Russell E. Fritz helped to rescue John J. O’Connell from burning, Loleta, California, February 9, 1974. When the small airplane in which he was riding crashed on a beach, O’Connell, 28, was injured but tried to get out as gasoline from the fuel tanks in the wings poured into the cockpit. Fritz, 28, furniture maker, ran to the plane, which was on its side against a large driftwood stump. Another man already was on the stump and aiding O’Connell, who was climbing out through a small window. Fritz joined the man on the stump and assisted in pulling O’Connell upward through the window. Just before O’Connell’s legs were pulled out of the plane, the leaking fuel ignited. O’Connell’s gasoline-soaked clothing caught fire. With sand and water, Fritz and the other man extinguished the flames on O’Connell, who required hospitalization for his burns but recovered. 54203-6182
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54203-6182