This week, we are dipping back into the Cape Fear Classics for two stories from the 20th century that could not be anymore wildly different.

The first tells of a time when Wilmington invited residents from a small Pennsylvania town overcome by deadly smog to come inhale some fresh air at Wrightsville Beach for a whirlwind trip that made national headlines in 1948. The second is the incredible story of the plane crash in Wilmington that nearly killed legendary wrestler Ric Flair in 1975 and how it helped transform him into the Nature Boy.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram. Additional editing by Adam Fish.

Season three is sponsored by Northchase Family Dentistry and Tidewater Heating & Air Conditioning.

Sources:

-- "Wrightsville Beach: The Luminous Island," by Ray McAllistar

-- "The Deadly Donora Smog of 1948 Spurred Environmental Protection," by Lorraine Boissoneault, Smithsonian Magazine, Oct. 2018

-- Wilmington Morning Star articles, Nov. 2-26, 1948

-- Wilmington Morning Star, Oct. 5, 1975

-- Steve Austin Show, "Ric Flair" episode, June 1, 2016

-- "Nature Boy," ESPN's "30 for 30" (dir. Rory Karpf)