Illustration on the importance of partnership:
During World War II, over China and Burma, the Flying Tigers of General Claire Chennault were outnumbered – in the air, on the ground, and in planes, pilots, and parts. Yet they destroyed 217 enemy planes and probably 43 more, according to James Wilson in his book “The Principles of War.” Chennault had 20 operational P-40s and this remarkable record was accomplished in 31 encounters. His losses were six pilots and 16 planes.
Throughout the campaign, Chennault used a strategy that the enemy apparently never discovered. His men flew in pairs firmly committed to each other. Even when outnumbered 10 to one, Chennault never sent up 10 planes to the enemy’s 100. He sent up five pairs of two; each pair went after one enemy plane at a time. His two aircraft always out-numbered the enemy’s one.
Chennault was using the principle of concentration. Before, his pilots engaged in individual dogfights which as sport were superb, he said, but as war were all wrong.
We are at war against the prince of the power of the air – Satan, the deceiver, who can still be overcome by those who used concentration and other sound principles found in God’s Word. God used concentration when he whittled down Gideon’s army to a chosen few who were committed to each other.