Knoxville in Knox County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Mary Frances Housley

Hero of National Airlines Flight 83

— 1926-1951 —

Mary Frances Housley Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tom Bosse, July 24, 2021

1. Mary Frances Housley Marker

Inscription. Mary Frances Housley was born on October 12, 1926, to John and Fannie Mayer Housley in Knoxville, Tennessee. She lived at 300 Forestal Dr. (formerly Forest Ave.) while attending Central High School, graduating in 1944. In 1950 she became a flight attendant with National Airlines. Housley was the lone flight attendant on a Douglas DC-4 airplane (NAL Flight 83) with 25 passengers that crashed on January 14, 1951 at Philadelphia International Airport. She saved 10 passengers but perished while trying to rescue 4-month-old Brenda Smith.

Erected 2020 by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1E 136.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters • Women. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 14, 1951.

Location. 36° 1.496′ N, 83° 55.401′ W. Marker is in Knoxville, Tennessee, in Knox County. Marker is on Tazewell Pike (Tennessee Route 331) just north of Baum Lane Northeast, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2918 Tazewell Pike, Knoxville TN 37918, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Site of Fort Adair (approx. ¼ mile away); Fort Adair (approx.

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¼ mile away); Fountain City United Methodist Church (approx. one mile away); Savage Garden (approx. 1.2 miles away); Fountain City Schools (approx. 1.2 miles away); Mt. Fuji (approx. 2.3 miles away); William E. Peters House (approx. 2½ miles away); Speedway Circle (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Knoxville.

More about this marker. National Airlines merged with Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) in 1980.

Also see . . .
1. Mary Frances Housley: Carnegie Hero Fund recipient. the author of this article, Dr. Jim Tumblin, was a classmate of Mary Frances Housley at Central High School. (Submitted on January 27, 2021, by Chris Hammond of Knoxville, Tennessee.)

2. Story of Carnegie Hero Mary Frances Housley touches many through decades. (Submitted on January 27, 2021, by Chris Hammond of Knoxville, Tennessee.)

Additional keywords. Fountain City Tennessee, Airplane Crash, National Airlines Flight 83

Photographed By Chris Hammond, October 5, 2020

2. Mary Frances Housley Marker

Mary Frances Housley image. Click for full size.

courtesy Housley family

3. Mary Frances Housley

Credits. This page was last revised on January 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 27, 2021, by Chris Hammond of Knoxville, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 525 times since then and 182 times this year. Last updated on January 28, 2021, by Chris Hammond of Knoxville, Tennessee. It was the Marker of the Week January 14, 2024. Photos: 1. submitted on July 25, 2021, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 2. submitted on January 27, 2021, by Chris Hammond of Knoxville, Tennessee. 3. submitted on January 28, 2021, by Chris Hammond of Knoxville, Tennessee. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.