Chester Elery Maxwell attempted to save Benjamin M. Huffman from burning, Oak Lake, Manitoba, July 4, 1941. Fire broke out in a biplane operated by Huffman, 22, airplane pilot, who landed the plane and got out, sustaining slight burns. Maxwell, 36, farmer, who did not know that Huffman had escaped, ran to the plane. With his arms he shielded his face from flames three to 10 feet high that rose from the fuselage and the wings near it and looked into the cockpit. The gasoline tank was enveloped in flames. Maxwell noted that no one was in the cockpit and then saw Huffman, who was 100 feet away. He ran from the plane; and when he was 20 feet from it, the gasoline tank exploded. Burning gasoline was sprayed overhead for 50 feet and dropped on Maxwell burning him. He fell to the ground a moment and then ran farther from the plane. Maxwell sustained severe burns on his head, face, arms, and hands and was disabled for more than two weeks. 39116-3283
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39116-3283