Mission Aviation Fellowship
 

Several years ago I had the opportunity to fly for MAF but decided against doing so. It was the right decision for me. I have always admired the dedication and bravery of the MAF pilots and today have discovered their first pilot was a lady by the name of Betty Greene. This is a quote from an article on the MAF website:
'In her career, Betty made over 4,640 flights as she ferried aircraft and delivered missionaries, dignitaries and cargo to inaccessible corners of the country. She also carried out many life-saving medical flights for patients who would have died without them.'
There is a lot more here: https://www.maf-uk.org/story/betty-g...ever-maf-pilot

Betty also joined the Women's Air Force Service Pilots during World War II. She died in 1997 at the age of 76. This quote from an obituary in the Seattle Times: 'She flew several kinds of military planes during the war and did experimental work on high-altitude flights. Ms. Greene even flew a plane towing a target, while her twin brother, Bill, fired artillery at it from the ground' More here: Obituaries | Betty Greene, 76; Pioneer Aviatrix, Missionary And A Lady To Her Core | Seattle Times Newspaper

An inspiring and wonderful lady. Well done Betty. Apologies if anyone has posted about Betty before.

Recently enjoyed reading 'Eyes Turned Skyward' by MAF veteran pilot Max Meyers. MAF have published a series of books by various authors about their work around the world flying for MAF.

I seem to remember a film shown at Sunday School in the 50s of what I recall a the Missionary Aviation Fellowship. is that the same outfit. Seemed exciting flying to an air mad youngster but not as attractive as the RAF

@noflynomore
A friend of mine was once married to the chief pilot for some medical missionary outfit in Papua-New Guinea. You doubtless know that PNG is famous for extreme weather, stuffed cloud, and very marginal airstrips. One day, in weather bad by PNG standards, there was a call for an emergency evacuation from one of those marginal strips, halfway up a mountain. Evidently a job for the chief pilot, and he died trying to do it.

I'm no fan of evangelical Christianity, but missionaries often do very practical, useful work.

I listened to a talk by a MAF representative earlier this year at a local Church. Fascinating stories so long as you can ignore the preaching. However one of their main appeals, other than for money, was for qualified pilots since apparently they don't train any pilots themselves. Which seemed backwards since they'd just spent $2 million on another Caravan but apparently without pilots to fly it...

Plus always short of engineers, so I understand.