Hearts of Courage, The Gillam plane crash and the amazing true story of survival in the frozen wilderness in Alaska by John Tippets tells the exciting and true story of the Harold Gillam plane crash. No greater saga of the Northland was ever recounted than the experiences of the survivors of the Gillam plane crash. The Alaska Fishing News, Ketchikan, Alaska, February 8, 1943 In Hearts of Courage John Tippets has done a wonderful job giving voice to his father in telling his story.