Wooden Model of Major Glenn Miller U.S.A.A.F.

Major Glenn Miller was an evocative American big band musician, arranger, composer and bandleader of the swing era. He was born in 1904 at Clarinda, Iowa and he enjoyed great success back home and as well as his music he became a movie star. In 1942, at the peak of his civilian career, Miller decided to join the war effort.

Then aged 38, Miller was too old to be drafted and first volunteered for the Navy but was told that they did not need him. He then persuaded the United States Army to accept him so he could, in his own words, "be placed in charge of a modernized Army band". He became a huge success and did much to help the moral of service personnel posted overseas that he entertained but all this ended on the night of December 15, 1944. Miller was to fly from the United Kingdom to Paris on a UC-64 Norseman, USAAF serial 44-70285, which departed from RAF Twinwood Farm in Clapham, on the outskirts of Bedford. The aircraft never arrived at destination and was thought to be lost over the English Channel. No trace of any of the occupants have ever been found.

Our model is an imposing 14" tall (36 cm) and came from a defunct aviation museum display. It is made from wood, is hand painted and is marked to the base 'Major Glenn Miller U.S.A.A.F' and is signed to the rear 'Jones'. We have no idea of the origins of this piece but it looks to be a one off model hand worked rather than a commercially produced kit and is certainly not a new piece. He does show some age related wear and tear but is generally in good display condition and really deserves to be back on public display in an appropriate museum. This is certainly not the sort of article that turns up on E Bay and could well be a unique piece. A one off opportunity to own an iconic image of the best known band leader of WWII.