Raymond Edward Miller, Jr.

Serial Number 19066224

Raymond Edward Miller, Jr. was born 11 February 1920 in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. His nickname was Bud. His father was Raymond Elwell Miller, a native of Peru, Miami County, Indiana. Bud’s mother was Myrtle Janet Adair Miller, a native of Polk County, Iowa. Raymond and Myrtle were married in Mason City, Iowa on 14 August 1916. Bud was the middle of five children. Twin sisters Ellen and Edna were born in 1918. Sister Ruth was born in 1922 and sister Jocelyn was born in 1931.

According to the 1920 census, the Millers were living in Des Moines. Raymond was working as a clerk in a hardware store. By the 1930 census, the family was living in Burbank, Los Angeles County, California. Raymond was employed as a cutlery salesman. In 1935, the family was living in Davenport, Iowa. Bud attended Nash School and graduated from Davenport High School. Raymond and Bud both worked for Willey’s Radio and Electric Equipment Store. Raymond was a salesman and Bud worked in the parts and service department. The 1940 census records that the family was living in Des Moines. Raymond was working as a traveling salesman for a lawnmower company. Bud was employed as a stock boy in a biscuit company. The census indicated that Bud had completed one year of college. Newspapers indicate that the college was St. Ambrose of Davenport.

Bud registered for the draft in Glendale, California on 1 July 1941. Bud’s description indicates that he was 5 feet 71/2 inches tall and weighed 140 pounds. He had blue eyes, brown hair, a light brown complexion and a “slight scar in right eyebrow.” The card records that he was a receiving clerk for the Vega Airplane Company in Burbank, California. The 09 November 1941 edition of the Los Angeles Times reported that Bud was one of 53 students from Central Evening High School’s aviation review course to pass the Army Air Corps written examination. The article reported that the students were awaiting placement at a training base to spend 30 weeks learning the rudiments of flying. Those who successfully complete the course would be commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army Reserve. World War II Army enlistment records give Bud’s enlistment date as 19 December 1941. His civilian occupation was “semiskilled inter-industry metal working occupations, n.e.c.” His rank was Aviation Cadet. Bud’s parents and younger sisters followed Bud to California where they lived in Glendale. Raymond was employed by California Shipbuilding Corp.

Bud received his initial training in Tulsa, Oklahoma and was sent to Perrin Field, Sherman, Texas for additional training. On 28 April 1942, Bud was killed along with pilot Second Lieutenant Peter Richards during a “routine formation flight” near Whitesboro, Texas. The event was designated “in line of duty” and DNB: died, non-battle. At the time of his passing, Bud was engaged to Evelyn Thomas of Davenport with a wedding planned for August 1942.

Bud was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Bud’s marker does not include any military designation. In December 1942, Lockheed/Vega honored 12 war heroes, including Bud. Twelve Lockheed and Vega P-38 fighters, Flying Fortresses and Ventura bombers were dedicated in honor of “former company men who have given their lives for their country.” A Vega Ventura was named in Bud’s honor. As reported by the North Hollywood Valley Times, the nose of each plane was marked with a winged gold star, the word “Resurgam,” (which means “I shall rise again”) and the name of the worker. Families attended a ceremony. They were provided with a 76 RPM recording of the presentation, the passing of the aircraft and ceremonial remarks. Families were also provided with a photograph in front of the plane named in honor of their loved one with the label: Gold Star Squadron of Fighting Memorials.

There is a history of military service in the Miller family. Bud’s father served as part of the Naval Coast Defense Reserve at the close of WWI. He was an ensign (PC) in December 1918 according to the 1919 Navy Registry. Bud’s name and nickname were passed on to his nephew who was born on 2 May 1942. This nephew served in the USAF. He became a pilot and aerospace engineer. He continues to fly. Two of Bud’s sisters contributed to the war effort by working at Lockheed and North American Aircraft. A brother-in-law worked at Aberdeen (Maryland) proving grounds.

Thank you, Raymond “Bud” Miller, Jr, for your service and sacrifice for our freedom! It was an honor to write your story.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Together We Served and on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

Laura Hanaford, Contributing Author, Stories Behind the Stars

If you have any details, photos, or corrections for this story, please click HERE to email Together We Served directly.

SBTS Project/Los Angeles/California

References:

https://www.honorstates.org

https://www.ancestry.com

US Census Records

familysearch.com

https://www.findagrave.com

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/135785693/raymond-edward-miller

Genealogybank.com

Fold3.com

https://goldstarfamilyregistry.com

Newspapers.com

https://www.fold3.com/record/84962330/raymond-e-miller-jr-wwii-army-enlistment-records

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114525274/two-killed-on-routine-training-flight/?xid=865

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114529092/former-daven-port-youth-killed-in-army/?xid=865

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114529041/plane-crash-takes-life-of-air-cadet/?xid=865

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114528926/flying-cadet-killed/?xid=865

Angeleno-trainee-killed-in-texas

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94611035/army-officer-and-cadet-die-in-crash/?xid=865

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94611312/austin-american-statesman/?xid=865

https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/186638275/person/112444212411/media/84699223-48bb-4fd5-aa12-ccee12a587a6

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114525332/12-lockheed-war-heroes-given-honor/?xid=865

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to the family members related to Bud. They were generous with time, photographs and information. The family treasures Bud’s wings, flight log books and Gold Star.

Raymond E Miller Jr