Complex sentence: All his efforts were in vain, first using a fire axe to try to pry open the doors and finally, resorting to beating at the turret with his hands, with his own clothing and parachute on fire, Brophy eventually waved him away.
Split into simpler sentences: All his efforts were in vain, initially using a fire axe to try to pry open the doors and finally resorting to beating at the turret with his hands. With his own clothing and parachute on fire, Brophy eventually waved him away.