Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: August 8, 1983
• Invested on: December 09, 1983

Sergeant William Albert Fullbrook, M.B., C.D.
Corporal Bruce Alexander Koronko, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On 7 September 1981, two members of Edmonton's 440 Squadron, Sgt. William Sunny Fullbrook and Cpl. Bruce Koronko, at the risk of their own lives rescued three men from the wreckage of an airplane. A trio of surveyors were discovered at the site of the crash near Baker Lake, Northwest Territories. In spite of high winds which exceeded the limits of their equipment, low cloud, and rocky terrain likely to cause personal injury, Sgt. Fullbrook and Cpl. Koronko elected to proceed with the rescue and parachuted from about 300 metres. They reached the three men, all unable to move due to serious back injuries, dispensed first aid and erected a shelter while awaiting the arrival of an helicopter. When told that the helicopter could only accommodate two stretchers, Sgt. Fullbrook and Cpl. Koronko hoisted two of the critically injured aboard and remained behind with the third. More than nine hours later a second helicopter arrived and carried them away. But for their voluntary jump at the scene, at least two of the crash victims would not have survived.