The Silver King's War: Recent Episodes
Michael G. Sievers
The Silver King's War is a series of World War II plays (The Silver King, Marauder Men, Serviceman and Who Is Della), based on true events about a young man, Stanley Silverfield, who joins the United States Army Air Corps to serve his country as an aviator.Stanley wrote letters to his family throughout World War II from January 1943 to October 1945. He was my dad, The Silver King. I hope you'll enjoy The Silver King's War.
This bonus episode is the conclusion of The Silver King's War podcast series. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War, talks about his family's history and twelve years of research & writing to build the podcast. Throughout the series listeners asked about Stanley's life after his Second World War. This episode explains aspects of the complex answers about the life & times of Stanley, Shirley, Cindy & Michael, who began as The Silverfields of Chicago and finished as The Sievers of Rockford.
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This episode is scene five of The Sievers, the third play in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. It's summer 1960 on Gregg Road. During a spectacular & busy season of Glencoe Beach visits and little league games, Stanley & Shirley share difficult, important news with Michael & Cindy. The family is leaving Northbrook for Rockford, Illinois, as Stanley explains his big sales promotion. theSilverfields will become the Sievers on October 7, 1960. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War podcast series, narrates his family's history in the 1950s.
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As The Silverfields of Northbrook and the entire podcast series reaches its conclusion later this month, this bonus episode offers a brief, final review of Stanley Silverfield's life as the Silver King during his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War reviews his father's story arc as an admiring, humble son with the Silver King's writing code.
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This episode is scene four in The Sievers, the third play in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. It's early winter 1960 on Gregg Road. A heavy snow storm has hit the cul-de-sac as Stanley prepares to make sales calls. First, however, he calls Northbrook's city hall to have a public works crew clear the snow from the driveway's edge. Cindy's building a snowman in the front yard. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War podcast series, talks about his family's life in the 1950s, a recent reunion with his Wisconsin Badger college roomies, and a trip to Madison with Roger Sharpe, where he, Joe Weigler and Michael met as 1966 freshman playing pinball in the State Street bars.
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This episode is the third scene in The Sievers, the final play in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. It's early June, 1959. Michael Silverfield visits Chicago and joins his uncle, Norman Gordon and almost-cousin Scott Fleischman, for a memorable Friday night Standard Club Father & Son event, including a White Sox game against the Bronx Bombers, the New York Yankees, at Comiskey Park on the city's south side. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War, reviews his family's years in the Chicago suburbs.
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This episode is the second scene in The Sievers, the third play in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. Michael Silverfield played five seasons in the Northbrook Little League: two in the minors, three in the big time. His pitching hero was Sandy Koufax, a Jewish lefty with a lethal fastball. The April 13, 1964, Sports Illustrated baseball issue cover, a painting of Sandy Koufax, hangs in the Sievers' 2023 Portland, Oregon apartment. Michael G. Sievers, the left-handed writer, producer and creator of The Silver King's War reviews the family's life from 1955 to 1960 in the Chicago suburbs.
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This episode is the first scene of The Sievers, the third play in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. It's summer 1959. Cindy Silverfield is the family's Beautiful Swimmer, a powerful child churning through Lake Michigan's white cap curls. She's eight, a happy sun princess who loves the Glencoe Beach excursions. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War podcast series, narrates the family's 1950's suburban life.
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This episode introduces The Sievers, the final play in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. This is the family's last glorious summer on Gregg Road. Stanley accepts a large new sales territory for Bailey's Beauty Supplies in northern Illinois. The family moves to Rockford, Illinois, and on October 7, 1960, becomes the Sievers. The Silverfields' demise signals significant, life-defining changes. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War series, narrates the family's suburban life from 1955 to 1960.
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This episode follows the conclusion of Wrigley Days, the second play in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy, with a special reading by the young narrator, Michael Silverfield. Thirty years after the Bears won the 1963 NFL Championship, beating the New York Giants & Quarterback Y.A. Tittle 14-10, the team fired its head coach, Mike Ditka. Iron Mike led the Bears to the 1986 NFL Championship, beating New England 46-10. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War series, shares a 1993 essay he wrote about his favorite Monster of the Midway.
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This episode is the final scene in Wrigley Days, the second play in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. It's November 1959. The Bailey & Gordon families have season tickets. Norman Gordon invites Stanley & Michael Silverfield to join his group for the Packers v. Bears game at Wrigley Field. It's Vince Lombardi's first year as the Green Bay head coach. Clonick Steel is running two re-bar shifts and Abe Bailey is dangling a bigger sales territory for Stanley's consideration. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War series, narrates suburban family life in the 1950s.
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This episode is the fourth scene in Wrigley Days, the second play in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. It's fall 1958. The World Series is over and the Gregg Road footballers are preparing for a weekend game in the Levy's backyard. Much of the conversation throughout every contest was about the Monsters of the Midway, the mighty Chicago Bears. The cul-de-sac kids heard adult stories about Sid Luckman, the heroic Jewish QB who led the Bears to four NFL titles in seven years. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War podcast series, narrates suburban family life in the 1950s.
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This episode is Scene three in Wrigley Days, the second play in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. It's late summer 1958. Cindy Silverfield, 7, visits Aunt Phyllis Gordon (Shirley's older sister) in Chicago as they shop for just the right Hula Hoop. Aunt Phyllis buys Cindy a bright blue hoop and they ride the Sheridan Road bus north to Belmont Avenue. The bus driver, Ralph Kramden, is all smiles for our Hula Girl.
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This episode is the second scene in Wrigley Days, the second play of The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. Each summer, Michael & Cindy enjoyed a family day with the Bernsteins & Gordons at their respective country clubs, Green Acres and Bryn Mawr. The clubs represented prosperity & opportunity for Jewish families that were excluded from social settings throughout the United States. The Silverfields, a post-war, middle-class family, enjoyed their country club days.
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This episode is the first scene in Wrigley Days, the second play in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. It's summer 1956. The family visits Glencoe Beach, a short drive east from Gregg Road over the Edens Expressway to Lake Michigan's edge. Each summer throughout the Silverfields' Northbrook years, the family owns a public beach pass. For ten dollars per season, the Silverfields share the surf & summer's largess.
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This episode is the introduction to Wrigley Days, the second play in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. Chicago's Wrigley Field, an iconic sports venue, was home to the Silverfield's favorite teams, the Cubs and Bears, the Monsters of the Midway. Those were the years of Ernie Banks and Billy Williams, Mike Ditka, Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers, the Kansas Comet. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War, narrates his family's stories in the 1950s Chicago suburbs.
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This episode is scene five in The Suburbs, the first play in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. It's spring 1956. Stanley has a new job selling wholesale beauty supplies for his uncles, Abe & Joe Bailey, owners of Bailey's Beauty Supplies in Chicago. Abe Bailey is married to Sara Belle's sister, Rose. The Silverfields, excited about dad's new job, share their joy in the kitchen as Stanley delivers special beauty products to Shirley, Michael & Cindy. So begins the longest and most successful sales saga of Stanley's role with another family business.
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This episode is scene four in the first play, The Suburbs, in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. It's late summer 1955. The family has moved from Chicago's lake front to Northbrook, a growing north shore suburb. The Silverfields have met the Krauss family. Now they meet their one-house-over neighbors: Kal, Jeanne, Frank (Skip) & Ronnie Levy (plus memorable collie, Lady). The families share stories, yards, projects, tools, sports & cocktails. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War series, narrates his family's history in the 1950s.
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This episode is scene three in the first play, The Suburbs, in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. It's early summer 1955. The family has moved from Chicago's lake front to Northbrook, a growing north shore suburb. The Silverfields meet their new, immediate neighbors: Hyman, Frances, Jimmy, Elaine & Stanton Krauss. The families share yards without boundaries. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War series, narrates his family's history in the 1950s.
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This episode is scene two in The Suburbs, the first play in The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. The family prepares to leave Chicago as they visit their new Northbrook home. It's summer 1955. They tour their Gregg Road home with amazement and joy. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War series, narrates the family's suburban life in the 1950s.
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This episode is the opening scene of The Suburbs, the first play in the The Silverfields of Northbrook trilogy. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War, introduces the scene as he reflects on the family's suburban life from 1955 to 1960.
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This episode introduces The Silverfields of Northbrook, a trilogy of plays about the Silver King's family from 1955 to 1960 in the burgeoning suburbs north of Chicago. The plays: 1)The Suburbs, 2) Wrigley Days and 3) The Sievers, follow Stanley, Shirley, Michael & Cindy Silverfield through their lives in a new home & neighborhood on Gregg Road, a kids-filled cul-de-sac in Northbrook East. This trilogy concludes The Silver King’s War podcast series with stories about what became of our hero, Stanley Silverfield.
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This episode is Stanley's transition finale from soldier to civilian. It begins in 1946 and explores his new job as a production engineer for Acme Paper Box Manufacturing in Chicago. Lee Bernstein, his brother-in-law, owns the company. The Silver King is now a member of the country's Reserve Officers Corps at the behest of President Harry Truman. Michael G. Sievers, Stanley's son, reviews the tension of those post-war years as the Korean War continues and describes what's ahead for the King and his family during the 1950s through a trilogy called The Silverfields of Northbrook.
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This episode concludes Stanley's transition from soldier to civilian. It's December 1945. The Silver King has arrived in Chicago to live with the Bernsteins as he begins his job as a production engineer at the Acme Paperbox Manufacturing Co. Michael G. Sievers, The writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War podcast series, reviews the confluence of the lives of Robert Gottlieb, Robert Caro, Joseph Heller, Sammy Singer and Stanley Silverfield.
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This episode continues to follow Stanley's transition from soldier to civilian. It's November 1945. Stanley's enjoying his Birmingham return as an Air Corps veteran, and preparing for life in Chicago as a production engineer for Acme Paperbox Manufacturing Company, owned by the Bernstein family. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of this podcast series, reflects on his father's return, his choices for post-war life, and how history shapes a man's future.
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This special bonus episode is about Phyllis M. Gordon, the family's famous & most-favorite aunt. She was a Red Cross volunteer who served in Europe during World War Two. Born in April 1913, Phyllis graduated from Northwestern University and lived a full life in Chicago. Kelly Sievers reads excerpts from Phyllis war letters, & Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War, discusses his favorite aunt.
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This bonus episode about The New Yorker magazine, its context & history, is part of Stanley's transition from soldier to civilian. It's October 1945. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War podcast series, reviews how the magazine influenced his life & writing. His favorite aunt, Phyllis Gordon, introduced Michael to The New Yorker in 1958.
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This bonus episode continues Stanley's transition from soldier to civilian with a New York Times Magazine story about Dame Rebecca West in April 1982. Stanley was 59; Dame West was 89. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War podcast series, shares background on the context for those who wrote about World War Two. Rebecca West died in 1983.
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This bonus episode includes a New Yorker Magazine (October 26, 1946) article by Dame Rebecca West about the Nuremberg Trials. Dame West traveled to Nuremberg, Germany, to cover & write about the conclusion of the first major trials. Published one year after Stanley's train ride home to Birmingham, Alabama, it completes an important context discussion about world events related to The King's war.
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This bonus episode continues Stanley's transition from soldier to civilian . As Stanley leaves active duty in October 1945, and rides the train home to Birmingham, The Nuremberg Trials begin in Germany. The trials, conducted in Nuremberg's Palace of Justice, prosecuted the Second World War's war criminals. Four allied nations (Britain, France, the Soviet Union & the United States) provided two justices each to preside throughout each trial. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War podcast series, explains the context for the trials as an important & relevant parallel to the end of his father's war.
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This episode begins Stanley's transition from soldier to civilian. He rides a train home from Ft. McPherson, Georgia, to Birmingham, Alabama. He completes a ride that began on a train from Birmingham to Nashville, Tennessee, on January 10, 1943. Now, thirty-three months later, it's mid-October 1945. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War podcast series, reviews his father's life in the U. S. Army Air Corps as a B-26 Bombardier and what followed during his post-war years.
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This is episode fifteen in the final review of The Silver King's War. It's October 1945. Stanley has arrived at the Air Corps Separation Center at Fort McPherson, Georgia. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of this podcast series, reviews his father's final days & paperwork to leave active duty. His total flying time from training through war's end is 550 hours. He receives a letter from President Harry Truman to confirm his appointment to the Reserve Officer Training Corps.
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This is episode fourteen in the final review of The Silver King's War. It's September 1945. Stanley makes his second Atlantic Crossing, this one from Antwerp, Belgium, to New York Harbor. The European war ended in early May and his four-month wait is finally over. When he reaches the states, Stanley learns that he's not quite done with the Air Corps. President Harry Truman has mandated an Organized Reserve Corps to ensure the nation's readiness for future military service. Initially proposed as a volunteer role, Stanley reads a War Department Memo to confirm his commitment.
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This is episode thirteen in the final review of The Silver King's War. It's August 1945. Stanley has been waiting for news about when he'll ship for home. During his wait, the war in the Pacific ends with the delivery of atomic weapons over Japan (Hiroshima & Nagasaki) on August 6 & 9. Japan agrees to an unconditional surrender on August 14. The Silver King now has 85 points and he'll ride a ship from Antwerp, Belgium, to New York Harbor in late September.
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This is episode twelve in the final review of The Silver King's War. It's mid-May 1945. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of the podcast series, reviews his father's war. Stanley is cooling off from his front-page status as he celebrates letters from his pilot & co-pilot, Jack Festi & Jim Fomby, Jr. They're alive, safe & well. The ETO war is over and Stanley & his guys travel to Brussels on a three-day pass. He writes ten May letters and leads the second box in an air show review for Ike & Zhukov.
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This is episode twelve in the final review of The Silver King's War. It's April 1945. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of this podcast series, reviews his father's war. The month is full of adventures and revelations. Stanley & his crew made an emergency landing near an American field hospital near Koblenz, Germany. The King has new friends and a special interest in a New Orleans nurse, Elaine Miller. He's also been Acting Duty Officer for his squadron. FDR dies during April & Stanley turns 22 late in the month. The war in Europe ends with Germany's surrender on May 8.
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This is episode eleven in the final review of The Silver King's War (first published on Father's Day, 2023). It's August 1945. Stanley has been waiting for news about when he'll ship for home. During his wait, the war in the Pacific ends with the delivery of atomic weapons over Japan (Hiroshima & Nagasaki) on August 6 & 9. Japan agrees to an unconditional surrender on August 14. The Silver King now has 85 points and he'll ride a ship from Antwerp, Belgium, to New York Harbor in late September.
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This is the tenth episode of the final review of The Silver King's War. It's March 1945 and the busiest month of Stanley's war. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of this podcast series, reviews his father's war. Stanley, who finally had his sliver bars, flew 13 missions in 31 days and earned his third Oak-Leaf Cluster. Packed between those days was a week in Cannes on the French Riviera. He was now a man in love.
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This is the ninth episode in the final review of The Silver King's War. It's January 1945. The weather is bitter cold and flying is limited as Stanley sits by the fire to write letters home and enjoy Ida Mae's chocolate-chip cookies. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of this podcast series, reviews his father's war as Stanley completes one year as a Second Lieutenant. His promotion to First Lieutenant is official in early February. Before the month ends, "Festi's Boys" are MIA. They went on a mission and didn't come home.
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This is the eighth episode of the final review of The Silver King's War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of this podcast series, reviews his father's war as a B-26 Bombardier. The A-72 base supported Pathfinder missions to guide bomber crews to success via the Oboe System. The German Army began a surprise counter attack in Belgium's Ardennes Forest at day break on December 16. Their early, deep and desperate incursions, described as a "Last Gamble," were an attempt to capture the port of Antwerp and cut allied supply lines. The 597th Bomber Squadron flew intense air support to help repel the Axis army of older men and boys.
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This is episode seven (first published on Memorial Day 2023) of the final review of The Silver King's War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of this podcast series, reviews his father's war. It's late October 1944. Stanley & his crew have arrived at A-72 north of Paris. The 597th unit history, December 1944, records The King's first mission: A clear, enemy-free night ride on November 5. Target: the Homburg, Germany, ordnance depot.
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This is episode six in the final review of The Silver King's War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of this podcast series, reviews his father's war. It's late June 1944. Stanley's training to fly the B-26, Martin Marauder, at Barksdale Army Air Base, in Shreveport, LA. Barksdale is home to the 2nd Bomb Wing, which flew with Billy Mitchell during his 1921 flying exhibition with Glenn L. Martin. The King & his crew will ship to Hunter Field in Georgia as it prepares to travel across the Atlantic Ocean to the European Theater of Operations.
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This is episode five of the final review of Stanley's War. It's January 1944 and The Silver King graduates from Bomber School in Carlsbad, New Mexico. He's now a 2nd Lt. in the U. S. Army Air Corps. Then it's five months for advance training at Columbia Army Air Base in South Carolina. As the allies invade Europe with Operation Overload in early June, Stanley has orders to report at Barksdale Army Air Base in Shreveport for B-26 training. He now has what he wants: The Martin Marauder.
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This is the fourth episode of the final review of The Silver King's War. It's January 1943. Stanley rides a train to Nashville for cadet classification testing. He's classified for pilot training at Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama. As Stanley reaches pilot school in Lakeland, Florida, the allies prepare for the Sicily invasion with Operation Husky. And the U. S. government acquires the Los Alamos Ranch School for Boys in northern New Mexico.
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This is the third episode of the final review of The Silver King's War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of this podcast series, reviews his father's war. It's 1942, FDR signed E0 9066 on February 19. Thousands of Japanese Americans were forced from their homes to internment camps. John Steinbeck wrote "Bombs Away." Stanley joined the Enlisted Reserve Corp in June. He will ride a train to Nashville in January 1943.
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This is the second episode of the final review of The Silver King's War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of this podcast series, reviews Stanley academic life as he becomes a University of Illinois freshman in September 1940. France fell to Germany in June, and FDR, running for a third term, signed the Selective Service Act. The first B-26 was introduced in November 1940.
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This is the first episode of the final review of The Silver King's War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of this podcast series, reviews the history ahead of his father's war. The context considers Glenn L. Martin's national status, a history of the B-26 Martin Marauder, and discusses major events before the Second World War begins in September 1939.
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This episode, first published on The Silver King's birthday centennial (April 23, 2023), is the conclusion of the "Dearest Ones" epilogue. Our hero, The Silver King, wrote hundreds of letters to his family throughout World War Two. It's September 1945 and Stanley is waiting for a ride home from his war. He wrote two descriptive, thoughtful letters from France about his hours and days at the "Lucky Strike" camp in Le Harve. It's been two months with no mail and Stanley is ready for Ida Mae's home cooking. He hopes to ride one of "The Queens" west over the Atlantic from Antwerp.
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This episode is Part Forty-One of the "Dearest Ones" epilogue. It's August 1945 and The Silver King remains in France, waiting for a ride home to his family in Birmingham. It may be a ship to New York harbor or a flight to Miami. He hasn't received any mail in a month. He's bored, frustrated and gaining points as he waits (77 to 85). The war in Europe ended in early May. Three months later after many rumors and disappointments, Stanley writes that he should be home soon. News from the Pacific about Japan's imminent surrender is a welcome subject in his second August letter.
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This episode on Part Forty in the epilogue for "Dearest Ones," the letters that The Sliver King wrote to his family throughout the war. It's July 1945. Michael G. Sievers, the series creator, reflects on his dad's summer stories. Our hero battles the boredom and uncertainty about his future. He dreams of football games and a wardrobe update. And shares his concern about Lee Bernstein's service status. Finally, Stanley has good news: he's shipping out to Paris and then a ride to the States..."Mom & Dad, I'm on my way home."
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This episode is Part Thirty-Nine in the epilogue for "Dearest Ones," the letters that The Silver King wrote throughout the war. It's June 1945. Michael G. Sievers, the King's narrator, reflects on his father's June activities. Stanley battles boredom with thoughts of Paris and home. The mail is stalled due to some snafu. The Colonel claims the unit's travel status is top secret. The King dreams of Ida's hot biscuits and is surprised that there's an apparent pickle shortage in the states.
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This episode is Part Thirty-Eight of the "Dearest Ones" epilogue, the letters Stanley wrote to his family throughout the Second World War. It's a special discussion of The Silver King's writing about Paris and Brussels, and the development of "City Stories," a writing course that Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of the podcast series, teaches in Portland, Oregon. Michael follows his story arc from Baltimore to a perch at the Pacific Northwest College of Art.
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This episode is Part Thirty-Seven of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout the Second World War. It's late May, 1945. The King & his guys have a three-day pass as they drive to Brussels. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his father's war & writing as Stanley describes his return to France, day-to-day, and a serious lack of dill pickles.
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This episode is Part Thirty-Six of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout the Second World War. It's official: the war in Europe is over. The King and his guys got tight to celebrate with humility and relief. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his father's war & writing as Stanley reflects on the news that "Festi's Boys" are alive and well.
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This episode is Part Thirty-Five of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout the Second World War. It's early May 1945, and the war in Europe will end on May 7. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his father's war and writing, while reflecting on The King's role as the best man in his son's wedding in Baltimore, Maryland. Michael married Mary C. Kelly in Sherwood Gardens on May 7, 1978. Stanley stood blocks from Glenn Martin's Guilford home on that sunny, Sunday morning, 45 years ago.
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This special episode in the Dearest Ones epilogue, Part Thirty-Four, includes letters to The Silver King from his Barksdale Army Air Base B-26 unit crew pilot, Jack Festi, and co-pilot, Jim Fomby, Jr. They were shot down over Germany on February 22, 1945. Captured and briefly POW's, their letters were written on May 4 and 5, 1945, from Moosburg, Germany. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War podcast series, reviews his father's relationship with these brothers off the air.
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This episode is Part Thirty-Three of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. The Silver King will be 22 on April 23. He's enjoying new friendships and dreaming of Ida's home cooking and love. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his father's war & writing from Northern France After FDR'S death.
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This episode is Part Thirty-Two of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his work father's war and writing from early April 1945 in Northern France. The King's crew made an emergency landing at an American field hospital near Koblenz, Germany. A ride to the city revealed a secret Champagne stash that found its way to A-72. The mail is steady and Stanley has a new friend: Elaine, a nurse from New Orleans.
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This episode is Part Thirty-One of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his work father's war and writing from Mid-March 1945 in Northern France. Stanley's silver bars arrive from home, the mail is steady, and many March missions fill his month. His sister Leona reports that her husband, Lee Bernstein, has been classified 1-A.
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This episode is Part Thirty of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout the Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his father's special R & R week in Cannes, on the French Riviera. His Martinez Hotel room, over looking the Mediterranean Sea, was $1.00 per night.
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This episode is Part Twenty-Nine of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his father's war & writing during February 1945 in Northern France. Stanley is promoted to First Lieutenant after thirteen months as an Air Corps officer. His joy is tempered by the news that "Festi's Boys," his Barksdale AAB training crew, did not return from a late February mission. They are MIA.
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This episode is Part twenty-Eight of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his work father's war & writing during February 1945 in Northern France. Stanley has met American nurses stationed near A-72 and enjoys their company. Now, after nine missions, he's promoted again to lead a six-ship flight.
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This episode is Part Twenty-Seven of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his work father's war & writing from January 1945 in Northern France. His mailbag is full: 9 letters one day; 8 the next. He received the Air Medal for five missions and awaits his silver bars and promotion to First Lieutenant.
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This episode is Part Twenty-Six of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his work father's war and writing from January 1945 in Northern France. Stanley's third war year begins with thoughts of home and his future.
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This is a special bonus episode (to begin Stanley's third year in WWII) during the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his work father's war in a comparative context with Joseph Heller, who was also a bombardier in the European Theater of Operations before writing "Catch 22." Heller and the King had remarkably similar starts to their Air Corps service.
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This episode (which concludes the second year of the podcast series), is part Twenty-Five of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his work father's war from A-72 in late December 1944. He's waiting for Santa deliveries, a holiday liquor ration, and better mail service. And, he's so hungry he's getting up for breakfast. He missed xmas day festivities to fly lead as his unit provides important air support during the Battle of the Bulge.
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This episode is part Twenty-Four of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his work father's war from early December 1944 in Northern France. Stanley irons clothes for his first Paris visit. He loved the city, subway and ladies. He's rising in his role through work as a Duty Bombardier and assignment as the lead bombardier in a three-ship element on his fifth mission.
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This episode is part Twenty-Three of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his work and father's war from November 1944 in Northern France. Stanley reports his second and third missions, and joy over a mid-month, six-letter day. The King and his guys are trading soap and cigarettes in town as they supply their midnight brunch menus. He's happy to report that his bags arrived for Thanksgiving.
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This episode (published on the 80th anniversary of The Silver King's first train ride to Nashville) is part Twenty-Two of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, reviews his work and father's war from The King's November 1944 in Northern France. Stanley wrote 14 November letters, including one on the 5th, describing his first mission over Germany. He celebrated with back flying pay (9000 francs) and Red Cross donuts as a member of the 9th Air Force.
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This episode is Part Twenty-One of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, discusses his work and father's war. The King has arrived at A-72 (397th Bomb Group, 597th Bomb Squadron) north of Paris. They occupy a former German airfield. He's fine, his crew will fly intact, and his steady requests for smokes and food begin as he receives a first letter from Birmingham in six weeks. He's a Lucky Strikes man.
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This episode is Part Twenty of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, discusses his work and father's war. Stanley loved the Queen Mary ride and reports that his current posting, a replacement depot in England, has excellent food and great sleeping quarters. He's waiting for transport to his bomber group.
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This episode is Part Nineteen of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War, discusses his work and father's war. The Silver King has arrived in New York City after stops in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia. He loves city life, needs a cash infusion, parties hard and reminds his parents not to worry, before sharing his APO address. He will ride the Queen Mary to Europe.
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This episode is Part Eighteen of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War, discusses his work and father's war. As he reaches his B-26 training base, Barksdale Field, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Stanley's greeted with news of a 15-day leave. He prepares for Birmingham and imagines Ida Mae's hot biscuits. The King loved his leave, but family friction over Sara Belle's tight rule means unfortunate mistakes.
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This episode is Part Seventeen of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War, discusses his work and father's war. It's mid-June 1944. Stanley has new orders to pack & ship. His delay in training hours, due to mechanical problems and extra nights in Missouri, meant his group shipped from South Carolina without him. Instead, The Silver King will learn to fly the B-26 Martin Marauder with his crew at Barksdale Field in Shreveport, Louisiana. This assignment is the pivotal change in Stanley's war. It means he will go to the European Theater of Operations.
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This episode is Part Sixteen of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, discusses his work and father's war. It's June 1944. Stanley is working hard to increase his flying hours. A big shot bumped him from a Chicago training mission and family visit. One mission bump and mechanical problems during a separate training flight changed the course and outcome of Stanley's war. Now, however, The King has new orders: he will report to Barksdale Field in Shreveport, Louisiana, for B-26 training.
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This episode is Part Fifteen of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, discusses his father's adventures and war preparations. It's May 1944 and the Silver King is enjoying life. His crew flies a training mission to Nebraska and diverts to St. Louis on the return due to a hydraulics system failure. After nights at the Mayfair Hotel, the crew visits a famous family estate to share BBQ ribs, single-malt scotch, and thoughts of home.
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This special bonus episode describes a specific event in the history of Glenn L. Martin, the man who made Stanley's plane, the famed Martin Marauder. Martin, known as "The Flying Dude," began his aviation career building a bi-plane is an empty Methodist church in downtown Santa Ana is 1909. Glenn Martin and his mother, Minta, visited Salina, Kansas, for an event at Kansas Wesleyan University in 1933. The Salina Journal published a story about Martin's visit titled: "Hometown Boy." Months later, in late May, first-term President Franklin Delano Roosevelt presented Glenn Martin the Robert J. Collier trophy for his design & development of the Martin B-10 Bomber.
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This episode is Part Fourteen of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, discusses his work and observations about his father's war preparation. Stanley returns to Columbia Army Air Base from a meal-filled Birmingham visit. He loves Ida and her cooking. He's twenty-one, flying B-25s, and becomes certified as a Co-pilot one year after washing out of pilot school in Lakeland, Florida.
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This episode is Part Thirteen of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, discusses his father's writing and war. The Silver King has arrived at Columbia Army Air Base in South Carolina and enjoys the simple perks of being an Air Corps officer, including living off base in a private home. He's lonely, and lacking approval for marriage, he's trying to buy a 1936 Ford Phaeton. His rationale: it''s a long way to the flight line.
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This episode is Part Twelve of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. It concludes the first year of The Silver King's War. Stanley has his second-lieutenant gold bars as he travels east for advance bomber training. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, discusses the context of his father's war and introduces the second part of Laura Fermi's writing about The Manhattan District.
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This episode is Part Eleven of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War (first produced on Veteran's Day, 2021, and published on Veteran's Day, 2022). Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, discusses his father's bomber school graduation on 15 January, 1944, at Carlsbad Army Air Base in New Mexico. The Silver King is now a commissioned officer (2nd Lieutenant ) in the Army of the United States.
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This episode is Part Ten of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War (initially published on the 78th anniversary of The Silver King's first bombing mission: November 5, 1944). Stanley relates the arduous work through November and December 1943 to earn his commission. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, discusses his father's work to become an Air Corps Bombardier-Navigator.
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This special bonus episode describes the early history of Glenn L. Martin, the man who made Stanley's plane, the famed B-26 Martin Marauder. Martin, known as "The Flying Dude," began his aviation career building a bi-plane is an empty former Methodist church in downtown Santa Ana in 1909. Our hero, The Silver King, was posted to the Santa Ana Army Air Base in June 1943 during his training to become an Army Air Corps Bombardier-Navigator.
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This episode is Part Nine of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, discusses his father's training in navigation and introduction to the Norden bombsight. Stanley marvels at his comprehensive G. I. -issued bombardier gear and finds the navigation work interesting and exhausting.
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This episode is Part Eight of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, discusses his father's work as Stanley arrives at his 6th installation: bomber school at Carlsbad Army Air Base in New Mexico. The Silver King meets J.J. Sherry and Herb Stempler. These alphabet Air Corps cadets become fast friends. Three hundred miles north, the top-secret "Manhattan District" begins to form as Site Y, under the stern hand of General Leslie Groves.
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This episode is Part Seven of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, discusses his father's work as Stanley begins the long road to bomber school success. After a five-day train ride west, his stops include the Santa Ana Army Air Base, Baltimore Hotel in Los Angeles, Gunnery School and gambling adventures in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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This episode is Part Six of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, discusses the history of his father's Air Corps unit and the B-26 Martin Marauder's evolution as a worthy medium bomber. Stanley's unit, the 597th Bombardment Squadron, was activated literally miles from pilot school, just as his flight dreams went through "the laundromat." (This episode published on October 15, 2022, the thirty-second anniversary of The Silver King's death in Rockford, Illinois. He was 67).
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This episode is Part Five of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series. discusses his father's work to become an Air Corps pilot in the Army of the United States. Stanley arrives at pilot school in Lakeland, Florida. It's April 1943. The Silver King describes flying as "the greatest thing in the world."
This episode is Part Four of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series. discusses his father's early testing and work as an Air Corps cadet. He dreams of flight. Stanley qualifies for pre-flight school at Maxwell Field. "Carrying the rock" over nine weeks, he begins the long climb to "play for keeps."
This episode is Part Three of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series discusses American air war history, John Steinbeck's writing ("Bombs Away"), Glenn Martin's B-26 production, and his father's decision to join the Enlisted Reserve Corps to secure a place as an Air Corps cadet in January 1943.
This episode is Part Two of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that The Silver King wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War," discusses family histories, his father's early Birmingham years, college life, and preparation to enter the U. S. Army's Air Corps pilot training program after FDR signs The Selective Service & Training Act in September 1940.
This episode is Part One and introduction of the epilogue sequence for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout his Second World War. Stanley's son, Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, describes the start of a deeper consideration of his work father's war and extraordinary writing about it. (The episode was produced on October 15, 2021: the 31st anniversary of Stanley's death, at 67, in Rockford, Illinois.)
This episode concludes Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from his tour of duty in Europe. It's September 1945 (and September 2022 in Portland, Oregon). The Silver King, writing his last letters from the European Theater of Operations, before the ride home, is ready for the warm embrace of his family in the states. He's moved to the French port city, La Harve, and a tent city known as Lucky Strike. Again, he hasn't written home in thirty days. Now he writes four pages as chaos continues and the men move for unknown reasons. It's been two months since his last letter from Birmingham. The latest return news for The Silver King is shipment to Antwerp for the ocean ride home.
This episode of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," is from Europe in August 1945. The Silver King is waiting for confirmation that he's going home. He hasn't written in a month. He hoped to be in the States by now. The usual 6-8 days of transition waiting to travel is now over four weeks. He writes as the world anticipates peace in the Pacific theater. He'll reach 85 points as the days become months.
This episode is Part Two of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Europe in July 1945. The Silver King is full of good news. The mail & food deliveries continue, his cap & ties have arrived, and he's packing for home. He has new orders for shipment to a depot near Paris. There he will await word on which ship he'll ride. As Stanley writes... "It's good night for the last time from France."
This episode is Part One of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Europe in July 1945. The King reports on food arrivals, better mail, and dreams of home for fall football games. He's moving up the departure list but the snafus remain steady as Air Corps warriors await their return tickets. Stanley's new favorite refuge, the Officers's Club, comforts his boredom.
This episode is Part Three of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Europe in June 1945. Stanley shares good news: the Officers' Club is open. A true relief from his boredom with drinks and cards. The mail is better and he's wistful about a long-ago Birmingham love, Jane. He's awaiting melba toast & pickles as word arrives about a possible departure for home. He's tenth on the points list as nine officers prepare to leave A-72.
This episode is Part Two of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Europe in June 1945. Good news: the mail snafu has been resolved. Stanley is happy and relieved with words and packages from home. The food is flowing as he continues his gratitude and request more pickles. The 597th flew a formation for brass hats, including Ike and Zukov, with The King navigating a box lead. The last time they flew over Frankfurt the flak was furious and enemy fighter planes chased them.
This episode is Part One of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Europe in June 1945. The European Theater of Operations war ended in early May. Stanley and his guys are waiting for word on what's next for their unit. The Pacific War continues and Air Corps fliers will rotate home before reassignment, possibly to the Asian front. To battle the boredom, Stanley and his guys make an unauthorized trip to Paris. They love the cafe society life and Lido night club. The King, lonely, dreams of Ida's hot biscuits.
This episode is Part Four of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Europe in May 1945. Stanley and his guys have a 3-day pass as they travel to Brussels for their first real post-war celebration. The King decides that Brussels is more his style than Paris. It's bustling, vibrant and filled with pretty girls. After the bright lights, Stanley is back in France, bored and craving dill pickles.
This episode is Part Three of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Europe in May 1945. The King is effusive about a recent fruitcake delivery. Stanley and his guys, driving a former Wermacht car, have been touring Germany's Ruhr Valley and the Holland countryside. Best of all, he has Festi's letter, reporting that his guys are alive. Next is a three-day pass for Brussels. And all the good news is tempered by the long wait to get home.
This episode is Part Two of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Europe in May 1945. Hitler is dead. The ETO is quiet. The official German surrender is May 8th. Stanley and his guys are quietly relieved. They get tight to celebrate. There will be news of Festi and Fomby. And, as the King wonders about his future, he admonishes his mother for the March-April 1945 issue of Serviceman, the congregation's newsletter about its warriors. The Silver King is the featured, page-one story.
This episode is Part One of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Europe in May 1945. The European Theater of Operations war is days from its end. Stanley's Unit has been living near Venlo, Holland, which is near the German border and the 397th Bomb Group's HQ. Sara Belle, the King's mother, has news of a letter from Jim Fomby's father. The senior Fomby hasn't heard from his son, the co-pilot of "Festi's Boys."
This episode is Part Three of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from A-72, north of Paris, in April 1945. Spring is finally sunny and warm. Stanley and his guys play baseball and swim in a nearby canal. His unit moves to Venlo, Holland. The King celebrates his 22nd birthday with cards and packages from home, and a timely liquor ration.
This episode is Part Two of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from A-72, north of Paris, in April 1945. Stanley is optimistic about the war's end in Europe. D-Day in early June 1944 seems long ago. Our hero is busy with full days as the Acting Squadron Bombardier. It's a job that requires a captaincy. And, with the news of FDR's death at Warm Springs, Georgia, Stanley acknowledges the loss of a legendary world leader.
This episode is Part One of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from A-72, north of Paris, in April 1945. Morale is high as the Air Corps is working hard and the Germany army is retreating. The mail service is steady. And Stanley shares a recent adventure with his crew when engine trouble required them to land in Germany, near an American field hospital in Koblenz.
This episode is Part Three of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from A-72, north of Paris, in March 1945. Stanley's still dreaming about his R&R on the French Riviera in Cannes. The mail is good, his silver bars arrived, and his rotation as Duty Bombardier is significant. His unit remains busy and he's struggling with the disappearance of his "Festi Boys," who didn't return from a February 15 mission. They are MIA (Missing In Action).
This episode (publication date: June 23, 2022, the centennial birthdate of Stanley's wife, Shirley June Gordon, in Chicago, Illinois)) is Part Two of The Silver King's letters from A-72, north of Paris. Stanley's Riviera return is an understandable let-down. However, the mail is streaming in now and he's working hard as he continues to be the lead bombardier for a six-ship element that's flying support for the advancing Allied infantry forces. He's waiting on his silver bars and more cheese. He has 18 missions.
This episode (publication date: Father's Day, June 19, 2022) is Part One of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from his Army Air Corps base, A-72, north of Paris, in March 1945. March is an intense month that begins with 7 days of rest and recreation on the French Riviera in Cannes. His HQ hotel is the Martinez for $1 per day. He has 14.5 missions.
This episode is Part Two of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from A-72, north of Paris, in February 1945. The mail & package delivery service is much better. Stanley reports a promotion: he's now the lead bombardier for a six-ship element. He has nine missions. And, as we know, is just days from his silver bars as a First Lieutenant, Air Corps, in the Army of the United States.
This episode is part one of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from February 1945 at A-72 north of Paris. It's a cold winter. The King has a very recent (January 15) letter from home. The family news is good: his sister, Leona, and niece, Margie, are healthy. Stanley's missing home, feeling far away, and happy to report that the Russians are forty miles from Berlin.
This episode is part three of The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from January 1945 at A-72 north of Paris. It's cold and the King is soothing the family's concerns about war-time mail service. The latest letter from home, written December 27, is filled with Sara Belle's motherly curiosity about Stanley's early December Paris visit.
This episode is the second of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from January 1945, at A-72, north of Paris. The King is effusive with grateful words about a fresh cable from his parents for the new year. Our humble warrior wants his family to know how important their support is for his work. As a bonus, he reports on the latest package filled with stationery, cigarettes and a box of Martha's Candies.
This episode (published on Memorial Day: May 30th, 2022) is the first of The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from January 1945 in northern France. It's winter, bitter cold, with blizzards and mud. When Stanley's not flying he's sitting near the fire in his room, reading, writing and playing bridge. The holiday season and his unit's liquor rations have delivered memories and headaches.
This is episode is part three in Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from A-72, north of Paris, during December 1944. The weather is brutal, the Battle of the Bulge rages, and the 597th flies air support for the Army's ground war. He and his fellow warriors feel good about their work. It's just before xmas and the King has received a sturdy box of goodies from Temple Emanuel. He's most grateful for the cigarettes and candy.
This episode continues Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from A-72, north of Paris. It's mid-December 1944. He's returned from Paris with vivid descriptions that he shares with his family. The mail is all packages (important food) and no letters. He's hoping for more news about the growing Bernstein family. His sister, Leona, has a new baby girl: Margie. Uncle Stanley needs details about his new niece. The Silver King has growing responsibilities as a Duty Bombardier and lead Bombardier in a three-ship element.
This episode is the first of The Silver King's letters, "Dearest One," from Europe in December 1944. Stanley has the news about his new niece, Margie Bernstein. And, he's preparing for his first trip to Paris. The surprise German counter attack in mid-December (Battle of the Bulge) will have Stanley's unit flying hard and often. He will fly two missions on Christmas Day.
This is the third episode in The Silver King's letters from Europe in November 1944. It's almost December and he reports on recent letters from Birmingham and Chicago. His sister Leona, who wrote a recent letter, is expecting her second child and the King is anxious for news. Stanley's war is real as he writes about mail service, food requests, liquor rations and cigarettes. He's ready to visit Paris.
This episode is the second part of The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Europe in mid-November 1944. Stanley's war is real now as combat missions begin from A-72, north of Paris. The 597th squadron is flying from a just-abandoned German airfield. He's happy to report that the mail from home is finally reaching his new APO. However, the requests continue for more food. He and his guys get hungry between meals.
This episode is the first of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," in November 1944, from A-72, north of Paris. The Silver King saw Germany for the first time on November 5, 1944. A night mission with clear skies and no enemy encounters, Stanley delivered his first bombing payload over Homburg. The New York Times published a brief story about the mission on Monday, November 6, 1944 (page 13), describing that.... "The attackers bombed warehouses, ammunition dumps and stockpiles, at Homburg, fifteen miles northeast of Saarbrucken, without encountering Nazi fighters or flak."
Stanley's war began with a train ride to the U. S. Army Air Corps classification HQ in Nashville, Tennessee, on January 10, 1943. He was 19. Twenty-two months later, on November 5, 1944, Stanley rode over Germany in a B-26 nose, the "Greenhouse." He was 21.
This episode of "Dearest Ones," (published on Stanley's 99th birthday: April 23, 1923) includes The Silver King's thoughtful and thorough letters from A-72, north of Paris, in late October 1944. He's bunking with six officers, sleeping late, eating well, playing baseball, waiting for his bags and mail, requesting goodies from home, and hoping the weather will clear to begin his war.
This episode continues Stanley's "Dearest Ones," the letters he wrote to his family throughout the Second World War. It's mid-October 1944 as he reaches his bomb group at A-72, north of Paris. The Germans occupied the air field weeks before The Silver King's arrival. He's in the Ninth Air Force, assigned to the 397th Bombardment Group, 597th Bombardment Squadron. His bags haven't arrived but there's plenty of champagne and he reports that his crew, "Festi's Boys," will remain together as they fly from A-72.
This episode begins The Silver King's war writing, "Dearest Ones," from Europe. Our hero, Stanley Silverfield, The Silver King, wrote hundreds of letters to family and friends in Birmingham, Baton Rouge, Chicago and New York City, throughout his Second World War. The Europe letters start as Stanley, a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Air Corps, describes a comfortable Atlantic crossing on the Queen Mary ocean liner, converted to be a troop transport during the war, from the New York Harbor POE, to England in September 1944.
This bonus episode is an historic overview of The Cunard Line's RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Queen Mary. The Silver King, Second Lieutenant Stanley L. Silverfield, rode this ocean liner to his war in late September 1944. His POE was New York harbor's Brooklyn Terminal. Stanley wrote effusively about this Atlantic crossing. He enjoyed the simple pleasures of life as an Air Corps officer. Cunard converted the RMS QM to a troop transport ship after the Second World War began in September 1939. The ocean liner sailed to Australia during the spring of 1940 for its conversion and began transporting Australian and New Zealand troops to England for the allied invasion operations.
This episode is the third arc summary for The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Columbia Army Air Base in South Carolina and Barksdale Army Air Base in Shreveport, Louisiana. Stanley was flying on the B-17 and B-25 for advanced bomber training. Just before shipment to his POE for the European Theater of Operations, he was moved to Barksdale Field for new, advance training on the B-26, Martin Marauder.
This episode concludes The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Barksdale Army Air Base in Shreveport, Louisiana. The flying hours are intense as the bombardiers push to complete their work before shipment to their Port of Embarkation in New York harbor. Stanley is ready for his role in the European Theater of Operations. First, however, the big city awaits our hero.
This is the second episode of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Barksdale Army Air Base in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Silver King continues his training to fly the B-26 in Europe. " It's hot as hell," tough to sleep, and the swimming pool offers relief. The country club days are done. His commanding officer has timely advice for this young air cadet after receiving a telephone call from Stanley's mother, Sara Belle.
This episode begins The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Barksdale Army Air Base in Shreveport, Louisiana. It's after D-Day (June 6) and the start of a deep, humid 1944 summer. Stanley's Air Corps dream assignment is about to begin. He and his guys have heard that the B-26 is a hot ride. Now The King, after a surprising and pleasant fifteen-day leave, will develop his skills as a Marauder Man bombardier.
This episode is the conclusion of The Silver King's letters, “Dearest Ones,” from Columbia Army Air Base in South Carolina. Stanley, our hero, was anticipating shipment to his POE for the European Theater of Operations. Suddenly, new orders will send bombardiers to Barksdale Army Air Base in Shreveport, Louisiana, for advanced training on the B-26. The Silver King will get the Martin Marauder, the ride he wants for his war.
This episode is Part Seven of The Silver King's Letters, “Dearest Ones,” from Columbia Army Air Base in Columbia, South Carolina. Stanley is working hard, flying longer training missions, some of which become grand adventures. It's spring 1944 and he is, officially, a co-pilot. He received his check-rider approval one year from his late April 1943 pilot-school washout in Lakeland, Florida.
This episode is Part Six of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Columbia Army Air Base in South Carolina. It's early April 1944. The Silver King has completed ground school. He and his guys continue to train on heavy bombers and the B-25. Stanley will be 21 on April 23.
This episode is Part Five in The Silver King's letters, “Dearest Ones,” from advance bomber training in Columbia, South Carolina. Stanley's flying longer training runs on larger planes and enjoying the work. And, he remains hopeful about a car.
This episode is Part Four of The Silver King's letters, “Dearest Ones,” from advance training at Columbia Army Air Base. Stanley is pressing his case for a car. It's a long way to the flight line and this idea may be more realistic than marriage. He’ll need a loan to make it happen.
This episode is Part Three of the Silver King's letters, “Dearest Ones,” from advanced bomber training at Columbia Army Air Base in South Carolina. Stanley's letters follow a pattern of writing when time allows for an update to his family in Birmingham, Alabama. He's lonely and certainly closer to home than New Mexico.
This episode is Part Two of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from advance bomber training in at Columbia Army Air Base in South Carolina. Stanley’s enjoying an easy start to this phase as an officer. He reports to the base each morning, eats breakfast or lunch, and is then free for the day. If the schedule works, he dines at a local hotel. The pace is comfortable but he's focused on marriage or a used car. Sara Belle is firm: The King must wait for a post-war wedding.
This episode is Part One of The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from advance bomber training at Columbia Army Air Base in Columbia, South Carolina. As an officer, Stanley lives off base in a private home. He enjoys the freedom and privacy earned through his hard work and commitment to the U. S. Army Air Corps.
This episode is the epilogue for the Second Arc of "Dearest Ones," the letters that Stanley wrote to his family throughout the war. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of The Silver King's War podcast series, discusses his father's story and writing as he trains for and completes bomber school in January 1944.
This episode is Part Seven and the conclusion of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from bomber school in Carlsbad, New Mexico. He's in the final three-week stretch to graduation and his gold bars. And, significantly, The Silver King may request advance training on the B-26, the Martin Marauder. The anticipation for January 1944 is intense and hopeful for these soon-to-be commissioned Air Corps officers in the Army of the United States.
This episode is Part Six in The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from bomber school at the Carlsbad Army Air Base in New Mexico. He's enjoying life as a prominent cadet in a small town. He's met a local gal, Mary, and seems satisfied with his professional progress. Graduation day is coming into view.
This episode is Part Five of The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from bomber school at Carlsbad Army Air Field in New Mexico. His training, socializing, flying and "hitting the shack" with practice bombs intensifies with hard work and long hours. Stanley deploys his talents as a student, friend and rising Air Corps cadet. The Silver King reigns and resonates in Carlsbad.
This episode is Part Four in The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from bomber school at the Carlsbad Army Air Base in New Mexico. Stanley is working hard, enjoying new friends, and doing well as he aims for graduation and an Air Corps commission in January 1944.
This episode is Part Three of the Silver King's letters, " Dearest Ones," from bomber school in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The work to earn his gold bars is difficult and rewarding. He's never worked harder and felt better about his life. Stanley is clear in his writing home: he will not fail again. Bomber school will be his redemption. He's flying, "hitting the shack," and needs cash to date his new gal.
This episode is Part Two of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from bomber school at Carlsbad Army Air Base in New Mexico. He and his war buddy, J. J. Sherry, settle in for the hard work and good times. Stanley's letters follow a weekly pattern which allows time for a thorough, thoughtful update to his family in Birmingham, Alabama. He's a busy Air Corps cadet who's a long way from home.
This episode is Part One of The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from bomber school in Carlsbad, New Mexico. It's mid-September 1943. Our hero, Stanley, has reached this destination to earn his gold bars as a bombardier. It will be four months of intensive, satisfying work. He's ready to prove his worthiness as a cadet who earns his commission as a bombardier and navigator: Stanley L. Silverfield, Second Lieutenant, United States Army Air Corps.
This episode is Part Five of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Las Vegas, Nevada. Stanley graduates from Gunnery School and earns his silver wings. Then he visits the original Las Vegas strip casinos to refine and burnish his gambling reputation as he prepares for the next hoped-for destination: bomber school, gold bars and his commission as a United States Army Air Corps officer.
This episode is Part Four of The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from gunnery school near Las Vegas, Nevada. It's hot, Stanley's working hard, and the end of this intense, difficult training sequence is close. The King is flying practice missions and shooting machine guns to simulate enemy encounters while in the air.
This episode is Part Three of The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from gunnery school in the desert outside Las Vegas, Nevada. It's summer, the weather is often 120 degrees. Gunnery school is a necessary diversion before bomber school and the installation has a swimming pool. The squadron visits the El Rancho Casino and then posts to Indian Springs, forty miles from Las Vegas, for aerial gunnery training. Stanley relates his joy in flying for the first time since his pilot school washout in April.
This episode is Part Two of The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Las Vegas, Nevada. Our hero is in gunnery school as he continues the training to earn his gold bars as a bombardier. He writes of machine guns, weather and gambling at his favorite casinos, including The Last Frontier, on the original Las Vegas strip.
This episode is Part One of The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from the Air Corps Gunnery School in the Nevada desert. It's a deep, hot summer and six weeks of work to earn Gunner's Wings. Stanley and his squad rode a troop train from the Santa Ana Army Air Base to a post seven miles from Las Vegas. He's ready to do the work to reach Bomber school and attend gambling school on the Las Vegas strip.
This episode is Part Three of The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from the Santa Ana Army Air Base in California. It's been a long, boring, repetitive stretch at a massive installation that was revealed as just a parking spot for Stanley's squadron. The Army Air Corps moved troops when training space opened for the cadets.
This episode is Part Two of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from the Santa Ana Army Air Base in California. As the weather improves, The Silver King fights the training boredom with thoughts of an open post visit to see the ladies and stars in Hollywood. He becomes a devotee of the legendary Biltmore Hotel.
This episode is Part One of The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Santa Ana Army Air Base in California. Stanley rode a troop train with his guys across the nation from Nashville to a posting literally down the street from where Glenn L. Martin built his first plane. Martin built the B-26, the Marauder, that Stanley rode during his war. Our hero is far from home and lonely.
This episode is the epilogue for the first arc of "Dearest Ones," the letters that Stanley wrote to his family throughout his war. The Silver King's War creator, Michael G. Sievers, discusses the writing and the first three training assignments in his father's Second World War start as a U. S. Army Air Corps Cadet.
This episode (first published to honor our hero, The Silver King, for Veteran's Day 2021) is Part Five of Stanley's Letters, "Dearest Ones," from pilot school in Lakeland, Florida. His final weeks have been a furious blend of fear and dedication. His drive to be an Air Corps pilot comes down to a final ten-hour check ride.
This episode (published on the 77th anniversary of The Silver King's first bombing mission: ordnance depot, Homburg, Germany) is Part Four of Stanley's Letters, "Dearest Ones," from pilot school in Lakeland, Florida. He's counting the days to complete his training and take the ten-hour check ride to determine his readiness to be an Air Corps pilot. The Silver King, 19, is confident and flies his first solo on April 22, one day before he turns twenty.
This episode is Part Three of Stanley's Letters, "Dearest Ones," from pilot school in Lakeland, Florida. Our hero ("The fellows call me The Silver King"), is one of five students assigned to Captain Hayes. The training is intense and Stanley loves every minute in the air. The ten-hour check ride looms as he has nine hours and eleven minutes of flying time. His writing reveals a warrior on the rise.
This episode is Part Two of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from pilot school in Lakeland, Florida. The U. S. Army Air Corps demand for pilots required private facilities to train their hopeful fliers. The Lodwick School of Aeronautics is a beautiful campus that opened in 1939. Our hero, working hard, has found a timely slice of personal paradise.
This episode is Part One of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from pilot school in Lakeland, Florida. He arrived there in early April to begin an intense month of training to fly for the nation's Army Air Corps. This facility, The Lodwick School of Aeronautics, is a private company under contract to train air cadets. Every cadet's aim: to be an Air Corps pilot. The wash out rate is high. The work requires every warrior's full attention.
This episode (published on the 31st anniversary of The Silver King's 1990 funeral) is Part Four and conclusion of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama. He's completing pre-flight training and is ready to test his talent and training in pilot school. His next posting is the Lodwick School of Aeronautics in Lakeland, Florida. The Army Air Corps' demand for pilots require private training programs to fill its bombers.
This episode is Part Three of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from pre-flight training at Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama. His proximity to Birmingham allows family visits and Ida Mae's home cooking. The hard work of training keeps The Silver King busy, tired and optimistic.
This episode is Part Two of Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from the Army Air Corps' Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama. The Silver King will spend two months, shared over four episodes, in pre-flight training before his ride to pilot school in Lakeland, Florida.
This episode is Part One of The Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama. Stanley's a car ride from his family in Birmingham and hopeful about visits home. Now he begins the rigorous work over nine weeks, shared over four episodes, of pre-flight training for pilot school. His excitement is palpable as aviator dreams take shape and he writes sixty days of "Dearest Ones" missives.
This episode is Part Three of Stanley's Nashville letters from his war writing, "Dearest Ones," as he begins the stretch run at the Army Air Corps classification center HQ. He's grateful for letters and packages from home. And, he has wonderful news to share with the Silverfields of Birmingham.
This episode is Part Two of Nashville Letters from The Silver King's war writing, "Dearest Ones." Our hero, Stanley Silverfield, is settling into the tension-filled, air cadet testing days that determine his next posting. He joined the United States Army Air Corps to serve his nation as a pilot.
This episode is Part One in Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Nashville. Our hero, The Silver King, rode a troop train from Birmingham, Alabama to Thompson Lake, Tennessee, on January 10, 1943. Now he begins the testing process at the U. S. Army Air Corps classification headquarters to determine his flying fate.
The Silver King's War continues with the introduction of "Dearest Ones." These are the seasons of Stanley Silverfield's extensive, expansive war letters. The Silver King wrote letters to his family throughout World War II. "Dearest Ones" begins with his writing from Nashville, Tennessee, in January 1943. It concludes and concludes with his return to the states through Ft. McPherson, Georgia, in October 1945.
This episode is The Silver King's War four-play epilogue and conclusion of this series. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of this series about his father's Second World War as a B-26 bombardier, discusses his decade of work. Michael also introduces the subsequent seasons of "Dearest Ones," that will follow his father, Stanley Silverfield, throughout his war writing as a prodigious family correspondent.
This bonus episode, The Who & Why of Della Martin, is a discussion by Michael G. Sievers, the creator of The Silver King's War podcast series, of the final play's prominent patient, Della Martin. Michael describes his search to recognize who Della was and the collaboration with Kelly Sievers, the renowned writer and poet, to delve into the why of their exploration as they gave Della her due.
This is episode ten, The Who Is Della epilogue. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of The Silver King's War, discusses a decade of work on his father's Second World War and an imagined post-war life.
This episode is Scene Eight of Who Is Della. It's spring 1975. Stanley Silverfield and James Sheppard are discussing the creation of a new foundation to honor Della Martin, who died in 1974. Today, The Della Martin Foundation, based in Los Angeles, California, underwrites brain science research programs at the University of California-Irvine, USC, UCLA and Cal Tech, that focus on schizophrenia.
This episode is Scene Seven of Who Is Della. It's November 1959. Della Martin, Viola Powell and Stanley Silverfield have traveled with Frank Ober, Jr., and James Sheppard from New York City to Washington. They will meet with members of the California federal delegation and Library of Congress representatives to donate Glenn L. Martin's papers.
This episode is Scene Six of Who Is Della. It's fall 1959. Della Martin, Viola Powell and Stanley Silverfield, have just completed a round-trip Atlantic crossing on the Queen Mary. After settling into their suites, they're sitting in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel lobby, talking about the city. They will celebrate the evening with Stanley's aunt and uncle, Sylvia and Mike Erhlich.
This episode is Scene Five of Who Is Della. It's 1957. Della Martin and her companion, Viola Powell, are living in a private home in San Gabriel, California. Della, Viola, Stanley and the Sheppard Family (James with his children: Eileen, Pam and Tom), are sharing current events in the living room. Kelly Sievers is the voice of Della Martin.
This episode is Scene Four of Who Is Della. It's May 1956. The combined Della Martin team (Stanley, Frank Ober, Jr., Sheppard Mullin attorneys and medical consultants) are meeting with the executives of Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. Della Martin, after her release from Patton State Hospital, will begin a residential transition treatment program in a special unit at Huntington Memorial.
This episode is Scene Three of Who Is Della. Stanley and Frank Ober, Jr., are in Los Angeles to meet with James Sheppard and his team as they plan a future for Glenn Martin's sister, Della. The meeting is in a large conference room in the downtown office of Sheppard Mullin, a prominent legal firm.
This episode is Scene Two of Who Is Della. It's January 1956. Stanley and Frank Ober, Jr., are in Chicago for the winter meeting of the American Bar Association. They're staying at the famous Conrad Hilton Hotel. They will join James Sheppard, a California attorney, for drinks in the hotel's Normandie Lounge.
This episode is Scene One of Who Is Della. It's late December 1955, after the death of Glenn L. Martin, the iconic Middle River, B-26 manufacturer. Our hero, Stanley Silverfield, is meeting with Frank Ober, Jr., who is Glenn Martin's attorney, in the downtown Baltimore office of Ober, Williams and Grimes.
This is the introduction to Who Is Della, the fourth and final play in The Silver King's War podcast series. The series follows a young aviator, Stanley Silverfield, through his Second World War as a B-26 bombardier. Who Is Della creates an imagined life for Stanley as he becomes a design executive with Martin Manufacturing in Middle River, Maryland.
This is Episode Ten, The Serviceman epilogue. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of The Silver King's War, discusses a decade of work on his father's Second World War as a B-26 Bombardier.
This episode is Scene Eight of Serviceman. Our hero, The Silver King, has just started a job with Lee Bernstein's company, Acme Paper Box Manufacturing. The address: 5950 South State Street in Chicago, Illinois. He's a production engineer, It's January 10, 1946. Three years to the day when he rode the train from Birmingham to Nashville to begin his war. His job will shield him from flying in the Korean War.
This episode (published on Father's Day: June 20, 2021) is Scene Seven in Serviceman. It's mid-December 1945. The Bernsteins and Stanley are celebrating with the Norman & Jane Gordon family, who are neighbors in the building. Norman's older sister, Phyllis, is home from Europe after her Red Cross service and the party is buzzing with good cheer. The Silver King met the youngest Gordon family sibling, Shirley June, that evening. They married seventy-five years ago (June 19, 1946) at Chicago's Intercontinental Hotel. Stanley & Shirley had two children, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. The Silver King died in October 1990; he was 67. Shirley died in April 2018; she was 95.
This episode is Scene Six in Serviceman. Our hero, the post-war King, and his war buddy, JJ Sherry, are celebrating JJ's visit to Chicago from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. They're sitting at a two-top in a famous nightclub, The Chez Paree, on W. Fairbanks Court, near Lake Michigan. Stanley and JJ visited the club in early 1944 as they drove from bomber school in Carlsbad, New Mexico, to advance training in Columbia, South Carolina.
This episode is Scene Five of Serviceman as the play's second act, City Lights, begins. Stanley rides the train to Chicago after his fall visit and Thanksgiving weekend in Birmingham. He is about to meet his nephew and niece, Richie and Margie Bernstein, who were born during The King's war. He will stay with his sister, Leona, and her husband, Lee, and their children, as he searches for an apartment near Lake Michigan.
This episode is Scene Four in Serviceman. Stanley returns home in a resonant, emotional shadow scene with his parents, Milton and Sara Belle, as he steps off the train. They embrace as The King's mother cries uncontrollably. Then it's a ride to see Ida Mae and enjoy her home cooking.
This episode is Scene Three in Serviceman. The episode publication date, May 30, is the U. S. Memorial Day celebration and acknowledgement of the nation's warriors.
Stanley L. Silverfield, our family warrior, died on October 15, 1990, in Rockford, Illinois.. Forty-five years to the day after his Army Air Corps service separation.
Now, as you listen, Our hero, The Silver King, has returned to the states from Europe. It's October 1945. Stanley is at Fort McPherson, Georgia, to complete his separation process from active duty in the Army Air Corps. The King's exit interview with the Separation Officer changes his life.
This episode is Scene Two in Serviceman. Army Air Corps operations continue throughout the spring and summer in the ETO. It's September 1945. The Japanese surrender is complete after the Air Corps delivered two atomic weapons, Little Boy and Fat Man, in early August. Stanley and JJ Sherry are living in a tent city, know as Lucky Strike, at the port of Le Harve, France.
This episode is Scene One in Serviceman. Our hero, The Silver King, and his war buddy, JJ Sherry, are in Brussels. The War in Europe is over. It's V-E Day. These Marauder Men have a jeep and 72-hour pass. They're sitting at a two-top in the Hotel Metropole lobby bar.
This episode is the introduction to Serviceman, the third play in The Silver King's War podcast series. Our hero, The Silver King, is in the third year of his war. It's spring 1945 in Europe.
This is episode 10, The Marauder Men epilogue. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of The Silver King's War discusses a decade of work on his father's Second World War.
This episode is the final scene in Marauder Men, the second play in The Silver King's War series. Stanley is reading his latest mail, which includes the March/April 1945 issue of the Birmingham, Alabama, Temple Emanu-El Serviceman. Our hero, The King, is the cover story. The headline: Lt. Silverfield Wins Air Medal, Cluster, Also Promotion.Stanley and JJ Sherry discuss the publication.
This episode (released on Stanley's 98th birthday) is Scene Seven of Marauder Men. Our hero, The Silver King, receives orders to report to the IX Bomber Division Wing Command in London. The Air Corps command asked Glenn L. Martin to award Stanley his silver bars as a First Lieutenant. It's a wonderful surprise and pivotal experience for this Marauder Man.
This episode is Scene Six of Marauder Men. Stanley returns to A-72 from Baltimore in early December 1944 before the German army counter-attack. Reunited with his pilot, Jack Festi, our hero, The Silver King, is the lead bombardier in his flight. This is Stanley's Battle of the Bulge.
This episode is Scene Five in Marauder Men. The Silver King, now flying missions from A-72, north of Paris, receives orders to pack for a special mission to Maryland. Glenn L. Martin, the B-26 manufacturer, has asked the Air Corps brass to send Stanley to Middle River to assist in design modifications for the bomber's blister nose, The Greenhouse.
This episode is Scene Four of Marauder Men. Our hero, The Silver King, and his buddy, JJ Sherry, are training to fly the B-26, Martin Marauder. This is the plane that Stanley wanted to fly. Glenn L. Martin makes a special VIP visit with General Hap Arnold, the Air Corps Commander. They tour Barksdale Field and meet The King and his crew.
This episode is Scene Three in Marauder Men, the second play in The Silver King's War podcast series. Glenn Martin's men have been acquiring tide-water properties just east of Baltimore for development as an industrial manufacturing site. It's late at night as Bunk Tilghman considers an offer for his land, which he believes will be a future hunt & fishing sportsmen's club.
This episode is Scene Two of Marauder Men, the second play in The Silver King's War series. Glenn L. Martin is meeting with the city council, accompanied by his mother, Minta. City Hall is an imposing structure and Martin explains his search for land to build a new manufacturing complex with deference and patience.
This episode is Scene One in Marauder Men, the second play in The Silver King's War series. It's 1909 and Glenn L. Martin is building his first plane in a vacant church in downtown Santa Ana near the family's automobile showroom. The lease is $12/month.
This is the introduction to Marauder Men, the second play in The Silver King's War podcast series. This series follows a young aviator, Stanley Silverfield, through his Second World War as a B-26 bombardier.
This is episode 11, The Silver King epilogue. Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of The Silver King's War discusses a decade of work on his father's Second World War.
This episode is Scene Eight of The Silver King. It's Stanley's first combat mission: November 5, 1944. He will fly with his Barksdale crew: Jack H. Festi (pilot/0711541); James N. Fomby, Jr., (co-pilot/0720239); Alfred R. Hawpe (engineer-gunner/38528150); Clarence A. Luck (radio operator-gunner/35678897); and Jack D. Loftin (armorer-gunner/38554678). Stanley is the bombardier-navigator/0765449. A night mission, the target is an ordnance depot in Homburg., Germany. Flying time to the target: 95 minutes.
This episode is Scene Seven of The Silver King. After Stanley's Atlantic crossing on the Queen Mary, he travels from England to France and his bomb group. It's an arduous journey to reach A-72, north of Paris. His squadron, the 597th, has recently settled into a former German air field.
This episode is Scene Six of The Silver King. Stanley and JJ Sherry, as commissioned officers, ride the Queen Mary, which is now a troop transport ship, across the Atlantic Ocean in late September on their way to the European Theater of Operations. Their specific destination, unknown to them, is an air base in allied territory, perhaps in England or France.
This episode is Scene Five of The Silver King. Stanley and JJ Sherry ship to New York City from Barksdale Army Airfield in Shreveport, Louisiana. They enjoy the city and prepare to cross the Atlantic Ocean on the Queen Mary during late September 1944. This is their ride to reach the European Theater of Operations.
This episode is Scene Four of The Silver King. Stanley, JJ Sherry and Herb Stempler travel east after bomber school graduation for advance training on the B-17 (Flying Fortress) and B-24 (Liberator) at Columbia Army Air Base in Columbia, South Carolina, during the first half of 1944.
This episode is Scene Three of The Silver King. Stanley and his fellow air cadets were posted to Santa Ana Army Air Base to await their next installation assignment. Their bomber school training continued at the Las Vegas Army Gunnery School during the summer of 1943 and finished at the Carlsbad Army Air Base in New Mexico, during January 1944.
This episode is Scene Two of The Silver King. Stanley begins pilot school training at Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama, and finishes at the Lodwick School of Aeronautics in Lakeland, Florida, during April 1943. Stanley wrote 23 letters to his family between April 4th and 28th, 1943.
This episode is Scene One of The Silver King. Our hopeful hero, Stanley Silverfield, travels by troop train from Birmingham, Alabama, to Nashville, Tennessee, to begin his work as an air cadet. He meets JJ Sherry, his war buddy, on this first ride. The Silver King is posted to pre-flight training at Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama, eight days after his arrival.
This is the introduction to the first play, The Silver King, of The Silver King's War podcast series. The series follows the Second World War of Stanley Silverfield, a young aviator from Birmingham, Alabama. Each play is eleven episodes including a trailer, introduction, eight scenes and a bonus epilogue.
This trailer begins an introduction to The Silver King, the first play in a podcast series about a young aviator, Stanley Silverfield, during World War II.