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MAF History

Go to: 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | Present

1943
Autumn
Three World War II pilots begin meeting for prayer, Bible study and discussion of missionary aviation.

1944
Easter
One of those pilots is moved to establish an organization as soon as possible so that missionary aviation can begin when the war ends.

1945
May 20
Later to become Mission Aviation Fellowship, the Christian Airmen's Missionary Fellowship (CAMF) is launched.

1946
Feb. 14
The first MAF aircraft is purchased: a 1933, Betty Greene with MAF's Waco biplane four-place cabin, red Waco biplane with a new 220-horsepower Continental engine.

1946
Feb. 23
Betty Greene flies MAF's new plane on its inaugural flight. She pilots two Wycliffe workers to a remote jungle location in Mexico.

1950s For countless missionaries, the shortwave radios installed and serviced by MAF are the only way to communicate with the outside world.

1950
Aug.
Hobey Lowrance flies a Piper Clipper to conduct surveys over Honduras and Venezuela to help missionaries prepare for work there. He flies 115 hours over 110,000 square miles of territory.

1954
Jan. 1
A Piper Pacer equipped to land on water or land launches MAF's program in New Guinea. MAF also begins work in Indonesia.

1956
Jan. 3
Nate Saint and four missionary companions land on "Palm Beach" near Ecuador's Curaray River to reach the Auca Indians, a tribe infamous for their violence.

1956
Jan. 5
Nate Saint and his Piper Airplane Nate Saint and his companions make the first personal contact with the Auca Indians. They believe the Indians are friendly.
1956
Jan. 8
Nate Saint is martyred by Auca Indians on "Palm Beach." Killed along with Nate are Jim Elliot, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming, and Ed McCully. Seven-of-nine of the killers . . . and many others from the tribe eventually come to Christ. Tens of thousands of people around the world hear the story and volunteer to take their place.

1959
Sep. 9
Paul Pontier flies the first Indonesian national missionaries. They witness for three days and 1,000 tribespeople commit their lives to Christ.

1961
Jan.
MAF introduces the Missavia transistorized radio, providing a light, low-power way to communicate over long distances.

1964
Mar.
MAF conducts rescue operations in Zaire during a sequel to the Congo rebellion. Many missionaries are killed or displaced.

1965
Oct.
Queen Juliana of the Netherlands personally dedicates the MAF-US C-185 "Flying Dutchman," partially funded by the Dutch government because of MAF's pioneering work in Dutch colonies.

1970
Sep.
Using a plane with retractable skis, Don and Phyllis Beiter launch a program in Afghanistan, later forced to close.

1981 MAF initiates relief flights in Ethiopia in support of famine intervention efforts.

1991
Jan.
The Helicopter Association International awards "Pilot of the Year" to Dave Marfleet and Mike Meeuwse for their humanitarian efforts in Indonesia following a devastating earthquake.

1992
Apr.
Bob Gordon initiates a communications and logistics support ministry in Russia soon after the communist government crumbles.

1993 MAF completes installation of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) receivers on all aircraft. Using satellites, the GPS allows pinpoint location to within 50 feet anywhere in the world.

1994 MAF staffer, Rob Taylor, installs the first satellite communications link in Goma, Zaire (now Congo DRC), enabling mission and relief groups to communicate directly to the U.S. as well as with one another in the field.

1994
Jun.
Nate Saint's recovered plane sits in now MAF's Redlands office The lost MAF-US plane piloted by Nate Saint is recovered. Nate, and four other missionaries, was martyred by Waodani (Auca) Indians on "Palm Beach" in Ecuador. The remains of the plane are displayed in a diorama at MAF headquarters in the U.S..

1995
Jan. 1
MAF begins a floatplane operation in Central Kalimantan to focus on church and mission outreach.

1998
The Mali Programs launches a well digging project. Hand dug by MAF staff, the project provides opportunities to share the Gospel. In its first 18 months, the well digging project would plant more than 20 churches.

1998
In the wake of Hurricane Mitch, MAF conducts relief flights in the Mosquitia region of Honduras.

1998
Mar.
Due to the El Nino weather pattern which brought severe drought conditions to Indonesia, MAF sends a fleet of planes and one helicopter for relief flying.

2000
Feb./Mar.
MAF flies hundreds of flights to support flood relief efforts in Mozambique after hundreds of thousands of people are left homeless.

2001
Oct.
MAF launches Operation ACCESS! under the direction of Ghislaine Benny. Completed in 2006, this landmark project would survey 364 isolated areas in 64 countries.

The purpose of Operation ACCESS! is to identify and survey areas of the world where transportation, communications, and technology barriers prevent or impede people's access to the Gospel and to sustained resources that advace God's Kingdom. The research focuses on countries with pockets of people who are either forgotten or unreached. Such groups have little or no access to Gospel ministry, resources for spiritual nurture, or basic services to improve their quality of life.

2003
MAF Learning Technologies publishes the Bibliologia. Complete on one CD, this pastor's reference library in Russion contains 19 Bible translations and 125 Christian books. The Bibliologia was downloaded more that 50,000 times from the Internet during its first year with more than 6,000 copies distributed initially.

2005
Jan.
Following a series of earthquakes and a devastating tsunami, MAF is the first onsite in Meulaboh, Northern Sumatra, Indonesia. In the first seven weeks, MAF distributed relief supplies to some 60,000 victims by conducting 1,114 relay flights and transporting 387,743 lbs. of food.

2005 MAF celebrates its 60th anniversary.

2006
Sep.
Idaho ground breaking


2006
Mar.
MAF releases the results of Operation Access! A landmark research project that surveyed 364 isolated areas in 64 countries.


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