Jack B. Flynn, 14, schoolboy, saved George M. Lawrence, Jr., 23, military airplane pilot, from burning and an explosion, Mandarin, Florida, July 12, 1952. An airplane Lawrence was flying crashed in a heavily wooded marsh, and a section of the fuselage 20 feet long enclosing the cockpit was ripped away and landed upright. Lawrence, who was secured to his seat by a safety belt, sustained a brain concussion and was rendered unconscious by the impact. The fuel tanks were ruptured, and flames rose in gusts 20 to 30 feet high above the nose and wing sections 35 feet from the cockpit. Flynn heard the crash and, guided by the smoke from the flames, ran to the edge of the marsh and tortuously made his way through dense underbrush for 500 feet to the cockpit, the front and sides of which had been torn off. The flames on the nose and wing sections by then had spread over an area 25 feet in diameter, and the heat was intense. Lawrence had revived partly but was bleeding from numerous head and face lacerations and was unable to help himself. Just as Flynn took hold of Lawrence, an explosion occurred at the wing sections, and the flames increased in intensity, rising 35 feet above the wreckage. Flynn was startled and momentarily backed away from the cockpit. Although aware that more severe explosions might occur, Flynn returned to his position beside the cockpit and released Lawrence’s safety belt. Again obtaining a hold on Lawrence, who was 75 pounds heavier than he, Flynn pulled him free of the cockpit with effort and dragged him 30 feet to beyond the tail of the airplane. Flynn’s father arrived and aided him in carrying Lawrence 30 feet farther from the flames. Lawrence recovered. 3839-42777
42777 – 3839
42777-3839