Bovingdon

Not the best place for landing gear.

The captain informed air traffic control of the situation, and the pilots were given radar vectors to the Bovingdon radio beacon.

They began climbing to 8,000 feet.

At Bovingdon, they would enter a holding pattern, giving them time to troubleshoot the issue.

The first thing the pilots tried was the gravity gear extension procedure, They slowed to between 190 and 200 knots, lowered the landing gear lever, and then used the gravity gear extension handle.

This releases all of the hydraulic pressure, letting the gear extend and lock into place by gravity alone.

Uh, by Tuesday, December 12, '44, Major Glenn Miller Army, uh, Air Forces Orchestra completed making their prerecorded and regular broadcasts in England and prepared for the move to France.

On Nivens' order, Miller was booked on a scheduled Air Transport Command passenger flight from London, uh, Bovingdon, to Paris-Orly.

Thursday, December 14, Miller was on standby for an earlier flight December 13, but was canceled due to bad weather in France.

His reservation on December 14 was also canceled.

That's fine.

"On the arrival into Heathrow, we made a couple of turns in the hold over, I believe, Bovingdon, uh-

I'll let you butcher that.

Go ahead.

Yeah.

[laughs]

Bovingdon.

All right.