A LOGBOOK that provides a clue to the mysterious death of Glenn Miller has fetched almost £22,000 at auction.

Experts at Sotheby's in Billingshurst were stunned as bidding rapidly rose to more than £21,000 over the estimated price of £800.

It was eventually bought by 76-year-old American William Suitts, from the Colorado town where the wartime band leader went to school.

Sotheby's spokesman Rachel Aked said workers were amazed by the interest shown and when Mr Suitts, who was bidding over the telephone, continued to add to the price, the atmosphere became more and more tense.

She said: "Either we seriously under-estimated or this sale proves that people are willing to pay large sums of money for things that attract them.

"This man is a real Glenn Miller fan and has a large collection at his home. He used to fly planes in the war and so the Glenn Miller tale has a lot of significance for him."

Glenn Miller's plane was lost in the English Channel, about 50 miles south of Beachy Head in December 1944, as it was heading for France.

The logbook, belonging to navigator Fred Shaw, a member of No 149 Squadron based at Norfolk during the war and dated December 1944, details an incident that says the plane was forced into the sea by shockwaves from jettisoned bombs.

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