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In
December 1944, a small plane bound for Paris took off from Twinwood
Airfield in Bedfordshire.
On
board was the famous war time band leader Glenn Miller - but somewhere
over the English Channel the aircraft vanished.
Glenn
Miller joined the US Army Air Force as a captain in 1942 and was
based at Milton Ernest Hall just a couple of miles from Twinwood
Airfield.
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| The
control tower at Twinwood Airfield is now home to the Glenn
Miller Museum |
He
put together a dance band to entertain the troops and they
played songs which are now classics such as the Chattanooga Choo
Choo, In the Mood, and Pennsylvania 6-5000.
His
band played at the Bedford Corn Exchange, and recorded music with
famous performers like Bing Crosby and Bob Hope at the Co Partners
Hall.
And
at the airfield itself Miller performed a concert for the aircrews
using two trailers as a stage next to the Control Tower.
There
have been many rumours surrounding his death. Did his plane crash
in the fog? Was it accidently damaged by an allied bomber jettisoning
its bombs? And there's even a rumour that he made it to France and
died in a Paris Brothel.
But
whatever the truth, Glenn Miller has gone down in history as a hero,
and is mourned by music lovers all over the world.
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| The
Glenn Miller Festival at Twinwood |
The
Control tower at Twinwood Airfield, where he was last seen alive,
has only recently been restored and is now the home of the Glenn
Miller Museum. It has come to be regarded as a shrine by his fans.
His
legend lives on, and in 1953 the Glenn Miller Story, starring Jimmy
Stuart was filmed as a tribute to the band leader.
Miller
was born in 1904 at Clarinda in Iowa and every year a series of
events are held at Twinwood Airfield to celebrate his life.
The
Glenn Miller Festival is held over the August Bank Holiday weekend,
and is a must for all swing, jazz and jive fans.
Then
in December there's a celebration of the life and music of Glenn
Miller on a day which includes a memorial service with Christmas
carols, big band orchestra and full military guard of honour. All
the museums at Twinwood are open for it, including the Glenn Miller
Museum in the Control Tower.
See
the Twinwood Events Web site for full details.
You
can find more stories like this and add your own on the People's
War Website.
| howard
roth, lockport ny |
Tuesday,
01-Jun-2004 21:26:29 BST |
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| ron
brown,RAF crewman on aborted misson webmaster Phil Smith, Howard
Roth b17 pilot worked together to dis proove The History Channel
& PBS presentation of RAF navigators claim of jettison bombs
dropped on millers plane. I think you agree its impossible to
know what happened to him . I do hope they dont run the videos
again and all get back to honor Glenn Miller for his great music.
Thank You Howard Roth |
|
Listen to Nigel Hill from Twinwood
