A Distant Prayer: Miracles of the 49th Combat Mission

Europe, 1944 — World War II

Initially, air-service crews were required to complete twenty-five missions before returning to the United States. By the time we arrived, the number of missions had increased to fifty. The mortality rate was so high that they just couldn't bring in new crews fast enough . . . Fifty missions is an unbelievable number, and there was such a high injury and kill rate that it almost wasn't worth calculating.

This is the remarkable true story of Joseph Banks, a young Latter-day Saint and lone survivor of his plane that was shot down during a dangerous bombing run over Germany on his 49th mission — one mission away from going home. A prisoner of war, Joseph overcame impossible odds to mount a miraculous escape and return safely to his wife and young son.

This inspirational story of one man's faith, prayer, and unwavering courage in the face of overwhelming adversity will change the lives of those who read it.