The Silver King's War

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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 in an empty former Methodist church in downtown Santa Ana in 1909.  Michael G. Sievers, the writer, producer & creator of "The Silver King's War," discusses Glenn Martin's development as an industrial giant who built the B-26 in Middle River, Maryland. A small part of the war's industrial irony is that 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 his pilot school at Lakeland, Florida, 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."

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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."

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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-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.

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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.

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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 extraordinary writing about it. (The episode was produced on October 15, 2021: the 31st anniversary of Stanley's death, at 67, in Rockford, Illinois.)

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