In this series of paintings of the Noorduyn Norseman I will
be showing
Glenn Miller boarding the plane at the end of the runway
"Farewell Glenn"
(on the easel; expected to be finished soon)
Taking off from Twinwood "Destination Paris"
Over Beachy Head "The SHAEF Route"
A Limited Edition set of prints and individual prints
will be available in 2009
History
The Noorduyn Norseman 44-70285
The line between the grey and olive drab was always a wavy
line, at least that was how it left the plant. However it is not believed
that the Glenn Miller Norseman had the O.D. (olive drab) camouflage colour
scheme.
The Glenn Miller Norseman, specifically number 44-70285, according to
records, was accepted by USAAF at the Noorduyn plant on June 28, 1944. It
was delivered to New York on July 5th departing the U.S.A. on July 17th and
would not have arrived in England until after the invasion of Europe (June
6th) and therefore would not likely have had any "Invasion Stripes" put
on it. Also, the olive drab or camouflage colour scheme
was replaced in production earlier in March 1944 with overall aluminum.
There is no photo of the Glenn Miller Norseman, but pictures of others
of the same period, would confirm that it probably was just overall aluminum
with blue and white USAAF markings, black tail numbers, and black anti-glare
paint over the nose.
Without an actual photo of the specific aircraft, or any other information,
it is not known if the Glenn Miller Norseman might have been painted again
in the field, which is highly unlikely, or had any other markings.
In conclusion I might add that subsequently in going through files on the
Glenn Miller story I found that others had mentioned that this particular
Norseman was probably all "silver" like some others of the same
vintage with just the basic USAAF markings. They also mentioned the "dropping" by
USAAF of the camouflage colour scheme.
Also, the Norseman was assigned to U.S. Air Station 547 which was a
base for the 35th Depot Repair Squadron and would not have been going into
war zones and needed any invasion stripes anyway.
Credit for above information: Mr. Roy Dishlevoy
15th December 1944
The pilot:-Flying Officer John R. S. Morgan who is recorded
as being with the 35th DRS (Depot Repair Squadron), 35th ADG (Air Depot
Group). Station 547 (Abbots Ripton) and Station 102 (Alconbury) were one and
the same.
The two names were so that there was no confusion between Combat Groups and
Support Groups Bases.
The reason and recorded course:- The 35th ADG , "Squadron: Repair"
;"Detachment: 2nd Strategic Air Depot"; "Place of Departure: Abbotts Ripton";
"Course: Bordeaux Via A-42" . (not Villacoublay, I wonder if this was down
to poor visibility?)
While it seems most aircraft in the UK and Europe were fog bound, perhaps
it was youthfulness and inexperience, or the chance to show superiors that
he was an "okay" pilot, or the chance to fly Glenn Miller, or just plain
orders to fly that day.
The weather for the route looks to be gradually worse from Twinwood to Paris.
The Norseman would have been almost heading into wind for the whole route,
while visibility may have improved slightly, over the Channel it would have remained
at 500yds - 2,000yds worsening considerably nearer Paris. Cloud was thickening
and getting lower towards the Channel while France had a cloud base of 800ft
and poor ground visibility of around 500yds - 1,000yds .
Pilot Flying Officer John R.S. Morgan flew into Twinwood, Bedfordshire, UK to
collect Lt. Col. Norman F. Baessell and by invitation Maj. Alton Glenn Miller
who both boarded the aircraft
at the end of the runway after being driven from the officer's mess in a
Humber Snipe along with Miller's manager Don Haynes. The weather was foggy
(visibility 500yds - 2,000yds) and a temperature of 24F or -4C, cloud base
was at 2,000ft. Wind was 180 degrees at 12 knots. The plane was recorded
as "wheels
left ground" at
1:55pm (12:55 GMT - the USAAF used local time and this was still British
Summer Time) and headed to Villacoublay (near Paris). The route most likely
to have been taken (SHAEF Route) would have been to the west of London then
out over Beachy Head. The pilot who gained his wings around 16 weeks before,
carrying aboard "The" Glenn Miller and a Lt. Col. (I feel)
would not have dared deviate from the SHAEF Route. Personally I would have
thought that he would not have had the confidence to fly off route............
but would he have had the experience to stay on route?
We will never know what happened
So seems
the unlikely end to a legend of music...........
2009 - 65th year of the disappearance
"Destination Paris"
canvas size 22 inches x 16 inches
Unframed £1,800
It is expected that a worldwide issue of prints from these originals will
take place early in the New Year
Enquiries for the originals are being taken
At this point 10/10ths cloud with a base of 1,500ft, tops 3,000ft ASL (Beachy
Head is 535ft high), visibility 1.5 nautical miles, 18 mph headwind.
On the ground visibility 500yds to 2,000yds, temperature around -1 degree
Celsius.
I'm just the person that's assembled all their information
into a painting...... !!
My thoughts on the 4 main theories of Glenn Miller's
disappearance.
1) Died in a French bordello - does he look or did
he act like
somebody who would even step inside one? NO. Put this theory down to
discrediting propaganda.
2) Died in a hospital - photos of him showed what I would
consider weight loss, but why keep his hospitalisation this secret? NO.
3) Crashed due to bad weather - Most probably. I have
heard arguments for and against the Norseman instrumentation ( this site is
well worth a visit
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/1939-1945norseman.htm). I cannot say
about icing up, though it was -1 Celsius at 1,500ft, but these aircraft
operate in some of the coldest parts of North America and Canada. From all I
have researched I do feel that the weather contributed.
4) Crashed under a hail of RAF bombs - NO - anyone who has
read the weather report for that day would (within reason) dismiss the
"eyewitness" account. Cloud base 1,500ft, cloud tops 3,500ft with 10/10ths
cover, visibility about 1 mile. Lancasters are flying above cloud, the
Norseman below and it's 2pm just 6 days before the longest day of the year,
so it is getting quite dark as well.......... And then nobody has ever
questioned that the Lancasters may have jettisoned their bomb loads in the
wrong area - it has always been that FO John Morgan strayed into the jettison
area.
There are of course other theories as well all told with
equal conviction............ feel free to email me.
