A tale of heroism, courage and self-sacrifice.
Within the story is told of the 1950s era aircraft crashing upon landing and the stewardess performing the task of assisting as many passengers as possible with escaping the flaming wreck.
Witnesses told of the last view before the flames and smoke hid her final fate while attempting to emerge with a baby in her arms.
Her story deserves being retold and remembered. Please share with others.
Frankie Housley
Mary Frances “Frankie” Housley (October 12, 1926 – January 14, 1951) was the lone stewardess on National Airlines Flight 83, which crashed after landing at Philadelphia International Airport in January, 1951. She led 10 passengers to safety, then returned to the burning cabin to save an infant. She died in the attempt and was later found holding the four-month-old baby in her arms.
At 2:13pm, January 14, 1951, National’s Flight 83, a DC-4, landed in Philadelphia from Newark, New Jersey, enroute to Norfolk, Virginia. It skidded off the icy runway, through a fence, and into a ditch. The left wing broke off, rupturing the gasoline tanks, and the plane caught fire. Housley opened the emergency door and saw the ground eight feet below. Returning to the cabin, she helped passengers release their seat belts, guided them to the door and gave a gentle shove to those who were hesitant to jump. After saving 10 passengers, she returned to the cabin to try to rescue a baby. After the fire was extinguished, the bodies of five women and two infants were found. One of the women was Frankie Housley with a four-month old infant in her arms.
A Gallant Girl Named Frankie (Mary Francis Housley) … MacKinlay Kantor. Readers Digest May, 1966; Vol. 88, No. 529
Mary Frances and her parents are buried in Lynnhurst Cemetery, Knoxville, Tennessee
nationalsundowners
Memorials come and go:
Click the above picture of a copied article for a larger easier-to-read view
Update April 18, 2018
Little-known Knoxville hero gets bridge named in her honor
Visit the linked-to newspaper Web site for the entire story. Remembering Frankie by naming that bridge for her is a fine deed that will help us to remember her bravery and sacrifice and hopefully introduce her story to those who haven’t heard of her yet.
Since Web sites and stories within the site come and go I borrowed the next two pics to hopefully keep them “alive” upon the Web.
“The bridge on Holbrook Drive that passes over Fountain Road in Fountain City will be named the Mary Frances Housley Bridge. (Photo: Tyler Whetstone / USA Today Network – Tennessee)”
There are more pictures at the Newspaper Web site so get on over there. Thank you to knox.news for publishing the news story and sharing it on the Web for all to see.
Mary Frances “Frankie” Housley Find-a-Grave Memorial
Mary Frances Housley Carnegie Hero
Philadelphia’s forgotten airline heroine needs a better memorial
Your entries are fantastic, sir. Well done!
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I remember reading this article in Reader’s Digest when 9 years old. Great story
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Dear Old Coot,
My father told me the story about Frankie when I was very young. I think the book you’re talking about was probably Readers Digest. They had a recurring article called The Rravest Person I Ever Met. My dad remembered reading the article. You see, he was also an airline pilot. In fact he flew for National Airlines, and while a new co-pilot flu with the same captain who crashed that plane in Philadelphia.
He told me that story and 1972. I no longer remember the name of the captain, but I know that crash and loss of life, especially Frankie, Haunted him the rest of his days.
I still think about Frankie often, and think that if I was half the woman she was I’d be twice the man I am if you know what I mean.
Anyway, thank you. It was great reading your post.
Hugh Lambert
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