12/15/2024
80 Years ago today, December 15, 1944, Major Glenn Miller disappeared. Trombonist, arranger, bandleader, composer, innovator. The most popular bandleader in history. But more importantly, an American Hero. Today, we pause to remember Miller, his music, and his sacrifice during WWII.
The information below is via our friend and colleague Dennis M. Spragg, and photo courtesy of the Glenn Miller Collections. Consider following this page as the official source for Miller related materials, and also consider picking up Dennis' excellent book: "Glenn Miller Declassified"
On December 15, 1944, at 13:55, the United States Eighth Air Force Service Command C-64 Noorduyn Norseman, #44-70285, departed RAF Twinwood with three souls aboard. The aircraft was observed at approximately 14:10, on time and course, passing east of Reading and southeast of Maidenhead in the direction of Beachy Head. Between 14:30 and 14:45, the aircraft was observed passing over Beachy Head on time and course for St. Valery, France. The aircraft and its occupants were never seen again.
Aboard were the pilot, Flight Officer Stuart Morgan, 22, of Detroit, Michigan; Lt. Col. Norman F. Baessell, 44, of Washington, District of Columbia; and Maj. A. Glenn Miller, 40, of Tenafly, New Jersey and Monrovia, California, the famous and popular bandleader.
Morgan was assigned to the 35th Air Depot Group and Depot Repair Squadron at the Second Air Service Depot, Abbots Ripton, England. Baessell was assigned to the Eighth Air Force Service Command, Milton Ernest, England, and was the liaison officer with the U. S. Strategic Air Forces, Paris, France. Miller was director of the Army Air Forces Band (Special), permanent station Army Air Forces Training Command, Fort Worth, Texas, and detached to Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force, SHAEF-Main, Versailles, France.
Twenty-four hours after departure, with no confirmation of arrival at the intended destination, Villacoublay Aerodrome, Versailles, France, the 35th Air Depot Group filed but did not report a missing aircrew report concerning the aircraft and pilot. The clerk and officer filing the report were unaware of the passenger manifest.
The same day, under the cover of poor weather and protected against Allied air intervention, the German Wehrmacht launched a counteroffensive in the Ardennes.
On December 18, seventy-two hours after the flight, the Eighth Air Force and SHAEF officials became aware that aircraft #44-70285 was missing. Inquiries from SHAEF-Main, Eighth Air Force HQ at High Wycombe, and Eighth Air Force Service Command at Milton Ernest resulted in a revised missing aircrew report with the passengers added. Still, the destination was mistakenly noted as Bordeaux, France (Merignac Aerodrome) following the transit of Villacoublay. The actual final destination was Brussels (Zaventem Aerodrome).
At the command of Maj. Gen. Orvil Anderson, deputy commander of the Eighth Air Force, a search and investigation ensued but to no avail. On Saturday, December 23, at the command of lt. Gen. Barney Giles, deputy commander of the Army Air Forces, a delegation of AAF officers delivered a casualty telegram to Helen Burger Miller, wife of A. Glenn Miller, at their home in Tenafly, New Jersey. The commanding general of the Army Air Forces, H. H. Arnold, placed a personal call of condolence shortly thereafter.
At 18:00 BST (GMT+1) on Sunday, December 24, SHAEF announced that Maj. A. Glenn Miller was missing in flight but that no other unit members were aboard the aircraft.
On January 20, 1945, the Eighth Air Force concluded that, with no evidence to the contrary, C-64 #44-70285 disappeared over the English Channel due to pilot error and/or disorientation, mechanical failure, and poor weather. The probable factors included engine, fuel line, wing and fuselage icing, carburetor heater failure, and a possible hydraulic fluid problem. The pilot's spatial disorientation was also a likely cause, as well as the distraction and commands of the senior officer present (Baessell). In a classified report, the Eighth Air Force questioned the “state of mind” of the pilot and passengers. It noted that Miller was not authorized to proceed via casual travel on a non-scheduled flight and violated his travel orders. As a pilot in command, Morgan took the responsibility to proceed via visual flight rules at low altitudes when instrument clearance was denied. Nor did the pilot obtain an updated cross-Channel or Paris-area weather forecast However, Baessell was ultimately held responsible for the apparent accident by clearing his own flight and ordering the pilot to proceed regardless of the cross-Channel and Paris-area weather forecast.
Major A. Glenn Miller’s Army Air Forces Band (Special) continued with their mission with distinction on the Continent, returning to the Zone of the Interior (United States) in August 1945 with many honors.
Flight Officer Morgan, Lt. Col. Baessell, and Maj. Miller are categorized as Missing In Action by the United States Air Force to the present day.
May they rest in peace.
