43 people lost their lives and 11 people survived the crash including Gail Bunn whose article is above. Families of the passengers flew into Cranbrook and PWA took care of all their expenses. No claim was rejected.
After Cranbrook was cleared of debris and everyone left, all bills were sent to our department. We didn't pass them through the normal channels, they were reviewed and I paid them. That way no one in accounting would know what was paid. It was difficult for many people because PWA was a small company and many people knew the crew.
One thing this article didn't print, when Gail was ready to return to work, she chose the exact same route that didn't finish on February 11th! I'm so happy she was rewarded for her bravery.
The Governer General of Canada awarded Gail Lois Bunn, MB and David James White, MB
Medal of Bravery
Purser Gail Bunn and David White removed an eleven-year-old girl from the wreckage of a Pacific Western Airlines aircraft which had crashed at Cranbrook, British Columbia, on 11 February 1978. The aircraft fell while preparing to land in a blizzard and was ripped open by an explosion. Gail and David, who were seated in the tail section of the aircraft, survived and were moving away from the wreckage when they heard the child cry out for help. At great risk they returned to the aircraft and found the girl trapped in her seat. They unbuckled her safety belt, and David White carried her to safety.
