New Heroic Comics #56

General Foreman Bill Hallahan, responding to an emergency call, intercepts a police alert about a wanted armed robbery suspect in a black sedan. Spotting the vehicle, he quickly contacts authorities and assists a patrol officer in tracking down and apprehending the fleeing suspects.

On a storm-lashed night in November, Ensign J. H. MacDonald and the crew of the Coast Guard cutter "Bibb" respond to a distress call from a stranded four-engine flying boat carrying 69 passengers. As the plane struggles to survive in violent seas, the crew races to rescue the passengers, launching life rafts and evacuating them one by one through the night. The story follows the tense, heroic efforts to save lives before the damaged aircraft is finally sunk.

Six-year-old Robert Bott stays calm when his grandmother catches fire after a gas heater explosion, quickly grabbing a bucket of water to extinguish the flames despite his age. With his younger sister Carol by his side, he acts fast and decisively, saving his grandmother’s life in a moment of crisis. The story captures the quiet heroism of a child stepping up in an emergency, leaving the aftermath and emotional toll for another time.

When six-year-old Bertha Britton accidentally knocks over a kerosene stove, her older brother Kenneth Britton springs into action, racing to save her from the spreading flames. Despite the chaos, Kenneth stays calm and manages to extinguish the fire engulfing his sister, calling for help as their mother rushes to the scene. The story captures the young boy’s bravery in a terrifying moment that earns him recognition as a local hero.

In the summer of 1898, a daring mission to block the Spanish fleet in Santiago Harbor leads to tragedy and survival, as Richmond P. Hobson and a small crew, including coxswain Randolph Clausen, attempt to scuttle the collier Merrimac. After the ship is hit and sinks, Clausen and several others are captured and imprisoned for 34 days before the war ends. Now the last living survivor of that crew, Clausen reflects on the perilous night that defined his service.

Clarence V. Lewis and his young daughter Judy are stranded on a railroad crossing when their car stalls just as a fast train approaches. With no time to spare, Lewis makes a desperate decision to pull Judy to safety moments before the train crashes. The story ends with a surprising twist involving a familiar face from the inspection team.

Patrolman Joseph J. Cooney rushes to the scene of a gasoline truck fire at the city airport, where a burning flare pot ignites a truck, enveloping it in flames. Determined to prevent a larger disaster, he bravely attempts to move the flaming vehicle away from a loading platform, overcoming frozen controls and intense heat. His quick actions help contain the blaze until the fire department arrives.

Five-year-old Billy Ekroos stays calm when his mother collapses and an oil stove ignites, trapping her and his younger sister in a blazing kitchen. While flames surround them, Billy shouts for his mother to wake up and, despite the danger, helps his sister escape and later assists in saving another infant. His quick thinking and courage earn him recognition from Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, who present him with awards for heroism.

Fireman Henry J. Rhiel makes a daring rescue of an elderly woman trapped on a burning tenement, using his strength and quick thinking to pull her to safety from a precarious chimney pipe. The story highlights his courage and skill, drawing on his background as a former flight engineer in the U.S. Navy.

Patrick O'Hare, a 7-year-old boy, acts quickly when his friend Billy falls into a deep drainage ditch, refusing to wait for help and instead using his wits and bravery to pull Billy to safety. His quick thinking and courage during the emergency earn him a medal and a cash reward for his heroic actions.

In a harrowing true-life moment on a steep hill outside Glendale, California, truck driver Robert P. Hale faces a collision with a runaway lumber truck and, despite the danger of an exploding gas tank, bravely rushes back to rescue the injured driver. Though shaken and fearing for his own life, Hale refuses to abandon the man trapped beneath the wreckage, pulling him free in a desperate, courageous act.

Major Kenneth B. Smith, a combat pilot with 126 missions and six confirmed kills, makes the ultimate sacrifice during a routine flight when his P-47 Thunderbolt catches fire mid-air. As his plane spirals toward the town of Searsport, Maine, he fights to regain control to avoid civilian casualties, ultimately choosing to bail out—though he doesn’t survive the crash. The story honors his final act of courage, which spared lives despite his own death.

Sacha Siemel ventures into the South American jungle, driven by a desire to master its dangers and confront the mighty jaguar on equal terms. Armed with a bow, arrow, and later a spear, he tests his skill and courage against the beast, determined to give it a fair fight despite the peril.

During a routine jump near Fairbanks, Alaska, P.F.C. Raymond Kenyon reacts swiftly when a cross-wind puts another paratrooper in danger, lunging to grab the shroud lines of the collapsing chute and bringing his buddy to safety. The story highlights Kenyon’s quick thinking and bravery in a life-threatening situation.

Walter Schubert, a telephone man, makes a split-second decision to divert from his route when he hears a mother screaming that her baby is dying. Racing against time, he rushes the child and her siblings to Fordham Hospital, where doctors confirm his swift action saved the infant’s life.

Martin Smith takes his younger brother Junior on a quiet rowboat outing, hoping for a peaceful date, but a sudden splash sends the boat drifting and Junior falls into the water. As panic sets in, Martin dives in to rescue him, performing artificial respiration for nearly half an hour until Junior finally stirs—miraculously revived by Martin’s unwavering determination.

In the early hours of morning, Charles Redner wakes to find his home engulfed in flames after a sudden explosion, forcing him to quickly rally his wife Dorothy and their two children to escape the spreading fire. With the window stuck and no time to spare, Charles leads them through the smoke and chaos, relying on courage and quick thinking as neighbors respond to their cries for help.