A klaxon awakened sleeping airmen to reality. Names crackled out, men struggled into their clothes, coughing and stretching. Outside the wind blew hard against their hut; the end of the runway was obscured by flurries of snow. It was a foul morning! Normally this spelt the end of an operation. Guards by the door of the briefing-room were further proof; something vital was at stake.

The Mosquito Mk V1 “Intruder” was a unique aircraft, of radical plywood and balsa construction. It was the fastest aircraft in the world when deployed, using manpower and materials not employed in the war effort.

Nineteen Mosquitos took off from RAF Hunsdon after 11.00, 18th February 1944. They lifted in a swirl of snow, climbing 100ft into dense cloud. Visibility was almost nil. They set a course for the enemy coast.

Dominique Pouchadier waited. From 15th February he had been watching at midday, scanning the sky for promised aid. Twelve o’clock came; he turned sick at heart and walked down the road towards the prison. Friends were going to die!

Amiens Prison held French patriots, downed airmen and British agents. Of these, 120 were marked for death. The first 12 would die on 19th of February. A bold plan was suggested: by bombing the walls in two places, a way of escape could be provided. It was risky; the view was that “they would rather be killed by British bombs than Nazi bullets.” The strike must be secret and surgical to succeed. Lunchtime was the slot when most prisoners would be in one place. Many guards would also be in their quarters at this point. Raymond Vivant was a new prisoner. He was also a British agent. The information he held was crucial. The Gestapo was unaware of the asset they had.

Pouchardier heard the drone of aircraft, appearing as small dots on the horizon at 12.01. “Navigation was perfect…I’ve never done a better flight” said Wing Comm. I. S. Smyth. His navigator was Ft. Lieut. F Barnes from Enniskillen, N.I. The propellers’ slipstream kicked up a snowy wake as they skimmed in at “deck level”- 10ft off the ground! “I never forget that road…it was lined with poplars…three of us flying so low…The poplars suddenly petered out …a mile ahead was the prison” (P/O M.N. Sparks). The menacing grey walls stood out against a backdrop of fresh snow.

Commanding the raid was Group Captain Pickard, a blonde haired ‘legend’, married to the daughter of a former Lord Mayor of Belfast. His orders -“You’ve got to be below the height of the wall…down to ten feet if possible.” At 12.03 bombs were striking the base of the 20ft wall as planes streaked over. “We just cleared the wall and no more, after letting our bombs go.”(Wing Comm. I.S.Smyth). Quickly two holes were blown in the perimeter walls. Other Mosquitos flew in at right angles, bombing dining and guardrooms to stop them killing prisoners or preventing their escape. There was no needless killing; this was a mission to save. At 12.05 Ft. Lieut. John McCaul yelled: “We’ve scored a direct hit on the guards’ quarters!” All bombs did not find their target; stray bombs killed inmates as feared. A bomb also hit St. Victor hospital but, as it had been taken over by the Nazis, no civilians were among 50 casualties.  Gable walls were blown off giving prisoners access to the courtyard. Black ant-like figures sprinted across snow and through the breached walls. German machine-guns picked some off but soon the rush became tidal- 258 prisoners were out!

Moments later Iredale, McCaul and Dale heard Pickard order remaining pilots not to bomb – the objective was achieved. “RED, RED, RED.” The message was repeated by Ft. Lieut. Wickham in the reconnaissance Mosquito. Sadly, this was “Picks” last message. Smoke hung over the jail; a civilian recalled “nothing but smoke and dust…everywhere. I noticed an aeroplane…circling two or three times.” Then Pickard broke off to investigate McRitchie’s mosquito, brought down by flak. He was ‘bounced’ by two Focke-Wulf 109s. “I then noticed two German fighters chasing him.” Despite several evasive moves, his tail was shot off. The plane flipped and ploughed into the ground near Montigny. He and Ft. Lieut. J.A.Broadley died instantly.

Amiens prison was a grey building, cruciform in shape. A vivid illustration flows from this story of liberation and rescue. It is enlightening and relevant to you.  The great conflict to deliver us took place at the Cross where, ‘On a hill lone and grey in a land far away,’ “Christ died for our sins” (1st Corinthians 15:3).  In death He “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us” (Galatians 1:4).  There was one way to deliver condemned prisoners: the cross-shaped building must be dealt with and the walls breached.  Likewise for us the cross is crucial.  “The Son of Man must be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14, 15).
 
An attempt to storm a nearby jail at St. Quentin resulted in the loss of 12 men -no prisoners were freed.  Amiens’ prisoners were helpless. They needed help from above.  “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6).  The Lord Jesus said: “I came down from Heaven… to do… the will of Him that sent Me” (John 6:38).  God has a rescue plan.  He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2nd Peter 3:9).  God has sent His Son to rescue sinners. “The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1st John 4:14). 

Amiens jail held a large number of condemned prisoners. Strange as it may seem, we also are condemned. “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). The charges levelled against those prisoners were unjust, but our sin is against a righteous God. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). All humanity is affected by sin. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). People have hard thoughts against God but, like the Amiens raid, God’s plan is to save, not ruin lives. “I came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:56).

Raymond Vivant reflected. “Many times I paced up and down in my cell…here was my chance…Heaven sent.”  We also are given opportunity of deliverance from Heaven.  “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2nd Corinthians 6:2).  We act by believing in order to escape the sentence due to sin.  “He that heareth my word, and believeth …hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).  God’s time is now.  “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). Accepting Christ personally as your Saviour is vital.  “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22).  This is the ultimate question.

Another prisoner, Victor Pasteau, had been jailed for burglary.  He was asked, once the raid would take place, to break into the prison records and destroy them.  Pasteau also had the audacity to burgle the Gestapo building, a short distance away, during the chaos.  The records and photos of the escapees were destroyed. God’s salvation is strikingly similar.  God not only frees a man from his sin, but removes every charge of guilt.  “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ” (Romans 8:1).  Sins can never be recalled, once forgiven. “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth” (Romans 8:33).

Annually Pickard and Broadley are remembered in Amiens. The best people are not always spared to enjoy the future. Instead they have secured the future for us, by their sacrifice. My eternal future was secured by the sacrificial death of Christ. “Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). His death has bought my freedom. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Two prisoners remained to help the wounded- Dr Antonin Mans and Andre Tempez.  Others begged them to escape but they felt the need to remain.  The Germans promised leniency for not escaping, but Dr Mans suffered terribly for the rest of the war in a labour camp.  Tempez was shot by firing squad.  The message for sinners is clear: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).  Act upon the opportunity!  “Except ye repent, ye shall…perish” (Luke 13:3). The call is urgent: “Escape for thy life; look not behind thee” (Genesis 19:17).  To neglect God’s only way of salvation ends ultimately in eternal death.  People linger because of family, friends or duties - absolutely nothing is worth losing your soul for.  “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:37).  The action of these men was immensely brave, but in spiritual things delay is madness.
  
 The Mosquito was first seen as outmoded and old fashioned.  It was known as ‘Freedman’s folly’ after the only man who had time for it.  Critics had to back- pedal. “Suddenly the Mosquito was no longer ‘Freedman’s folly’ but an instrument of salvation.”  People need to put prejudice in their pockets and give God’s salvation fresh consideration. This is not some impractical idea – it works! “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16).   It will out-perform every rival idea when tested.  “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1st Corinthians 1:18).