Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: AFRS I Sustain the Wings 1943-12-18 – Glenn Miller AAF Christmas Program
Original Air Date: December 18, 1943
Podcast Air Date: December 21, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode Overview

This episode is a lovingly restored broadcast of the 1943 Christmas program from the legendary Glenn Miller and the Army Air Forces (AAF) Training Command Band, originally presented as part of AFRS's "I Sustain the Wings." The show mixes big band swing, sentimental songs, and dramatic storytelling to honor both the enlisted men in training and their families back home, while promoting unity and morale during WWII. It offers listeners a festive, historical snapshot of the “Golden Age of Radio.”

Key Segments and Discussion Points

1. Opening Dedication & Festive Medley

(00:44–06:54)

• Introduction by Captain Glenn Miller:
  • Glenn Miller welcomes listeners and dedicates the show to the men stationed at Pratt & Whitney Engine School, Hartford, Connecticut.
    • "Tonight, the words and music pay tribute to the Army Air Force's Training Command boys stationed up at Pratt and Whitney Engine School, Hartford, Connecticut. So here's to you, fellas." [00:53]
• Medley for Loved Ones:
  • An orchestral and vocal medley honors “the mothers, wives and sweethearts” of the servicemen—featuring classic standards and sentimental favorites, described as “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”
• Vocal Performances:
  • PFC Johnny Desmond provides a tender solo:
    • “For the first time I’m falling in love...” [06:57]
• Swing Interlude:
  • A lively, jazzy transition keeps spirits high and transitions into deeper sentimental territory.

2. Dramatic Narrative: "Johnny, the Kid Next Door"

(13:22–19:00)

• Salute to the Ground Crew:
  • The show dramatizes the life of a ground crew mechanic (“Johnny, the kid next door”), highlighting the anxiety and pride felt as bombers head out and await their return.
    • "The hardest part of it's right now, when the planes are on their way, waiting, just waiting for them to come back..." [13:39]
  • The story personalizes wartime responsibility, focusing on the unseen but vital work of mechanics and engineers who maintain the planes.
• Tension and Relief:
  • Tense moment as 20 bombers go out, but only 17 initially return. The ground crew's doubts and prayers are palpable.
    • "I've babied those engines along... I've learned to love those engines like they were human. They're almost part of me..." [16:30]
  • Relief as the three missing planes limp in, safe but battered:
    • “Eighteen, nineteen and twenty. The three missing planes. They're... They're flying low, limping a little. But their engines are bringing them safely home again. Yeah, safely home again. It's a prayer answered by the safe return...” [19:00]

3. Uplifting Music and Wartime Messages

(21:21–23:20; 25:49–27:07)

• "Santa Fe Trail" by PFC Johnny Desmond:
  • A romantic, western-tinged song evoking home and hope.
    • "Angels come to paint the desert night..." [21:21]
• Wartime Recruitment Call:
  • A passionate pitch for women's enlistment in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), highlighting their roles and urging participation:
    • "You can help and help a lot by serving your country in the Women’s Army Corps...A hundred trained specialized jobs await your choice..." [23:20]
• Orchestral Highlight – "Oh What a Beautiful Morning":
  • A rousing arrangement from Oklahoma!, symbolizing optimism and unity.
    • "There's a bright golden haze on the meadow..." [25:49]

4. Christmas Cheer and Closing Notes

(29:18–33:24; 33:53–40:55)

• "I'll Be Home for Christmas":
  • A heartfelt rendition that resonates with servicemen and listeners separated from loved ones.
    • "I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams..." [29:18]
• "Jingle Bells" Sing-Along:
  • The band and chorus bring joyful energy, lifting spirits and marking the holiday.
    • "Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..." [33:53]
• Show Closes with Listener Appreciation:
  • The band thanks the audience, encourages letters from servicemen, and previews next week’s broadcast from Halloran Army Hospital in Staten Island.
    • "This program is dedicated to you..." [40:55]
    • Encouragement to send in song requests; the show is produced and written entirely by soldiers.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Responsibility and Anxiety:
  • "With a responsibility like that on your mind, there's not much use of a squadron engineering officer trying to sleep..." [13:50]
• On the Pride of the Ground Crew:
  • "I get my payoff just in knowing that I'm doing my job down here backing up those guys who are doing their job up there..." [19:00]
• On Women's Role in the War:
  • "Every one of us... you women who may be listening. You can help and help a lot by serving your country in the Women's Army Corps..." [23:21]

Timestamps of Major Segments

• Opening and Medley Dedication: 00:44–06:54
• Vocal Interlude (“For the First Time”): 06:57–08:34
• Ground Crew Story (“Johnny, the Kid Next Door”): 13:22–19:00
• “Santa Fe Trail” Performance: 21:21–23:20
• Women’s Army Corps Recruitment: 23:20–25:49
• "Oh What a Beautiful Morning": 25:49–27:07
• “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” Performance: 29:18–33:24
• "Jingle Bells" and Christmas Close: 33:53–40:55
• Band Sign-Off/Appreciation: 40:55–41:43

Summary Tone and Style

The episode radiates morale-boosting patriotism and warmth, delivered with the geniality and sincerity characteristic of WWII-era radio. Glenn Miller and company mix swing, sentiment, and storytelling to foster connection and hope among listeners—at home and overseas alike. The original language—period-specific, earnest, and heartfelt—makes this a living artifact of America’s home front and fighting spirit.

For listeners today, this episode is both a holiday musical treat and a living snapshot of 1943: a time of uncertainty, hope, homesickness, and collective action. The pacing, music, and messaging transport you to the era when families gathered by the radio—reminding us how entertainment carried whole generations through history’s darkest hours.