Comments on: The Unexpected Passenger

By: David Earley

David Earley — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 05:58:01 +0000

Further to my last, the Mapnduma girl had a brand new baby with her on that flight.

By: David Earley

David Earley — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 05:55:40 +0000

I am an Australian who was with JAARS on the PNG side when Dennis Stuessi (MAF program director Irian Jaya) requested help with the start of the West Papua MAF helicopter program. I spent a month there in 1976 assisting the first MAF pilot with in country checkout in a Hiller 12E. The whole family came back with me in 77 for 3 months when I was asked to return to help with coordinating earthquake relief. I flew the Hiller and Cessna 206 during that time, living at Sentani apart from several weeks at Okbap. I had a similar experience to Mike evacuating a girl from Mapnduma with a badly fractured lower leg that was still not healed several months post injury. I have often wondered what became of her. Last I saw was dropping her off at a clinic north over the range from Mapnduma…can’t remember what the place name was.
By then the H500 was being used by Pertamina in the relief program and shortly after MAF replaced the Hiller with them.
Described in my book Beneath Blades.

By: Elinor Young

Elinor Young — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 21:45:04 +0000

Hey! I just recognized myself in the photo! The short white woman on the left side of the picture. Can’t recognize any of the Kimyals, but that’s Korupun. Fun seeing this! And during those years was SO grateful for help from MAF helicopters.

By: Steven R. Russell

Steven R. Russell — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 01:52:54 +0000

I am the #1 son of the Rev. James F. Russell, Missionary Pilot to Panama, who candidated with MAF many decades ago when Grady Parrott was President. Dad was disappointed when he got turned down.

But God used it for our good, as Dad became an Independent Missionary Pilot to Panama with Maritime Faith Mission Fellowship, (MFMF), Headquartered in Detroit.

Dad went home to his Reward February 9, 2018, and his cremated Full Military Burial with Honors Remains, conducted by the VFW, were buried on February 19, 2018, Presidents Day Holiday in the U.S.

We lived in Panama when the Canal Zone was in its Hey Day, and Dad got a 50% discount on our school tuition, because he was a Missionary. No separation of parents from children in a boarding school. Dad’s remains are buried in Panama.