"Next
to Letters from Home, the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Force band was
the greatest morale builder in the ETO (European Theater of
Operations)."--Lt. Gen James "Jimmy" Dolittle, Eighth Air Force Commander
[Exhibit Video I captured during my visit to the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio]
In
1942, famed band leader and trombonist Glenn Miller volunteered for
service in the Army Air Forces. Miller organized some of the most
talented dance musicians of the era into what became known as the "Glenn
Miller Army Air Force Band." In 1944, the band transferred to the UK to
boost morale for homesick military personnel. While there, the band
made more than 350 appearances—which were eagerly attended by 1,250,000
service members —and more than 500 radio broadcasts.
On
December 15, 1944, Miller took off on a flight to Paris in a UC-64 to
make arrangements to move the band to France. For unknown reasons, the
aircraft crashed somewhere in the English Channel. Although Miller was
lost, his band continued touring until the end of 1945.
The
Glenn Miller Band was the top-selling recording group from 1939 to
1942. Within four years, Miller achieved 16 number-one singles and 69
top-10 hits, surpassing the success of icons such as Elvis Presley and
the Beatles throughout their entire careers. Miller and his band were
featured in the films Sun Valley Serenade and Orchestra Wives, both
produced by Twentieth Century Fox. In the 1954 biographical film The
Glenn Miller Story, actor James Stewart depicted Miller's life and
musical career. Miller is acknowledged as a pioneer of modern military
bands in the United States.
He voluntarily enlisted in the US military
in 1942 to provide entertainment for troops during World War II,
ultimately serving in the US Army Air Forces. Following established
military protocol, a year and a day after his disappearance, Miller was
officially declared deceased since his body could not be recovered. As a
tribute, a memorial headstone was placed at Arlington National Cemetery
in Virginia, operated by the US Army. In February 1945, he was
posthumously honored with the Bronze Star Medal.
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