A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On Dec. 15, 1944, a single-engine plane carrying bandleader Glenn Miller, a major in the U.S. Army Air Forces, disappeared over the English Channel while en route to Paris.
Miller was an American big band conductor/trombone player/recording artist before and during World War II, and became an officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces.
His civilian band, Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, was one of the most popular and successful bands of the 20th century and the big band era.
But Miller and two others died at sea when their plane crashed into the English Channel on the flight headed from England to France. After an official investigation, the three missing Army Air Forces casualties received the “Finding of Death” of Dec. 15, 1944.
Per reports, a German newspaper later disputed the cause of his death. But the U.S. Air Force has remained consistent it its finding.
What’s remarkable to many, though, as one story chronicled, “Glenn Miller disappeared, but he never went away. Fifty years after his World War II flight over the English Channel was lost, the most popular band leader of his day still calls tunes around the world.”
The Glenn Miller Orchestra still tours the nation, and has been cranking out tunes since 1956. The current band is led by saxophonist and vocalist Erik Stabnaub. In fact, the group is performing tonight in California, with concert dates later this month in Colorado and Wyoming.
Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about Miller and his career, his military story and how the band played on:
“Plane crashes have killed many entertainers”
“Glenn Miller’s sounds live on 50 years after his death”
‘`Lost broadcasts’ bring back Glenn Miller’s WWII group”
“CDs capture mood and virtuosity of Glenn Miller”
“Glenn Miller memorabilia attracting fans”
“Band leader who took over Glenn Miller’s post dies”