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Milton “Red” Hersberger

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Milton “Red” Hersberger

Birth
Anderson, Madison County, Indiana, USA
Death
18 Aug 1987 (aged 85)
Port Clinton, Ottawa County, Ohio, USA
Burial
Port Clinton, Ottawa County, Ohio, USA Add to Map
Plot
Lot 696
Memorial ID
View Source
Milton Hersberger Obituary
Founder of Port Clinton Island Air Service in 1930

Milton Hersberger, 85, of Port Clinton, O., a farmer test pilot and airport manager who founded the Island Airlines, believed to be the shortest in the United States, died yesterday in Magruder Hospital after a long illness. A native of Anderson, Ind. and a resident of Port Clinton many years, Mr. Hersberger became a pilot during the early 1920's. He was a test pilot and manager of airports in Chicago, Youngstown, and Sandusky, O. before moving to Port Clinton in 1930 and founding the Island Airlines. The airline flew shuttle flights from its base in Port Clinton to an airport Mr. Hersberger owned on South Bass Island and to fields he leased on Middle Bass, North Bass, and Kelley's islands.

Started with 2 Planes
In addition to passenger service, the airlines carried mail and miscellaneous freight, and made emergency flights. At one time known as Air Tours, Inc., the airlines initially had two planes. In 1935, Mr. Hersberger acquired two Ford Tri-motor planes, a craft known as the Tin Goose. He frequently claimed ownership of seven of the Ford Trimotor planes of which only 198 were built between 1928 and 1933. He retired in 1953, when he sold the airlines and three of his last four trimotor planes.

Former Café Owner
In addition, Mr. Hersberger was the former owner of Urb's Café, Port Clinton, and was a real estate salesman. He owned several office buildings, including the Hersberger Building in downtown Port Clinton.

Surviving are his wife, Marguerite; stepson, Arthur Van Rensselaer; stepdaughter, Mrs. Sue Ann Coyle, and five step-grandsons.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the Neidecker-LeVeck-Crosser Mortuary, Port Clinton

Obituary from: Toledo Blade, Toledo, Ohio, Aug. 19, 1987, p. 14, column 1.
Milton Hersberger Obituary
Founder of Port Clinton Island Air Service in 1930

Milton Hersberger, 85, of Port Clinton, O., a farmer test pilot and airport manager who founded the Island Airlines, believed to be the shortest in the United States, died yesterday in Magruder Hospital after a long illness. A native of Anderson, Ind. and a resident of Port Clinton many years, Mr. Hersberger became a pilot during the early 1920's. He was a test pilot and manager of airports in Chicago, Youngstown, and Sandusky, O. before moving to Port Clinton in 1930 and founding the Island Airlines. The airline flew shuttle flights from its base in Port Clinton to an airport Mr. Hersberger owned on South Bass Island and to fields he leased on Middle Bass, North Bass, and Kelley's islands.

Started with 2 Planes
In addition to passenger service, the airlines carried mail and miscellaneous freight, and made emergency flights. At one time known as Air Tours, Inc., the airlines initially had two planes. In 1935, Mr. Hersberger acquired two Ford Tri-motor planes, a craft known as the Tin Goose. He frequently claimed ownership of seven of the Ford Trimotor planes of which only 198 were built between 1928 and 1933. He retired in 1953, when he sold the airlines and three of his last four trimotor planes.

Former Café Owner
In addition, Mr. Hersberger was the former owner of Urb's Café, Port Clinton, and was a real estate salesman. He owned several office buildings, including the Hersberger Building in downtown Port Clinton.

Surviving are his wife, Marguerite; stepson, Arthur Van Rensselaer; stepdaughter, Mrs. Sue Ann Coyle, and five step-grandsons.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the Neidecker-LeVeck-Crosser Mortuary, Port Clinton

Obituary from: Toledo Blade, Toledo, Ohio, Aug. 19, 1987, p. 14, column 1.


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  • Maintained by: AnnS
  • Originally Created by: LSP
  • Added: Apr 4, 2011
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67915871/milton-hersberger: accessed ), memorial page for Milton “Red” Hersberger (29 Dec 1901–18 Aug 1987), Find a Grave Memorial ID 67915871, citing Riverview Cemetery, Port Clinton, Ottawa County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by AnnS (contributor 47388778).