Berry’s air ambulance service to Campbell County ahead of its time

By Charlie Hutson

CAMPBELL COUNTY, TN (WLAF)- We return to the 1950s in today’s Throwback Thursday feature.   The first air ambulance service for Campbell County and the area was Berry Air Ambulance in 1958. 

Fred O. Berry, Jr., was the owner and Bill Cook was the pilot. 

In 1958, Fred O. Berry, Sr., and Fred O. Berry, Jr., bought out the Sharp’s interest in the Cross & Sharp Funeral Home (now Cross-Smith Funeral Home).  The funeral home became Cross & Berry Funeral Home.

The air ambulance flew out of the Campbell County Airport. The airport then was located at the former Campbell County Poor House location in Jacksboro across Mt. Paran Road where the Campbell County Highway Department is housed.

 In 1958, Fred, Jr., and his wife Marilyn moved to La Follette. Marilyn was the Director of Nurses at the LaFollette Community Hospital from 1958-1960.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-06/04/2026-6AM)