Major Selden Longley "Mack" McMillin
Duty: Deputy Group Commander, Pilot
Dates Active: March 20, 1943 to June 25, 1943
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Major Selden McMillin | Courtesy of Mark Meehl
Major Selden McMillin and the story behind our motto, "Keep the show on the road."
During World War II, bombardment groups created mottos that defined their purpose. For the 384th Bomb Group, their original motto was "Veni, Vidi, Vici" ("I came, I saw, I conquered.") As the group suffered losses, they would trade their motto for a phrase born not from victory, but from the resilience and leadership of a prisoner of war.
The legacy of the 384th is in large part linked to Major Selden Longley “Mack” McMillin, of Dallas, Texas. Born on January 8, 1915, Maj. McMillin was a man who led by example and understood the weight of command.
Maj. McMillin was assigned to the 384th Bomb Group as Deputy Group Commander on March 20, 1943. His early days were marked by the mechanical hazards of the era. A month after his assignment to the group, Maj. McMillin was piloting a ferrying aircraft from Salinas, California to Sioux City, Iowa. Upon arrival at Sioux City, his landing gear failed, forcing a harrowing crash-landing. Neither he nor his crewmates were injured in the incident, but it would serve as a prelude to the dangers ahead.
On June 11, 1943, before assuming his leadership duties, Maj. McMillin insisted on experiencing the front lines. He joined the 303rd Bomb Group for a mission over Bremen, Germany, flying in the co-pilot seat of the famed B-17, Knockout Dropper to see firsthand the conditions he was asking his men to navigate. This mission would also earn him his first combat credit. Having successfully completed the mission, Maj. McMillin returned to Grafton Underwood with a clear understanding of the risks he was asking his crews to take.
The 384th's first official combat mission, and McMillin's first with the Group, took place on June 22, 1943. He served as waist gunner aboard the B-17, Ruthless, targeting the General Motors factory in Antwerp, Belgium.
Maj. McMillin and his crew successfully completed their mission; however, the day was marred by the Group's many losses. Twenty B-17s flew this mission. Of that number, two failed to return, ten men were killed in action, one man, 2nd Lt. Bernarr Nelson (bombardier), remains missing in action and unaccounted for to this day, nine were captured and taken prisoners of war, and four were wounded.
Three days later, on the 384th's second combat mission, and Maj. McMillin’s third, the identity of the Group would be changed forever.
Back, L-to-R: Maj. Selden McMillin (OBS/LWG), 2nd Lt. Gordon Hankinson (CP), 1st Lt. James H. Foister (N), 2nd Lt. David Wilmot (N), 1st Lt. Charles D. Bonnett (B), Col. Budd J. Peaslee (P).
Front, L-to-R: S/Sgt. William Shelton (RWG), S/Sgt. William Ralston (TT), S/Sgt. Clyde Savage (BT), S/Sgt. Roy Griffith (RO), S/Sgt. Julius McNutt (TG).
Aircraft: Ruthless B-17F 42-30043 SO*V | Courtesy of Quentin Bland
On June 25, 1943, Maj. McMillin took the pilot’s seat of B-17F 42-5850, leading his crew on a mission to the submarine pens in Hamburg, Germany. During the mission, his aircraft lost an engine and took a direct hit to the wing, causing it to lose altitude as it was bombarded by intense flak and enemy fighter attacks. Despite the heavy damage to his B-17, Maj. McMillin displayed extraordinary courage, holding his course and completing a successful bombing run on the target. Maj. McMillin’s profound skill, bravery, and unwavering devotion to duty that day earned him the Silver Star and also served as a lasting inspiration to the Group. B-17F 42-5850 crashed near the Netherlands. Of the crew, T/Sgt. Robert Harrison Buckley (top turret gunner) was killed in action. The rest of the crewmembers were captured and taken prisoners of war.
While Maj. McMillin’s actions were inspiring to the Group, the day was also a devastating one. Seven men were killed in action, two men, S/Sgt. Charles Crawford (ball turret gunner) and 2nd Lt. John Way (pilot) remain missing in action and unaccounted for to this day, and twenty-one men were captured and taken prisoners of war. Maj. McMillin was among the twenty-one captured, and he was imprisoned at Stalag Luft 3 in Sagan, Germany. It was from behind the wire that would come Maj. McMillin’s most permanent contribution to the 384th Bomb Group.
Men from the 547th Bomb Squadron attending a mission briefing | Courtesy of Tony Plowright
Back at Grafton Underwood, the mood was heavy as the men of the 384th carried the losses of their fellow airmen and Deputy Commander. 2nd Lt. Walter Owens (public relations officer) wrote in As Briefed, “The echo of Maj. McMillin’s laugh and the clickety-clack of Capt. Foister’s cowboy boots died away. The shock of each loss was soon buried beneath the shock of another.”
One day, just before a crew briefing, a postcard arrived from Germany addressed, "To My Commanding Officer," Colonel Budd Peaslee. It was from Maj. McMillin. In a testament to his qualities as a leader, McMillin set aside the grim realities of his captivity to focus solely on the mission and the men he left behind. To his brothers-in-arms, McMillin wrote the simple message, "Let’s keep the show on the road."
McMillin’s words were not only a final command to his men, but they were also proof of his unwavering belief in the men of the 384th Bomb Group. Those words would serve as a permanent reminder for the men to keep pressing forward while holding their heads high, and, above all, to "Keep the show on the road." The message resonated so deeply that it was soon instated as the group’s new motto.
McMillin remained a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 3, and later Stalag VII-A, until his liberation in April 1945. After the war, McMillin married Mary Little, and together, they raised one son, Selden Jr. McMillin worked as President of McMillin-Burkett Construction Company in Texarkana, Texas. He passed away at the age of 86, and he lies in rest in Bowie, Texas.
Today, the 384th Bomb Group Heritage Association works tirelessly to ensure that the contributions of the men who served with the 384th Bomb Group are never forgotten. McMillin’s words honor the spirit of every veteran who endured. As long as the story of the 384th is told, we will continue to honor his request and “Keep the show on the road.”
Left to right: Walter Lewis "Bill", "Big Dog" Harvey, Samantha Bland (Sam Coleman), and Selden McMillin at the 11th 384th Bomb Group Reunion, 1988, in Savannah, Georgia | Courtesy of 384thBombGroup.com
Information and photos courtesy of the 384th Bomb Group Heritage Association research website, 384thBombGroup.com, and Find a Grave
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