that a noted German war ace had left Columbus bound for Fremont. Investigation here failed to reveal the presence of any German ace and the story came out Saturday when Van stated he had left Columbus on Thursday afternoon. In landing at the Overmyer field, some clever handling of the ship by (Tiffin Pilot Mark) Abbott prevented a bad smashup as the plane struck a soft spot in the field resulting from a back fill of the gas pipe line extending through one corner of the field. The ship darted 15 feet in the air upon striking the soft spot and Abbott by quickly flattening out the ship prevented a crash."

So, the plane built in Fremont by a well-known aircraft builder, who also had laid claim to having built and flown the first planes manufactured in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Spokane, Washington, was a successful flying machine, but despite the confusion, Van Valkenburg was not a German World War ace.

Roy Wilhelm started a 40-year career at The News-Messenger in 1965, as a reporter. Now retired, he is writing about the history of some Sandusky County businesses.

-Story:  http://www.thenews-messenger.com