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8th April 1968
Barbara Jane Harrison, aged 22, was a flight attendant on Flight 712 to Sydney, Australia from Heathrow. Within a minute from takeoff number 2 engine on the Boeing 707 caught fire and fell from the port wing. Within 2.5 minutes the plane landed back at Heathrow. The fire was beyond control and passengers were being evacuated. Due to an escape chute partial failure, Jane was the only person helping at the rear escape door including literally pushing passengers out. Eventually there were just four, including a disabled person in a wheelchair, out of over 200 but she still didn't save herself - she stayed at her post.
For her selfless and heroic action, she was posthumously awarded the George Cross, one of only 4 women to receive it, the youngest and the only one in peacetime.