Bravery in the Air
I was reading an article on a website about fighter pilots in world war one and came upon a brave fellow by the name of Albert Ball (1896-1917) who was a British fighter pilot. With 44 official victories in the air, Albert was one of Britain’s highest-scoring air aces. In 1914, Albert enlisted in the British Army before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in 1915. Following an intense aerial fight over the western front in May 1917, he sadly crashed and died. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest military award for bravery in the face of the enemy.
We recently discovered that a member of Malc’s family named George Pendrill was also an incredibly brave British pilot but during World War Two. George piloted a Manchester Bomber as Flight Sergeant.
One night in November 1941, George was the captain of an aircraft that carried out a mine-laying operation in heavily defended waters. By sheer determination and devotion to duty, the flight of over 500 miles was made, in the face of adverse flying conditions, and despite intense anti-aircraft opposition, the task was successfully accomplished. Two days later, he attacked a target in the Rhineland and, on the return journey, his aircraft was intercepted by an enemy fighter. Displaying great coolness Flight Sergeant Pendrill instructed his rear gunner to withhold his fire until the enemy flew into close range when it was shot down and observed to crash and burst into flames.
Sadly, when returning after another raid over Germany, they had been under attack from enemy fighters, the plane was badly damaged and some of the crew injured. He managed to put the plane down at an airfield in Lincolnshire, but it landed hard and burst into flames. The pilot and crew all perished. George was, posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for valour. George was a brave man for sure, and a credit to his family. George was first cousin to Malc’s mum.
Wars are terrible and many have lost loved ones and family members, and we are now starting to see signs of this world facing war and worse as it comes to its close – just as the Bible describes it. Jesus speaks to those who will still remain in this world as it worsens and after the church has been taken out of it, (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.)
He says:
And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
(Matthew 24:6-13)
It is yet, not too late to be saved so that you do not have to endure the terrible times to come.