Friday, January 7, 2011

The Glenn Miller Conspiracy Theory ... True or not?

The Glenn Miller Conspiracy: The Never-Before-Told Story of His Life -- and DeathDecember 15, 1944, a cold, wet and foggy afternoon, Glenn Miller departed RAF-Base, England in a Norseman C-64 aircraft. The flight was to take Glenn Miller and other passengers to Paris. However, the flight never made it. It is believed the aircraft encountered icing conditions over the English Channel and crashed. Glenn Miller and his band had been performing for Allied Troops prior to the crash and was planning on putting on a show in Paris, France. Glenn Miller and his band was idolized by many during his career. Or so they say ... truth or fiction? Here is what they say in the Glenn Miller Conspiracy theory:



A German newspaper says wartime bandleader Glenn Miller died of a heart attack in the arms of a French prostitute in 1944 and not, as officially reported, in a plane crash. The mass-circulation Bild newspaper alleged that the famed trombonist and exponent of the big band swing sound met his death in a Paris brothel. The paper said German journalist Udo Ulfkoutte discovered the secret of how he died in U.S. secret service files while doing research for his book, "BND, The Secret Files." The paper quoted the journalist as saying the true cause of Miller's death was concealed to keep his legend alive and protect the morale of U.S. troops. U.S. military and intelligence officials were not immediately available to comment on the cover-up allegation.
Glenn Miller - Greatest Hits
Official reports said his plane vanished over the English Channel in December 1944. But Bild said British diver Clive Ward discovered the wreck of his single-motor plane off the French coast in 1985 and found no signs the plane had crashed, or any human remains.

A retired colonel who says he was Glenn Miller's pilot disputes the claim. Lt. Col. Robert Baker told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he and Miller were drinking together in England the night before. "I just know the brothel story is a lie because there was no way Miller could have gotten to Paris by December 15 except on my flight," Baker insisted.

Just two weeks before his death, Miller and his orchestra recorded 20 new tunes in London that were only unearthed in 1995. On the recordings, Miller can be overheard in an unguarded moment flirting with a German girl.In the year before his death, the 40-year-old Miller had a serious illness. And although Baker claims he drank with him, others say Miller was once kicked out of a bar for being a teetotaler.

Supposedly, Miller, another passenger and a pilot took off informally on an uncharted flight without clearance, on a foggy day when all other aircraft were grounded.

"Why Glenn, who had a real fear of planes, decided to risk a trip under such adverse conditions has never been determined," wrote his friend George Simon, author of the book The Big Band Era and The Glenn Miller Story.

For more read these blogs:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2654822
The Straight Dope
Glenn Miller Wiki

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