The Mysterious Disappearance of Glenn Miller

[Robert]

Extremely unlucky.

"Pennsylvania 65-oh-oh-bugger!"

[Shangas]

I think the most plausible plot is that British bombers, flying back to England after an aborted bombing-raid, discharged their bombs over the Channel, and accidently hit Mr. Miller's plane, causing it to crash and kill the bandleader. Of all the theories I've heard of, that seems the most likely.

And for those wondering - it's extremely unsafe for an aircraft to land overloaded, which is why the bombs were jettisoned.

[Robert]

Oh no! Not the old "coded messages hidden in music" plot?

[Granger]

A fairly recent UK TV documentary on Miller's disappearence, gave a very good argument that his 'plane had actually been bombed over the British Channel by a British bomber. I'm not sure whether they were jettisoning their bombs before landing, or bombing a German vessel/U-Boat. As I recollect one of the crewmen was interviewed.

One infantile conspiracy theory says that Miller was a German spy!

[Graham]

Glenn Miller's music always reminds me of the severe austerity of post-war Britain, of an unnecessarily-strict upbringing, Two-Way Family Favourites of a Sunday lunchtime, and eternal thanks to Bob Dylan and to whoever introduced me to the Blues in the 1960's....

Cheers,

Graham

[Shangas]

Boogie-Woogie. That's how it's spelt. And yes, the show is called The 1940s House. I only watched the first few episodes, I wish I could have finished watching it. It was incredibly interesting. And fun, too.

[Robert]

Re finding Glenn Miller's plane, the writer and aviator Saint-Exupery's plane went down off the coast of France in 1944, and bits of it were only recently discovered - by chance, if I remember correctly, by a fisherman.

[Jeff Leahy]

Dont tell 'im Pike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwldGmw4yDo&feature=related

Pirate

[anna]

Hi Cel

I think the programme you are talking about is "The 1940's House". There was a series of them,where the programmes were set in different decades.
I loved that programme..and I agree,it does bring it all home to you.
Have you seen some programmes or films on a series called "Dad's Army"?
Which is set in a fictitional seaside town called Warmington on Sea,during the Second World War... it's about the Home Guard,who were a group of men who were exempt from signing up.I think you'd love it..

I bet it took them ages to get those lines straight,up the backs of their legs.
Mind you,I suppose it got easier the more times they attempted it!!

I think it's Boogie Woogie???
Boogie Woogie bugle boy of Company B!!....unless others know different?

Just thinking about the 50's music,makes me wanna Jive,Cel.

Catch you later,
ANNA.

[BillyE]

I have to say I'm surprised there hasn't been the kind of search for Glenn Miller there has been for Amelia Earhart. He was arguably more famous than she was, and disappeared in much the same way. Someone should try to find Miller's plane.

[sdreid]

I still have my sugar ration stamps. That didn't end until late 1946.

[Celesta]

HI Anna,

The women here used eyebrow pencils. So strange!

Did you ever see a documentary in which a modern family tries to live exactly the way a family in London did during the Blitz? I can't remember the name of it but it was quite good. I think there were about 4 episodes. There was an older woman, her daughter and sons, and the husbands who were supposed to be away at war, I think. It really drove it home what the people went through during the war. Not just the bombings but the fact that everything was running out. I can imagine how much relief listening to the radio must have been.

Bougie-wougie? Or is it boogie-woogie?

[anna]

Hi Cel,
Don't forget the line painted down the back of the leg out of gravy browning, to make it look like the ladies were wearing stockings!!...
That's if they hadn't found a nice young yank to help them out.......
of the situation.......and the stockings when they got 'em!!!

I love a bit of Glenn Miller...get's you right "In the Mood".

Pennsylvania 65-000!

His music was a true gift,at a time when it was most needed.

[Celesta]

Hi Jukka,

I love that song! I have a boxed set of music that was popular in the '30s and '40s, and I really love listening to it. I try to imagine my grandparents, and parents listening and dancing to it. They had class in those days.

Best,

Cel

[cats meat man]

Only to resurface years later on Jive Bunny albums at wedding discos
'Oh Yes,still got the moves son,still got the moves...'