Glenn Miller USAAF

Dave, about a year ago, UK’s Channel Four did a documentary about the disapperance of Maj. Glenn Miller, with a theory that his Norseman might have been brought down in the channel due to being struck by bombs from British Lancaster’s returning for main land Europe and dumping their bombs in the ocean . I need to add that one for you on tape and will do so. Kieth greeting and good to see you on the board, thanks for notes on those books published about Miller. Long Live the Memory of 617 Sq and the Dam Busters !

Take Care !

BlueNoser352!

Thanks Keith, that most informative answer answered everything.

Alton Glenn Miller is listed on the American war memorial at Madingley in Cambridge
http://www.abmc.gov/ca.htm

http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/MadingleyUSACemetery.html

The second volume certainly did make it ito print, It was called ‘The Glenn Miller Burial File’, again by Wilbur Wright (since deceased). It was published in 1993 and covered many of the theories, both wild & plausable, but did not come to any firm conclusions about the death of Major Miller. The one that has been trotted out most often is that Major Miller’s Norseman was routing across the channel at the same time as a flight of Lancasters was returning from an aborted raid on a target in France, as it is alleged that the Norseman was ‘bombed’ by the Lancasters over a designated bomb jettison area.

One of the Navigators is alleged to have seen the whole event from 20000′ up, and recalls that he asked his Captain if he ‘had seen the Norseman down there’ which subsequently disappeared. It appears that on returning to base, the crews ‘forgot’ to report the sighting to the ‘Hot news desk’ and only happened to recall the event over 30 years later at the height of the Miller conspiracy theories. How the Navigator saw an aeroplane, as small as a Norseman, from 20000′ up, through fog has always baffled me! (Before anyone jumps down my throat, it is my own personal viewpoint, I don’t disbelieve what they honestly thought they saw..I just find it hard to comprehend :rolleyes: ).

There was also an allegation that Major Millers aircraft was shot down by an American fighter, but this has never really held any water (sorry..no pun intended).

Anyway the books ISBN is/was 0-9512547-5-8, but I doubt if it is still available except through 2nd hand book shops..it’s probably disappeared!! It was a fascinating read though…

Regards
Keith

Jimmy Stewart was a superb actor
TNZ

Ill second that, a truly great actor, even a 6ft Rabbit never upstaged him 😉

Glenn Miller’s “other story”

Did anyone here ever read at least one bizarre book (there may have been two) called “Millergate” which made some, ahem, odd allegations about Glenn Miller’s disappearance? They were written by a guy called Wilbur Wright (really! – he is/was a WWII RAF veteran if memory serves) in the late 80’s early 90’s. Real conspiracy theory stuff and totally at odds with the story protrayed in the film. There was supposed to be some person still alive who could prove all these allegations and the book ended with an invitation to buy the next volume (or bankroll it, I don’t remember) and find out the “truth”. I never did find out how it ended so I assume the second volume never materialised.

K

Here it is – found it in alibris.com I think this is long out of print but you can get it second hand if you have that kind of money.

Millergate: the Real Glenn Miller Story. by Wilbur Wright.
Publisher: Wrightway Publishing Ltd, Southampton, UK Date Published: 1990 ISBN: 0951254707

After Glenn’s disappearence in December 1944, the Band was led, in the main by Glenn’s chief arranger, Sgt Jerry Gray, who had either written or arranged, quite a few of the bands musical output. Jerry fronted the Band during the Christmas Day Concert from Paris.

During the rest of the Bands time in Europe, it was led by either Jerry or by Sgt Ray McKinley. It also had several ‘off-shoots’ including the ‘Strings with Wings’ which was just the String Section, led by George Ockner, ‘Swing Shift’ which was the dance band part of the orchestra, this was led by Ray McKinley, and there was also a jazz group known as the ‘Uptown Hall Gang’ which was the brain child of pianist Mel Powell, and usually had clarinetist Peanuts Hucko, Trombonist Larry Hall or Bernie Priven, Ray McKinley on drums, Carmen Mastren on guitar, and Trigger Alpert (usually, but not exclusivly) on Double Bass, During it’s time Europe, played with such jazz luminaries as Django Reinhardt. The Gang got more prominance after the disappearence of Major Miller, as he was not over keen on the Gang.

Many members of the Band came from those who had already been drafted into the Air Corps and who had been members of other bands in civilian life. Capt.Miller volunteered to join the Air Corps (he was above draft age) and used his reputation to ‘lasso’ these already available musicians into his Band of the 401st Technical Training Command as it was then known. He was also able to ensure that other musicians who were about to be drafted ended up with him, including the entire string section of the New York Symphony Orchestra!

After Glenn’s disappearance, the Band remained in Europe until 3 August 1945, when they left by ship from Le Harve, and the Band played it’s last concert as the American Band of Allied Expeditionary Forces in Washington DC in November 1945. Those Band members who were still in the Army Air Corps at that point were then discharged, and the Band was no more.

One of Glenn’s former civilian sidemen, Tex Beneke, reformed the band in 1946, including the string section, with many of the original members, and enjoyed considerable success, until the band folded about 1950. Hope all the forgoing helps! 😀

Best regards,

Keith

I shall have to wait and see if it ever comes on TV then I guess

Or, your good friend Amazon.com comes to your aid…

The Glenn Miller Story

The film is a romantic portrayal, elements of ‘poetic license’ but a great film non the less!

A ‘then and now’ publication called Glenn Miller in Britain is an excellent read.

I shall have to wait and see if it ever comes on TV then I guess

Oh yes, that movie is awesome !!!
Jimmy Stewart was a superb actor, and as John says there is everything you need to know about Glenn Miller in that movie.

TNZ

Miller did not have a seperate posting…he simply took the UC-64 to Paris ahead of the band.

Suggest you seek out the excellent Jimmy Stewart film “The Glenn Miller Story”…it goes into how the band was formed. Everything I know (or think I know) about the formation of the Miller band I learned from the film. I don’t know how much is true & how much is Hollywood…so I hate to pass on potentially bad information…

BTW: My mother-in-law was in Suffolk during the war (while her husband was a signals officer on a RN Cruiser) and she still talks about going to 8th AF bases to hear the Miller band.