Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: June 13, 1988
• Invested on: June 02, 1989

Johan Ahlstrom, M.B.
John Hall, M.B.*
Stanley Louttit, M.B.
Allan T. Quinn, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

During the spring break-up of 1986, helicopter pilots Johan Ahlstrom and John Hall, along with pilot Allan Quinn and Stanley Louttit of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Moose Factory joined efforts to rescue the people of the flooded village of Winisk on Hudson Bay. On May 16, the rapidly rising river overflowed its banks, sending large blocks of ice coursing through the village and causing some of the houses to break off their foundations and begin moving with the strong current. Under extremely poor weather condition, with near zero visibility in fog, Mr. Ahlstrom and Mr. Hall made numerous trips between the village and the airport, transporting the residents to safety. Unable to land in the flooded village, they performed a perilous manoeuvre, placing one helicopter skid on the ice while the other remained in the air above the rushing water. With the assistance of Mr. Quinn and Mr. Louttit, and with the spinning rotor blades often less than a foot from the building, the occupants were then coaxed out of their houses and helped over the chunks of ice and into the helicopters. Although the village of Winisk was destroyed, these men exposed themselves to great danger to ensure that all the villagers were brought to safety.

* This is the second award of a Medal of Bravery to Mr. Hall.