Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, the music scene was known as the "Name Band" or more commonly the "Big Band". During this era of music, Glenn Miller created his own civilian orchestra called "The Miller Band". With this band, he would soon dominate the music scene and reach the top of the polls in 1940 and hold his spot in 1941 and 1942. The Glenn Miller Band would increase its popularity through radio shows and appear in two films, Sun Valley Wives serenades and orchestra. By 1942, Glenn Miller and his band would become a household name. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and pushed the United States into the war already underway in Europe. This new commitment from the United States would have a direct effect on the music scene. A draft is put into effect, the enlistment of patriotic Americans would diminish the ranks of the Big Bands and fans would now be in combat all over the world. The Miller Band was not exempt from feeling the effects of the war due to its status in the music scene. Miller himself aspired to join the Army before the attack. In the summer of 1942, Miller, thirty-eight years old and wearing glasses, was ineligible for the draft. Knowing this he tried to get in by getting his job with the Navy. Miller was never accepted by the Navy. Wesley Newton writes: "Miller was obviously aware that the raison d'être of these gangs lay in raising the morale of the troops and creating esprit de corps." Miller would eventually get the commission he is fighting for on November 23, 1942. Miller would struggle to prove the relationship between his music and the morale of service members overseas. Maj. Gen. Walter R. Weaver would eventually help Miller demonstrate the relationship between the two. Miller wo...... middle of paper ......ppen on the fateful day Miller disappeared. Mr Gregory was in command of a Lancaster bomber which was to conduct a bombing raid in Germany. The bombing had to be canceled due to bad weather and while returning to base his flight was to launch their ordinance into the English Channel. Mr. Gregory claims that when the bombs were released his navigator spotted a Norwegian flying directly below them. The rear gunner would claim that a bomb explosion had captured the Norwegian. The Norwegian is said to have overturned and crashed into the sea. Even with all the possibilities of Miller's disappearance, there was no final piece of the puzzle to state what happened on that fateful flight. Until the plane or Miller's body are located and recovered there will be no answer to this mystery. Even with the mystery unsolved, Miller has and will continue to live on through his music.