In 1945, in WWII, there was heavy fighting in northern Italy. On the ground, the Germans were getting ready to attack the allies with their heavily armored Tiger Tanks.
Several of these tanks were massing together near the industrial city of Milan. The Allies saw their chance to eliminate them. They wouldn’t fight these tanks on the ground but from the air. They sent the Brazilian Squadron of 12 P-47 Thunderbolts against them. In this squadron was a 23-year-old pilot named Lieutenant Raymundo.
Although P-47s were single-engine planes, they could carry two 500-lb. bombs and a rack of several missiles. Their eight .50 caliber machine guns could cut a steel locomotive in half. The German Panzers were virtually defenseless against these planes.
The squadron took off in bad weather. The clouds were thick and low. When the P-47s reached the vicinity of the tanks, they dove nearly straight down through the clouds toward their targets.
A Rough Battle
The ack, ack of anti-aircraft fire exploded around them. As they accelerated downwards they suddenly broke through the cloud cover into the clear. Straight to their targets they flew. They dropped their 500-lb. bombs as close to the tanks as possible. After their bombs detonated, they would swoop back up to higher altitude out of range of the anti-aircraft fire. Then they would repeat their dives, firing their missiles and also their machine guns into the tanks.
Lieutenant Raymundo had made three of these steep dives swooping out of the sky. He had destroyed three tanks. On the fourth dive, his plane sped down out of the clouds. He spotted a German Tiger Tank driving down a lane. He got the tank in his sights and pulled the trigger of his machine guns. The heavy bullets penetrated the thin armor on the topsides of the tank and the tank went up in a ball of flames.
Almost at the last possible second before hitting the ground, the pilot pulled back heavily on the stick of the plane. The plane responded by steeply swooping back up towards the sky.
Lieutenant Raymundo had been so focused on the tank that he didn’t notice tall industrial brick smokestacks looming a short distance in front of him. When he saw them, it was too late to change course.
Thwack! The wing of his plane hit the giant smokestack at 465 mph, shearing two thirds of his right wing clean off the plane! Miraculously the plane stayed in flight.
Struggling Back Toward Base
The lieutenant gave it full throttle and continued to climb out of the range of the deadly anti-aircraft fire. He tried to call his squadron leader, but the collision had disabled his radio.
He turned his damaged plane in the direction of his home base and began the long journey home alone. His plane was still able to fly, but he had to be extra alert and careful to nurse it along.
His troubles were not over. En route back to his base, his plane was mistaken for an enemy fighter. Allied fighter planes from his own side fired on him from a distance. These planes had attempted to make radio contact, but when Lieutenant Raymundo didn’t respond, they figured he must be an enemy. Only the armored plate at the back of his seat saved his life. When the fighter pilots got closer, they discovered what a terrible mistake they were making. They also marveled that a plane missing a wing could stay in flight. They admired the skill and courage of the pilot that kept the plane afloat in the air. After a few minutes of flying beside him, they dipped their wings in salute and flew away.
Lieutenant Raymundo flew back to base and was able to land the one-winged plane. For his exploits in this battle, he would be awarded a medal called the Distinguished Flying Cross. He would fly a total of 50 combat missions during the war and afterwards make a career of flying commercial airliners.
Most planes, if they hit a brick chimney and have a wing shorn off, would spiral out of control and crash. It’s hard to believe that this plane could keep flying and make it back to safety.
Too Late to Save Our Flight
Lieutenant Raymundo showed courage and skill and made it back to base. Many people think they can do the same thing with their lives. They’ve had some rough spots equivalent to losing a wing while flying through life. But with guts and self-improvement, they think they can make it through and be acceptable to God. But with our lives it just doesn’t work like that.
When it comes to righteousness, it is as though we have had both wings shorn off. This is because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). Sin has made it so that no one can get themselves home to heaven by their own effort. While many flatter themselves with thinking they can handle things on their own like Lieutenant Raymundo, none of us can. There is no way by our own effort to return to the God who loves us.
In reality, one sin is enough to keep us out of God’s presence. But sin has seriously damaged us in the depths of our being and for many the situation is evidently getting worse. Sin makes us insensitive to God’s goodness. It clouds our judgment so we don’t think straight. It can make us malicious or mean-spirited toward our fellow humans. We don’t mind hurting others as long as we get what we want. When we dive into sin, unruly passions rise up in us and they are hard to restrain. Every time we sin, the inclination for good grows weaker and fainter and it is harder to climb out of it. People without God are in a desperate plight. It is only a matter of time before they spiral out of control. People who die in their sins will end up crashing into the flames of a lost eternity.
Help From Above
Left to ourselves, each one of us would end up with the just consequence for our sins — hell. But God in His mercy has not left us without a way to escape. He loved us so much He sent His Son to be the Savior. “The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:1414But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)).
How can sinners who are so deeply injured by sin ever make it into heaven? They can make it into heaven through the Lord Jesus Christ and the work He did at the cross.
The blood shed on the cross has the power to wash away every stain of sin from their hearts. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)).
When a person believes in Christ, they receive a new life and power so that they can do what is just, good and right in His sight. By God’s grace, they may begin the journey home to heaven. It enables them to love God. God’s grace can do all these things. God’s grace is free to all who ask for it through the Lord Jesus. Grace brings healing to sin-sick people. It turns sinners into children of God. The Lord Jesus showed His grace for sinners when He voluntarily gave up His life at Calvary. “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:1717For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)).
Every soul saved by grace is really an incredible testimony to the goodness of God.
Listen, it was remarkable that a plane could keep flying after the wing was broken off. It is far more remarkable, incredible and marvelous how God can save sinners by His grace and help them on their way home to heaven.
We can’t make it home to heaven by ourselves, but we can through the Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t go on in your sins a moment longer. Turn to the Lord Jesus in faith. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).
The P-47 had a difficult journey back to base. In Through the Fog you’ll find another difficult one.