Criss-crossing the skies following World War II, the plane Ambassador transported missionaries to serve destinations all over the globe. During that time, flights for missionaries headed worldwide were hard to come by and the customary boat trips were very difficult and time consuming.

To solve the problem, World Missions leadership bought a surplus C-46 army plane in 1948. Named Ambassador, the plane’s first voyage was to Africa, and then to other parts of the world. About a year later, the plane was sold and replaced with Ambassador II — a four-engine B-17 bomber (or B-17 Flying Fortress). The former combat plane — perhaps one of the most famous American bombers in history — rocketed into a new purpose, carrying missionaries worldwide for another two years.

Aboard the Ambassador I & II, pilots and missionaries safely weathered storms, delays, grueling flight hours, and numerous other challenges, for the sole purpose of bringing the knowledge of Jesus to places in which He was not yet known. These planes touched locations far from beaten paths, many of which became even more forgotten as the world raced on in its pursuit of progress.

Ambassador history is one of miracles, answered prayer, and paths intertwined with numerous heroes of the faith. Pilot Bill Taylor recounted, “What an honor it is to know some of these people, most of whom we barely met, or never met at all, except to say, ‘welcome aboard!’”