Psychiatric Technician

Department of Mental Hygiene

5/26/1965

Special Act Award (Gold)

On May 26, 1965, Mr. Roland E. Smith helped rescue a man from a burning helicopter in Porterville, California. The victim’s helicopter was caught in a downdraft, dropped on high power lines which caused it to catch fire, and then fell to the ground near the swaying wires. The aircraft's fuel tank was ruptured, and flames spread on the outside of the plastic cabin and around a smaller fuel tank which still was intact. The pilot, a 40 year old citrus farmer, sustained a fractured back and was pinned in his seat by the control column. A retired civil service employee, ran to the opening at the side of the helicopter, but flames rising eight feet from the ground and blowing into the cabin, prevented him from reaching the victim. He ran to the front of the aircraft, where there were no flames, and tore away pieces of the broken plastic until he had made a hole two feet in diameter. When the retired employee tried to reach into the cabin he was forced back by the flames. Mr. Smith arrived with a small fire extinguisher as the citizen enlarged the hole. Through it all, Mr. Smith sprayed the flames inside the cabin, extinguishing them. Another rescuer arrived as the retired citizen reached through the hole and jerked the control column aside. The heat was intense, but Mr. Smith continued using the fire extinguisher and kept the interior free of flames. Together the two citizens pulled the pilot through the hole. Mr. Smith then aided in dragging him away from the burning helicopter. When they were 30 feet from it, the fuel tank exploded, spreading the fire. The victim was hospitalized for severe burns in addition to his injuries.