The Silver King's War

Send a text This episode is Part Fourteen 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, discusses his work and observations about his father's war preparation.  Stanley returns to Columbia Army Air...

Send a text This episode is Part Thirteen 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, discusses his father's writing and war. The Silver King has arrived at Columbia Army Air Base in South Carolin...

Send a text This episode is Part Twelve of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout the 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 Ki...

Send a text This episode is Part Eleven of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout the Second World War (first produced on Veterans Day 2021; published on Veterans Day 2022).  Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer and creator of "The Silver King's War" podcast series, discusses his father's bomber school gradu...

Send a text This episode is Part Ten of the epilogue for Stanley's letters, "Dearest Ones," that he wrote to his family throughout the 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 throughout November and December 1943 to earn his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in t...

Send a text 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 in an empty former Methodist church in downtown Santa Ana in 1909.  Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of "The Silver King&...

Send a text This episode is Part Nine 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, discusses his father's training in navigation and introduction to the Norden bombsight.  Stanley marvels at his co...

Send a text This episode is Part Eight 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, discusses his father's work as Stanley arrives at his 6th installation: bomber school at the Carlsbad Army Air Ba...

Send a text This episode is Part Seven 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, discusses his father's work as Stanley begins the long road to bomber school success. After a five-day train ride...

Send a text 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 medi...

Send a text 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 pilo...

Send a text 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...

Send a text 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 the American air war history, John Steinbeck's writing ("Bombs Away"), Glenn Martin's B-2...

Send a text 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. Ar...

Send a text 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 father's war and...

Send a text 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, Le Harve...

Send a text 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 to his family 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.  Stanley writes as the world anticipates peace in the Paci...

Send a text 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. Stanley has new orders for shipment to a depot near Paris. There he will await word on which ship he'll ride.  As Stanley writes...&qu...

Send a text 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 reaching home for fall football games. Stanley'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&ap...

Send a text 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.  It's 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...

Send a text 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 Bomber Squadron flew a formation for brass hats, including Ike and Zhukov , wi...

Send a text 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,...

Send a text 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 Fr...

Send a text 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 t...

Send a text This episode is Part Two of the Silver King's letters, "Dearest Ones," from Europe in May 1945.  Hitler is dead.  The European Theater of Operations 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...