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Age 102 and still flying!
Win delicious doughnuts
Come fly with us — MAF trip!
MEET
JACK HEMMINGS
ONE OF BRITAIN’S OLDEST WARTIME PILOTS AND MAF UK’S FIRST EVER PILOT Simon dunsfield, Darren Harbor, Eastbourne Herald, Olly Nunn, MAF Archive
Jack was heavily involved in the story of how MAF started — a story of great faith, courage, adventure and perseverance! During World War II, several Christian servicemen and women from around the world had a vision from God to use aircraft for good, using planes to reach the thousands of people living in isolation throughout the world. Out of that vision, Murray Kendon (Pilot), Stuart King (Pilot and Engineer) and Jack Hemmings (Pilot) helped found MAF nearly 80 years ago. As Jack turns 103 later this year, we thought it was about time we introduced him to you.
1940
Jack joined the war effort at the age of 19 and fought in World War II with the Royal Air Force as a fighter pilot.
‘If I am going to fight a war, I may as well do it sitting down!’ exclaimed Jack Hemmings.
1942
Jack was based in Calcutta, India, in charge of protecting the Bay of Bengal from Japanese invasion. Jack shares some hair-raising stories about narrowly escaping death while flying aircraft during the war:
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‘I flew in to have a look at the port, to be met by a shower of upward flying bullets. ‘I had the honour of being the only one to be seriously hit by enemy fire. There was a loud bang behind my head as something in the radio exploded just as the rear gunner called Ops to say, rather dryly, “Lots of little holes in the wing, Jack.” There was a fountain of petrol coming up through the floorboards! On another occasion, having had to do a difficult emergency landing, Jack remembers:
‘I was knocked unconscious and had to be dragged from the aircraft as it caught fire and spent the next two weeks in hospital with a fractured skull.’
While in India, Jack came across a copy of a magazine that featured an article about launching a Christian air service. It immediately sparked his interest.
1946
Jack returned to London to help launch the first mission air service. He was appointed Chief Pilot of the first-ever MAF survey flight across central Africa. The aim was to assess the humanitarian needs of some of the world’s most isolated people.
MORE THAN 18,000 PEOPLE ACROSS THE UK HEARD ABOUT MAF’S MINISTRY AHEAD OF ITS AFRICAN SURVEY, ATTRACTING MANY LIFELONG SUPPORTERS. WITH NO INTERNET OR SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT’S AN AMAZING FOLLOWING!
Stuart, Murray, Jack and Tom Banham during the UK tour, using a plane to raise support
1948
Jack and Stuart flew a small Miles Gemini aircraft from Croydon Airport to Nairobi — Kenya’s capital — to begin the 8-month survey. Setting out with little more than a map, compass and the river Nile as their guide, the two RAF airmen visited more than 100 aid and mission outposts separated from vital facilities by vast jungles, impenetrable swamps and endless deserts.
Whilst discovering unimaginable needs amidst hazardous terrain, Jack and Stuart were able to make contact with over 500 isolated missionaries. Together, they concluded that the only way to provide life-saving help in hard-to-reach places was to build airstrips in the wilderness. Jack and Stuart in the Congo, visiting missionaries and African chiefs
In the absence of roads, small planes enabled emergency cargo, missionaries and medical equipment to be delivered safely and quickly, saving many days of treacherous overland travel. During their historic trip, Jack was given the nickname ‘Crasher Jack’ when he famously crashed their plane into a Burundi mountainside in August 1948. Miraculously, he and Stuart walked away unharmed!
1950
MAF’s first programme was established in Sudan, Africa.
DI KEEP REA
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From one aircraft and a handful of wartime servicemen and women, MAF has grown to become the world’s largest humanitarian air service! • • •
Flying 115+ planes With 1,300 staff worldwide Working in more than 25 low-income countries
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Flying to over 1,000 remote destinations!
Jack continued to work for MAF and, although he later moved on to a successful career in accountancy, he continued to follow and support MAF. He also continued to fly, even training in aerobatics in 1992! Jack also won a prestigious award for ‘exemplary gallantry while flying’ as well as the Master Air Pilot award.
2021
Jack performed aerobatics in a light aircraft to celebrate his 100th birthday!
‘During wartime, aircraft were used for destruction, but it has always been my desire that they be used for good. ‘That is what MAF does today. It is more than a bright idea that stayed in someone’s head, it has grown exponentially to become the Good Samaritan of the air.’ Jack Hemmings AFC, World War II veteran and one of MAF’s founders and early pioneers
How can YOU be a part of MAF’s story? 2022
Jack celebrated his 101st birthday with a surprise flight in a 1947 Miles Gemini aircraft — the same type he’d flown 74 years ago with MAF
2023
Jack was honoured as one of Britain’s oldest wartime pilots during a special event at London’s RAF Museum.
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Please join us in thanking God for using ordinary people to do extraordinary things for His Kingdom! May God continue to bless the work of MAF worldwide and may many more people experience God’s love through MAF’s work. Please pray for God’s blessing upon Jack and his family as he faithfully continues to support MAF. Are you unsure about God’s calling on your life but want to have a life full of adventure with Him? Snap us a prayer request and the MAF Youth team will pray that you discover God’s calling on your life.
INVITE MAF YOUTH TO YOUR YOUTH GROUP WE’LL BRING DOUGHNUTS! We love connecting with youth groups all around the UK, so MAF Youth has a wide range of FREE MAF Youth Speakers who bring the adventure and challenges of a life of mission through an exciting and interactive session! • Experience what it’s like to live in isolation. Imagine life with no internet, supermarkets or hospitals nearby! • Discover why MAF staff are needed, and why we help thousands of humanitarian organisations to reach isolated people with our planes. • Investigate some of the weird and wonderful cargo we fly – from eyeballs, crocodiles and life-saving medicine to school children, books and teachers! Each MAF Youth session looks at the incredible work MAF does in helping remote communities and shows how – even if it’s in the smallest of ways – we can all make a difference.
HOW CAN YOU WIN SOME DOUGHNUTS FOR YOUR YOUTH GROUP? The first 20 youth groups that sign up for an MAF Youth Speaker will receive some delicious doughnuts for the whole group to enjoy!
TO DO LIST:
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azine to Pass this mag er! ork yo u r yo u t h w
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th group A s k yo u r yo u up an MAF leader to sign y emailing rb Youth Speake af-uk.org mafyouth@m is booked, Once the visit ur MAF Youth we'll send yo ith plenty gw speaker alon ! of doughnuts
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COME AND V WE CAN’T WAIT TO
ISIT SOON!
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READY FOR THE
FRIDAY 26-SUNDAY 28 HOW TO APPLY JULY 2024 16-21 YEAR OLDS £300 MISSION AVIATION TRAINING CENTRE (MATC), THE NETHERLANDS
EMAIL MAFYOUTH@MAF-UK.ORG TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
WE WILL EMAIL YOU AN ITINERARY FOR THE WEEKEND ALONG WITH AN APPLICATION FORM, AND CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ENGINEER AND PILOT TRAINING SCHEMES ON OUR WEBISTE: WWW.MAF-UK.ORG/WORKING-WITH-US NEED HELP FUNDRAISING? CONTACT US AND WE’LL TRY AND HELP YOU REACH YOUR TARGET!
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OR THE FIRST STEP OF THAT JOURNEY?
WHAT WILL I NEED? • A GENUINE INTEREST IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT TRAINING AND WORKING FOR MAF OVERSEAS AS A PILOT OR ENGINEER • TO FUNDRAISE £300 (MINIMUM OF £200 TO ATTEND THE TRIP — £100 TO GO TOWARDS THE LIFESAVING WORK OF MAF) • AN UP-TO-DATE PASSPORT
WHAT WILL IT INCLUDE? • TRAVEL TO THE NETHERLANDS VIA MINIBUS AND EUROTUNNEL
• OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD • A FLIGHT LESSON (USING THE ELITE S812 FLIGHT SIMULATOR) • ENGINEERING WORKSHOPS • OPPORTUNITIES TO CHAT WITH AN MAF PILOT, MAF ENGINEERS AND CURRENT TRAINEES • A FLIGHT IN AN MAF PLANE!
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country
MADAGASCAR MAF PROGRAMME BEGAN 1988
known for
Lemurs, vanilla beans, lush rainforests and coral reefs
Pray for
God’s protection against the tropical cyclones, torrential rains and destructive floods that can cause immense damage across the country
Mark & Kelly Hewes
Irina Randriamandrato, Shutterstock
Despite polio once being a very serious infection, thanks to extensive global vaccination programmes, polio has now been eradicated throughout most of the world! (There hasn’t been a case in the UK for more than 30 years.)
P O L I O F A C TS :
ious disease • It’s a highly contag contact • It spreads through oplets with poo or water dr from coughs nce • It’s been around si ancient times polio • 1 in 4 people with mptoms experience flu-like sy can result • More serious cases lysis, in meningitis or para t disability leading to permanen or death.
Madagascar is one of the few countries that still needs to tackle the dangers facing underimmunised children and adults in rural areas. More than 60% of Madagascar’s people live more than 3 miles from a health centre, often in very remote and hard to access areas. Places without transport, roads or communications.
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Imagine having to walk those 3 miles with a sick or paralysed member of your family, over treacherous mountainous terrain or through dense tropical rainforests… Madagascar’s polio outbreak began in September 2020. According to the World Health Organisation, it has resulted in at least 49 people being paralysed and 226 people testing positive for the disease. Due to the increase in cases, Madagascar’s Ministry of Health and UNICEF are taking action to prevent the disease from spreading further.
‘Our MAF plane is flying all over Madagascar. We’re even flying on Saturdays and Sundays. Our Ground Operations team loads the aircraft late into the evening so the plane can depart as early as possible the next day. ‘It’s great that MAF is transporting vaccines all around the island and helping to raise awareness about polio. I’m very grateful to be part of a team that brings help, hope and healing to isolated communities!’ Fanamperana Andriamalala, MAF Madagascar Flight Operations Officer
What difference can an MAF plane make? • Saves many hours or days travel • Keeps vaccinations at the right temperature so they remain effective • Reduces the risk of the precious vaccines being damaged on route to their final destination. MAF has been supporting the UNICEF backed vaccination campaign to eradicate the disease. At the end of 2023, MAF delivered 7,570kg of polio vaccines and information packs by making 10 flights to 23 remote locations across Madagascar. According to UNICEF, September 2023 saw more than 18,500,000 adults and children being vaccinated against polio — more than half the population — as part of the country’s drive to eradicate the disease. Thanks to partnership and teamwork, MAF is helping to protect the health of Madagascar’s remotest communities, bringing about real change!
MAF Madagascar transported 7,570kg of polio vaccinations and supplies during the polio campaign!
Polio vaccinations being delivered by MAF plane
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COmpetitiOn n o g n i h t 1 e r a h S u o y t s i l t e k c u b your n i e v e i h c a o t t n wa . e m i t e your lif
n i w l l i w e l p o e p 3 0 2 £ a n i aw t a E t s u J ! r e h c u o v
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TIME!
Snap or email us your answer to enter the prize draw…
*A bucket list is a list of the experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. (Not to be confused with a KFC bucket!) Chad Madden (Unsplash)
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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE WHO WON A CHOCOLATE BUNDLE IN THE LAST COMPETITION!
AZARIA AJIBOLA JOEL DENLEY LOGAN NUNN ZOE JONES OLWYN KORUS LEO SWAFFIELD PIPPA SIMPSON RACHEL LOGAN JOEL SMITH 14
BIG
CONGRATS
Don't forget to add us on snapchat to stay up to date with all MAF Youth is doing!
to Bea and Daniel for winning the indoor flying experience! 15
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Age 102 and still flying!
Win delicious doughnuts
Come fly with us — MAF trip!
Paula Alderblad
Search ‘MAF Youth’ W maf-uk.org/youth E youth@maf-uk.org