Clifford Davids

I just received an advance copy of "Southern Storm, The Tragedy of Flight 242," a well written book about the crash of Southern Airways Flight 242 in New Hope, GA on April 4, 1977 - it is set to be published early next month. The following is the author's description of New Hope in 1977: "New Hope, population 150, was not officially a town - it had never been incorporated. Thirty miles northwest of Atlanta, it was sometimes described as a wide place in the road. But it definitely was and still is a community. Most of its families had lived there for several generations, some dating back to

I am looking to contact Officer Rusty Wilson, now retired from the Dallas, GA Police Department, to discuss his role as a first responder at the crash site of Southern Airways Flight 242 in New Hope, GA on April 4, 1977. If anyone knows how I can reach him, please provide me with his contact information. Thank you. Cliff Davids

As you know, the 40th anniversary of the crash of Southern Airways Flight 242 is approaching next year. There will be a memorial service on March 25, 2017 at 11:30 AM at the New Hope First Baptist Church on 31 Bobo Road in Dallas, GA. I hope all of you are able to attend. I also wanted to let everyone know that I have been able to locate Louie F. Schneider, the former chief of the Dallas, GA Police Department in 1977. Chief Schneider, who is now 86 years old, arrived at the Southern 242 crash scene within minutes of the devastating crash. He and the men in his department played a key role

Here is some more WSB-TV newsreel. This one contains interviews with both New Hope VFD Chief John Clayton and local resident Lyone Abney. The interviews were done in 1978 on the first anniversary of the crash. The footage also includes the crash site in New Hope as well as images the old VFD building, which was torn down years ago. You can find a link to Chief Clayton's interview at the bottom of his story: https://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2013/04/28/john-clayton/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

In May of 1979, freshman Congressman Newt Gingrich hosted the family of Southern Airways Flight 242’s First Officer Lyman Keele, Jr. at his office in Washington, D.C. They were gathered together to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the April 4, 1977 crash of Southern 242 in New Hope, GA. Keele, who died in the crash, was being posthumously honored by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) for his heroic efforts to land the crippled aircraft on a narrow strip of highway in New Hope. Seventy-two people died that day, but there were also 22 lucky survivors. I recently found a WSB-TV news

Jack Barker, former FAA spokesman (1966-1991) for the Southern Regional Office in Atlanta, GA will be appearing at the Hiram Public Library, 1815 Hiram Douglasville Hwy, Hiram, GA at 11 AM this Friday, April 1, 2016. Mr. Barker will provide details about the NTSB investigation into the April 4, 1977 crash of Southern Airways Flight 242. He will also be available afterwards to answer any questions. For more information, read about the flight controller who tracked Flight 242 and the NTSB investigation here: https://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2013/10/18/flight-controller/ Th

With the 39th anniversary of the April 4, 1977 crash of Southern Airways Flight 242 in New Hope, GA fast approaching, Flight Attendant Catherine Cooper shares her compelling story of survival on that tragic day. You can find it at: https://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2013/07/08/lucky-few/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

Annette Snell was an R&B singer who recorded the first four songs of her first album with Jimmy Johnson at the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in March/April of 1977. She was returning home to NYC on Southern Airways Flight 242 when it crashed in New Hope, GA, on April 4, 1977. She was killed in the crash, and afterwards Columbia Records only released two of her four songs. I interviewed Jimmy last year while I was writing a series of articles about the crash, and I discovered that he still had copies of the two unreleased songs that Annette recorded with him in back in 1977. The

Just a reminder that the Weather Channel will be airing an episode of Why Planes Crash on Monday, December 29th, at 9 PM. It will feature the tragic crash of Southern Airways Flight 242 in New Hope, GA, on April 4, 1977. Read about the crash, and see the amazing NTSB photographs, here on my blog: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/category/the-tragic-crash-of-southern-airways-flight-242/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

Yes. Severe Weeather is going to air the episode on December 29, 2014 at 9 PM on the Weather Channel.

A closer look into the tragic death of Lyman W. Keele, Jr., the first officer aboard Southern Airways Flight 242 when it crashed in New Hope, GA, on April 4, 1977. Read my interview with Ron Crysler, a retired navy pilot and Keele's best friend. He sheds new light on the hectic 24 hours after the fiery crash. You can find it directly at: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2014/11/22/crysler-interview/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

The NBC producers tell me that the Severe Weather episode which includes the crash of Southern Airways Flight 242 in New Hope, GA in 1977 is set to air on Monday, December 29, 2014 at 9pm on the Weather Channel. It will also air at a later date, to be determined, on MSNBC. Stay tuned for further updates. As always, you can find all of my stories and photographs on Flight 242 here: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

I recently received the following e-mail from the NBC News executive in charge of producing the upcoming documentary for the Weather Channel concerning the April 4, 1977 crash of Southern Airways Flight 242: "We are waiting for final approval from the network, but essentially the show is entirely wrapped up. We have completed the reviews with the aviation experts to be sure that the animation is technically accurate, and I think we have built some very compelling content around the great interviews we got. We want to be sure to show respect for the pilots and passengers who lost their live

This is the story about an unforgettable farm in Cumming, GA--a spiritual location of healing that saves neglected and abused horses and gives them a final home. You can find the story directly at: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2014/06/03/save-the-horses-farm/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

I recently received these eerie night photos of the Southern Airways Flight 242 crash site in New Hope, GA from Frederick Clemens, one of the 22 survivors. You can find the pictures at the following link, at the bottom of the story: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2013/06/04/redstone-arsenal/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

Sorry, The 150th anniversary celebration is across the street from the New Hope First Baptist Church located at the intersection of Bobo Road and Dallas Acworth Highway in New Hope, GA.

This is it, folks! Don't forget to get out to the historic New Hope First Baptist Church on Sunday, May 25th at 3PM to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of New Hope Church. To get in the spirit of things, you can read about the ghost sentry that haunts the old church battlefield. You can find both of his stories here: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2013/05/01/new-hope-tunnel/ http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2013/05/14/alienist/ Thank you, and see you there. Cliff Davids

Thats right! This story contains exclusive photos of the Rolling Stones, taken at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio from Dec. 2nd-4th, 1969, during the recording of Brown Sugar, Wild Horses, and You Gotta Move, three of the best songs from their seminal album Sticky Fingers. You can find it directly at: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2014/04/11/sticky-fingers/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

Legendary guitarist Jimmy Johnson’s connection to the tragic crash of Southern Airways Flight 242 runs deep. His younger brother Earl was a victim, and Annette Snell, who also died in the crash, had just finished her first recording session with him at the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama. In this posting, Jimmy talks about his brother and Annette, and shares some stories and photographs from his amazing career. (Also, get the REAL story about how “The Swampers” got their name) You can find all of it directly at: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2014

“FIREMEN’S FISH FRY” at Rodney’s BBQ, 4724 Dallas Acworth Hwy, Dallas, GA This Sunday, March 30, 2014, starting at 11:00 AM. Rodney is inviting all firefighters and EMT’s to eat for free at his fish fry this Sunday starting at 11AM. He will also be hosting the first annual Southern Airways Flight 242 Lecture Series. The following speakers will appear starting at 12:30 PM: --Frederick Clemens--Flight 242 crash survivor --Captain Ron Crysler--former Navy attack pilot in Vietnam and Delta Airlines pilot, and friend of Flight 242’s copilot Lyman W. Keele, Jr. The two speakers w

I just found an NTSB crash map that provides details of Flight 242's rescue operations, including the location of the casualty loading area, the rescue helicopter landing site, and the ambulance routes. I have incorporated the map with the black and white photos (already published on my blog) that Joe Parker took just minutes after the plane crashed. It puts everything into a clearer perspective. You can find the photos and the new map directly at: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2013/09/08/action-photos/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

My new oral history project is about the legendary Rollin' Raft Race, a no holds barred floating festival down the Chattahoochee River every Memorial Day weekend from 1969 to 1980. Those of you who are "of a certain age" will remember it well. You can find the story directly at: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2014/02/25/ramblin-raft-race/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

Paul John Knowles was captured in Georgia on November 18, 1974 after a 15 week killing spree--he was linked to 17 deaths, and possibly many more, before he was shot trying to escape from custody one month after he was arrested. The link below will take you to his deadly story. The posting has two amazing photographs of him taken immediately after his capture--they have remained hidden and locked away for almost 40 years. The crime scene photographer has allowed me to put them on display for the very first time. You can find the story directly at: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.

After a long search, I finally located the photographer who took those amazing pictures for the NTSB of the Southern Airways Flight 242 crash site in New Hope, GA. His name is Warren Bond, and he shared some incredible photographs of the destroyed cockpit and the severely damaged DC-9 engine parts. The pictures were taken in the weeks after the accident at the Southern hangar in Atlanta, where he remains of the DC-9 were taken after the crash. I have posted the new photographs on one of the old stories. You can find them towards the bottom under the heading "Flight 242's Total Engine Fai

A new direction! This is the first in a two-part series about Lt. Col. James Crysler, a forgotten fighter pilot with the famous WWII "Flying Tigers." Don't miss the incredible vintage photos and the end of the story. They show a squadron of Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter planes flying in tight formation. You can find it directly at: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2013/12/11/crysler/ Thank you. Cliff Davids