Piedmont Airlines : A Complete History, 1948-1989

Founded by Thomas H. Davis in 1948, Piedmont Airlines was one of the most respected regional airlines of its time.

This exhaustive history follows the airline from its humble beginnings at Smith-Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem, NC, to its 1989 buyout by USAir at the highest price ever commanded by a regional airline.

Drawing upon corporate documents, local news stories, and countless personal interviews with former Piedmont employees, the author outlines the most significant events in the airline's history, including its successful Supreme Court battle over air route certification in 1949.

Dozens of photographs show the airline's development, and two appendices provide comprehensive lists of its fleet and service destinations.