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The entertainers that performed for the USO during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam were all American hero's placing themselves in danger for our troops. Glen Miller stands out, he didn't come back.
Go Bob Hope
Later 42rocker
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...severett-1.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by 42rocker
Anybody know of the story on Glenn Miller offhand?
He completed a run of the 8th Air Force bases with his band and was leaving to begin performing in France. Apparently the plane strayed from accepted air lanes. A British fighter intercepted and didn't recognize his plane and shot it down. All lost.Quote:
Originally Posted by RAM1ALASKA
Bob
I'd never heard that version. I would love to read more on that.
In his book, All About Me! Mel Brooks says he met Bob Hope and wouldn't let go of his hand until Hope agreed to give hiim his autograph. Brooks was in the Signal Corps and was reassigned to the Special Service (entertainers). After becoming a famous person in Hollywood, Brooks met Hope again and asked, "Do you remember the GI who wouldn't let go of your hand until you agreed to give him your autograph?" "Yes." "That was me!"Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Rochester
I'm no expert on the subject matter of Glenn Miller, but I thought he plane was bombed by a bomber that wanted to safely dump its load in the Channel. Dunno. RIP Glenn Miller and the boys really missed you.
Theories about Miller's disappearance include:
The plane was shot down by enemy bombers
The plane was the victim of friendly fire
The plane was hit by bombs from Allied aircraft
Miller made it to Paris and was attacked by a German group
Miller died in a brothel in Paris
The plane encountered freezing temperatures and heavy cloud cover, and experienced a navigational or mechanical failure
First time I'd heard that. I'd never heard how he went down, thought they were just lost like Amelia Earhart...Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Womack
I've heard all the other theories but never these 2.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Rochester
Paris was liberated in August of 44 and Miller disappeared in December so the Germans theory is unlikely.
If we're to believe his biography movie he was a devoted husband and never would have been in a cathouse.
It was about fifteen years ago that a British pilot came forward and admitted that he'd shot down a plane he couldn't identify. His location and time matched the course and timing of Miller's plane.
A similar thing happened with Wing Commander Douglas Bader. Bader was flying a "rhubarb" mission over France and was shot down. His empennage was severed and he struggled for a long while to get out of the plane because his false leg was pinned under the control panel. He finally got free and parachuted to captivity. He was entertained by Adolph Galland and his group, the Abbeville Boys" (Jagdgeschwader 26). Bader asked to meet the pilot who had shot him down. The German pilots compared notes and couldn't find anyone who had shot anyone down in the area on the day Bader was shot down so they put forward a Sgt. Pilot. It took a few years but a British pilot, Flight Lieutenant "Buck" Casson read Bader's biography and discovered the timing of Bader's being shot down. He compared his log and notes and discovered that he had seen a faint plane in the clouds that date and time, had opened fire and got it. He followed the plane to the ground, noting that it had lost its empennage and the pilot struggled to get out. Egg on the face over that one.
Bob
I've read lots of theories but have yet to see any facts or evidence of any.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
I've never quite understood "fuel line icing." Aviation gas does't freeze (unless there is water in it) so it has to be water on the carburetor that freezes and prohibits it's function.
Another supposition. No wreckage, no proof. Suppositions.Quote:
Originally Posted by eb in oregon
I thought Bader was lost in a collision with a ME 109 he turned in to gun the leader (He could sustain more G loads without blacking out due to no legs) turning so tight he got in between the leader & his No 2 who collided with Bader's Spitfire chopping off the tail plane just aft of the cockpit.
That's the story I have, I'll check his book tomorrow.
One story from the book he was flying at height over the channel and was startled by the sudden noise of popping he thought he had been bounced so did evasive manoeuvres to get out of the supposid enemy fire.
It then dawned on him what it actually was, Bader feared being shot down into the drink then being dragged under by his tin legs so he filled them with ping pong balls, it was those balls that were popping due to the pressure differential at high altitude...............
That was Colin ‘Hoppy’ Hodgkinson, another double amputee in the RAF.Quote:
Originally Posted by CINDERS
Cheers,
Bob
I thoroughly enjoyed the thread drift on this one. LOL! The story I heard was that Glenn Miller's aircraft was flying low over the English Channel and enveloped in the spray and/or shrapnel from a bomb(s) dumped by a returning Allied bomber.
My error, I do have Hoppy Hodgkinsons book "Best Foot Forward" it is a great read just like Bader's one of strength & determination over adversity however I must have got confused between the 2 Bob being allot of years since reading them both.
But I'm pretty sure the reason for Bader's incident is on the money either way he was very lucky to have been able to get free of his doomed Spitfire.