The demise of Glenn Miller

 Friday, December 15, 1944:

    “We can only imagine what was going through (Major Glenn) Miller’s mind at this critical moment in the uncomfortable C-64 cabin. He would be very alarmed if he witnessed an argument.

    “(Flight Officer Stuart) Morgan now faced the most important decision of his young life. By 14:55A, the combination of freezing temperature and higher relative humidity building up after ten minutes over water would begin to weigh upon the airframe and engine of the low-flying and fuel-heavy C-64. Immediate evasive action was required. At 1,500ft he could safely turn the aircraft back toward the English coast, although he had to be very careful about his sink rate. In a turn, Morgan could unwittingly fly the aircraft right into the water. He could probably see nothing at this point except gray sky and no clear horizon. A pilot in such conditions could become spatially disoriented and simply auger into the sea without realizing it. Flying low over the icy waters of the English Channel in deteriorating conditions with (Lt. Col. Norman) Baessell distracting him, Morgan was challenged as never before to maintain situational awareness.

    “In another five minutes at 15:00A, Morgan would have less than thirty miles to go before reaching dry land. He was taking his chances about disciplinary action, although the more pressing issue was simply completing a safe crossing. Mogan had to find a secure place to land before darkness if he could not land at Villacoublay, which did not have a beam (instrument) approach. Orly had a beam approach, but Morgan had never attempted to land at A-47 using the instrument system. If Orly or Le Bourget were not available, he would have great difficulty visually locating an unfamiliar alternate airfield within reasonable range and weather conditions in the dark. As he anxiously considered his options, time ran out. Abruptly and without warning, everything catastrophically changed.

    “It was within moments of 15:00 BST (GMT+1). C-64 44-70285 had been airborne underneath low overcast and above the English Channel directly on course via the Langney Point-St. Valery air corridor between England and France, between thirty and forty miles south of Langney Point and twenty-six to thirty-six miles north of St. Valery.”

    From “Glenn Miller Declassified,” © 2017, Potomac Books imprint of the University of Nebraska Press. Chapter 6, "Stormy Weather."