In 1938, Glenn Miller formed a band, whose "Glenn Miller Sound" had soon made it the most popular of American "Big Bands, playing in theater concerts, ballrooms, on radio broadcasts, and making appearances in movies. At the peak of his popularity in 1942, he joined the US Army, later transferring to the USAAF to bring his music to American servicemen overseas. He was joined by a large group of musicians who had been drafted into the US Armed Services.
          The band, eventually to be known as the American Band of the Allied expeditionary Force, arrived in England on the liner Queen Elizabeth on 28 June, 1944, having been preceded by Major Miller on 18 June. They began a hectic schedule of appearances at US Bases in England, as well as performing regularly on British Broadcasting Corporation radio programs beamed to the troops. The band was based in Bedford, where they not only performed their regular broadcasts, but prerecorded many programs in anticipation of a six week personal appearance scheduled to begin in Paris in December.
          Orders were received for Miller to fly over to Paris in mid-December. He had decided to go to France ahead of the band to make final arrangements in place of Lt. Don Haynes, his personal manager.  Originally, he was to fly over in an aircraft of the US Air Transport Command from Station 112 at Bovingdon in Hertsfordshire. He then waited, on 13 and 14 December, in London for a flight, but bad weather prevented departure so he was driven back to Bedford by Lt. Haines late on the 14th.
          A friend, Lt. Col. Norman Baessel, from a nearby base at Milton Ernest, headquarters of a US Service Command, offered to give Major Miller a lift on the following day in a UC-64A Norseman. The aircraft on charge to US Air Station 547 at Abbots Ripton in Cambridgeshire, base for the 35th Depot Repair Sqd.., part of the US 8th Air Force. The Horseman, serial number 44-70285, piloted by Fit. Officer J.S.R.. "Nipper" Morgan, departed Abbots Ripton at about noon on the 15th with orders to pick up his passengers at Twinwood Farm, a satellite to RAF Cranfield, located three miles north of the centre of Bedford. The trip was classified as a Type A mission, or non-operational flight. After picking up Lt. Got. Baessel and Major Miller, it departed for Villacoublay at 13:55 in marginal conditions, with Bordeaux being the aircraft's ultimate destination. Villacoublay, US Air Station A-42, was located some ten miles southwest of the centre of Paris. The aircraft was never heard from again.
            On its east bound channel leg the Norseman flew directly under 139 RAF Lancasters flying in the opposite direction.  The Lancasters were returning from a scrubbed mission in France and were ordered to dump their bombs in the water.
            Two airman, both now deceased, witnessed the accident.  The Lancaster's navigator, Fred Shaw, had never witnessed a bomb drop on any of his missions and changed positions to see one.  He said "I had never seen a bombing before, so I crawled from my navigators seat and put my head in the observation blister.  I saw a small high wing mono-plane, a Noorduyne Norseman, underneath.  I told the rear gunner there's a kite down there.  There's a kite gone in! and he said he saw it too."  Shaw didn't make the connection between their bombs hitting the Norseman and Miller's Norseman until 1956 when he saw the "Glenn Miller Story" at the movies.
            The band was scheduled to follow the next day from Bovingdon in C-47 aircraft, but it was too  foggy, and they returned to Bedford. They finally departed on the 18th from Twinwood Farm in three C- 47's, landing at Orly near Paris. To their surprise, Major Miller did not meet them, and inquiries to SHAEF  Headquarters gave no answers. It was only when Gen. Goodrich at Abbots Ripton was contacted did they  find out that the Norseman had not arrived at Villacoublay. The official announcement that Miller was missing was not made until Christmas Eve.
            The "Missing Aircrew Report" prepared by USAAF Headquarters in Washington on 23 December,  1944 states that the Norseman departed Twinwood Farm at 13:55 hrs. on 15 December, 1944, and that  nothing was seen or heard of it after that time. The names of the three occupants were listed as:
 Pilot: Morgan, John R.S., F/O Missing
 Passenger: Baessell, Norman F., Lt.Col. Missing
 Passenger: Miller, Alton G., Major Missing
           Since then, so called in depth investigations have proposed other explanations of the cause of  the disappearance.  Some said he had been captured and tortured to death by the Nazis, others that he died of a heart attack in Paris in the bedroom of a high class prostitute.  The second story includes speculation of a high level cover-up that included ditching the missing Norseman in the Channel and that it had been found in tack a few years ago.  
            In any event,  the loss of Glenn Miller was deeply felt by his fans, for he was an exceptionally talented band leader, and  he gave his life in the service of his country. His music still continues to give enjoyment to millions.

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