Pause for Thought

Dedicated on behalf of our 97 Squadron crew to the memory of our skilful and courageous skipper, Wing Commander Edward "Ted" Porter, DFC and bar, RAF, who by putting devotion to duty before personal safety was killed in action on Aug. 17, 1944 while directing a minelaying operation in the Swinemunde Canal near Stettin, Germany.

Bomber Command historical records state that W/C Porter, when his aircraft was going down after being coned in searchlights and sustaining furious flak, with unshakeable calm said on R/T: "I'm afraid we have had it. I shall have to leave you now. Baling out. Good luck everybody." But they were too low for parachutes."

W/Cmdr.Porter returned earlier from leave than he should have done .He did so for instruction on flying Mosquito aircraft. He therefore undertook this operation with a scratch Lancaster crew and thus his usual Crew were not with him that fateful night:

F/O Jim Logan DFC, RCAF - Navigator
F/O Bill Pearson DFC, RCAF - Bombaimer
P/O Bill "Bluey" Howe DFC, RAF - Flight Engineer (deceased)
P/O Bill Doran, DFC, RAF - Wireless Operator
F/Sgt James "Mac" MacLean, RAF - Midupper Gunner (deceased)
P/O Ernest "Sonny" Thomas DFC, RAAF - Rear Gunner (deceased)

The quotation of Porter's final words are taken from the book "Bomber Command" by Max Hastings, published in 1981 by Pan Books Ltd., London, England.

A NAVIGATOR'S VIEW OF THE ROUTE TO HEAVEN
A Comparison of a WWII Operational Bombing Mission to a Christian's Journey to Our Heavenly Home

Bombing missions were never carried out without a thorough briefing beforehand so that all the crew had complete instructions as to how to carry out their duties and to know what to expect during the course of the flight. The briefing included a meteorological forecast of the weather conditions along the route at various altitudes as well as the wind direction and wind speeds.

Intelligence data provided information concerning enemy defenses. The pilots and bombaimers received instructions about the bomb load carried in relation to the necessary fuel load. Wireless operators were briefed by the signals officers about radio frequencies, wireless silence, etc.

Navigators were briefed by the navigation leader about the route to follow on their maps, the synchronization of watches to maintain precise times of arrival at preselected turning points along the route. The importance of maintaining your position within the concentration of bombers and arriving over the target at the prescribed time and altitude for your wave of aircraft was emphasized.

Following the briefing, the crews were transported to their aircraft dressed in their standard flying gear. The navigator had in his satchel all the maps, charts, Dalton computer, log and all necessary drawing and writing  tools to plot the course and record details of the operation. After takeoff, the navigator informed the pilot of the course and airspeed to maintain at the prescribed altitude so that precision timing was adhered to thus keeping our aircraft within the concentration. The accuracy of the briefed wind directions and speeds would be checked by sightings where possible of identifiable pinpoints along the route. When these were incorrect causing the aircraft to drift off course or be late or early at points along the route, the navigator would give the pilot revised course and airspeeds to stay on track and maintain prearranged times. Bombaimers would throw outside tinsel strips over enemy territory to jam the enemy's radar instruments so they could not single out your aircraft for predicted flak or fighter attack.

Similarities to the Christian's Journey to Our Heavenly Home

As was the case at O.T.U. (Operational Training Unit) where the pilot asked individuals to become part of his aircrew so Jesus chooses us to be his vessels to carry out the mission He has for each one of us.  To accept Jesus as the pilot in our lives, we first accept Him as our Lord and Saviour provided by His death on the cross and resurrection for our redemption from sin. In this analogy the aircraft in which you fly is really your life under our Lord's guidance. As fledging crew members are taught how to carry out their particular duties in the aircraft, so we are taught from the Bible through the Holy Spirit and from devout Christian leaders how to accomplish the task set before us.

The aircraft in which you fly on the squadron is competently and lovingly maintained by the assigned ground crew so that the pilot and crew can have complete confidence that it will respond as required throughout the flight. In the Christian life, these may be the unsung heroes who have contributed to our basic Christian training in early life, perhaps parents, Christian education teachers, classic Christian literature, etc. As a pilot safely takes his aircraft to its destination and keeps it on track using his knowledge of all the mechanical components and instruments, etc., so the Lord guides us through prayer and fellowship with Him in our daily lives. The navigator on completion of his training has now acquired the tools so that he can form a partnership with the pilot and together they can guide the aircraft along the predetermined course to arrive safely on time at the destination.  The successful completion of our missions in WWII depended upon the constant communication and trust established among the pilot and navigator and the other crew members.  In the Christian life, our successful walk is accomplished by our commitment to Jesus to order our life, i.e., through constant dependence upon Him and His promises.  “I will never leave you nor forsake you”.  

Problems encountered en route to the target and actions to overcome them may be likened to spiritual crises encountered in our lives and our reaction to them. As the navigator prepares for the flight with all the necessary briefing, maps, navigational aids, etc., so the Christian must use the Word of God as his/her map together with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to set out on the journey.

The navigator uses all his aids to stay on course, while the Christian must follow daily the Lord's leading  in his/her life. Aids for the Christian may be the counsel of Christian leaders, family and friends. During the flight, the crew may experience storms along the route and/or unexpected changes in wind speed and direction. These problems may be likened to cares and unexpected crises in this life which take us off course and cause us to even lose our way when we take our eyes off Jesus. Enemy flak could become a real danger if your aircraft drifted off track and was coned in searchlights. Similarly in life, Satan's temptations can deviate us from our course and  we would be a casualty if we were to become completely obsessed by the temptation. An attack by enemy fighters requires immediate evasive action by the pilot and defensive firepower by the gunners if we are to survive such an engagement. In the Christian life, such attacks by Satan also require immediate action to get us back on track through confession and repentance leading to our forgiveness and restoration .

Staying within the concentration of aircraft as we did in WWII missions has the following analogy in the Christian life, i.e., maintain a close relationship with a fellowship of believers.  One can see a similarity here between the small groups of St. Paul's and the 7 or 8 persons making up the bomber crew. Our lives very much depended upon each member performing his duties correctly and faithfully and a bond of trust knowing that everyone else would do the same. The unity of the group is maintained throughout by bonding and a loving concern by each member one for the other. This indeed has been evident in many crews even 50 plus years later.

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except  through me.”             John 14.6

Jim Logan