Ministry of Defence
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Queen's gallantry medal for hero aircraft engineer
An aircraft engineer who braved intense heat and thick, acrid smoke to rescue his colleague from the wreckage of a vintage aircraft crash, is to be awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal.
Kevin George Francis - known as George - was recommended for the honour for his actions on 6th September 2006, when he worked for the Aircraft Restoration Company at the Imperial War Museum Duxford in Cambridgeshire.
Mr Francis' duties included the maintenance of a Lockheed/Canadair T-33 aircraft operated from the airfield and, on that day, he was in the rear cockpit of the aircraft as it took off en route to the Jersey Air Show.
As it sped down the runway, the aircraft failed to get safely airborne and it left the end of the runway at high speed and still at full power. The plane cart-wheeled through the air before hitting the ground and smashing through a line of trees. The aircraft broke up on impact and there was an explosive ball which extended more than 100 feet into the air
Amid the intense heat, burning fuel and choking fumes, Mr Francis managed to use the plane's emergency knife/hammer to cut a hole in the cockpit canopy, allowing some of the smoke to escape. Although he was able to squeeze his way out of the broken canopy, the pilot was slumped in his seat and did not respond to calls.
Despite flames engulfing parts of the cockpit, Mr Francis ran to the front of the aircraft and deployed the emergency canopy jettison mechanism, which fired the canopy clear of the burning aircraft. This enabled him to climb on to the canopy rail, release the pilot from his harness and pull him clear.
The QGM is awarded to civilians and military personnel in recognition of "exemplary acts of bravery". Although the decoration has been in existence since 1974, fewer than 600 have been awarded.
Mr Francis, who is 48 and single, learnt of his award this week as his citation was published in the London Gazette. His medal will be presented to him at a later date, during the course of an investiture at Buckingham Palace. Mr Francis, who lives in the village of Duton Hill, near Great Dunmow, Essex, still works as an aviation engineer but now for a different company.
Mr Francis said:
"This has come as a great surprise to me - it's quite difficult to take it in, but of course I am very honoured.
"My actions on the day were just what came naturally. I suppose I acted on instinct more than anything. I couldn't breathe or see properly but I just went on to auto-pilot and acted like a robot. It was almost like there was someone else in my body - a very weird experience.
"I was absolutely petrified throughout, but the bottom line is that you have to do what you have to do. It turned out that it took 57 blows with the emergency hammer-knife to break the canopy. I really had to use all my might and I think it must have been the adrenaline that gave me the strength."
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, was among the first to congratulate Mr Francis on his QGM. ACM Torpy said:
"I heard about this incident shortly after it happened and I was struck by the presence of mind and bravery Mr Francis displayed - despite the shock of being involved in such a traumatic accident.
"Although this is a civilian award and Mr Francis is not a member of the military, his actions demonstrate the type of gallantry I would be proud of in any member of the Royal Air Force, and I would like to offer him my sincere congratulations on receiving this well-deserved honour."
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Queen's Gallantry Medal is the third-level civil decoration of the UK and Commonwealth. It is awarded for "exemplary acts of bravery" and is primarily a civilian medal, although military personnel can receive it in recognition of acts not in the face of the enemy. Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters QGM.
2. The QGM is silver and 36mm in diameter. The reverse bears the image of St Edward's Crown. The ribbon is of three equal stripes of dark blue, pearl grey and dark blue, with a narrow rose pink stripe in the centre.
3. The QGM was instituted on 20 June 1974, replacing the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, the British Empire Medal for Gallantry and the Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry. In the past 35 years, fewer than 600 QGMs have been awarded.
4. A picture is supplied with this press release showing Mr Francis with Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, the Chief of the Air Staff, at an earlier awards ceremony.
5. For more information, contact Ben Wilkinson or Nick Manning at the Ministry of Defence Press Office on 0207 218 7907 or ben.wilkinson668@mod.uk
