Peggy Harris had no idea how much her life would change when she met Billie, a handsome young man enrolled in the army. But her heart was broken when Billie mysteriously disappeared during World War II. However, she never lost hope...
Remembering how Billie appreciated her strong-headedness, Peggy embarked on a journey to find out what exactly happened to the love of her life. Many years after losing her husband, she finally learns the truth. It might have been better for Peggy not to know what she found out...
A Walk Down the Memory Lane
Peggy and Billie had a very cute love story. They met when they were just 20 and 22 years old respectively and fell head over heels in love with each other. Peggy worked as a technician at the Oklahoma Air Force base and Billie was a pilot. Yes, quite a leap considering the times!
They bumped into each other for the first time when Billie broke his arm during a practice drill and had to be taken to the hospital. The moment they looked into each other’s eyes, something changed - forever! However, at the time, neither of them knew that forever wouldn't last long ...
Love Like Never Before
What followed next were Billie’s numerous letters to his lady love. After a couple of weeks of these letters, Billie decided to make a trip to the airbase. He had something in mind, something very sweet. Peggy finally agreed to the date despite her nervousness, it was after all her first date in life.
The date bought the two closer and kickstarted their love affair in full momentum. Soon enough, the dates became frequent coupled with exchanging love letters which made their feelings grow for each other. Only they didn't know, that it'll soon come to a crashing end!
Making It Official
This unique couple had a conventional love affair where both of their lives revolved around each other. After a fairly long courtship period, Billie and Peggy decided to make it official. It was then that Billie popped THE question. What would she say?
Peggy did not have to think for one second and she shouted a loud yes seeing Billie on his knees professing his love for her and promising to stay with her forever. However, Peggy had no idea this is just the beginning, and the forever Billie promised wouldn't last long.
The Wedding Ceremony
Soon enough the wedding day arrived. It was probably the happiest in Billie and Peggy’s life. All of their friends and family came to congratulate them on the big day and gave them their blessings to have a great married life ahead. Oh, only if time stopped then!
They both said their vows imagining a future filled with kids and love and joy. Who knew their plans for a happy future will get destroyed soon after the marriage?
The Short Marriage
Two weeks after their marriage, when they were still in the newlywed's bliss, Billie received an unexpected letter. It stated that he had to urgently report to his airbase - a call of duty. It was time for him to serve his country even if it required leaving his new bride behind. What would Billie choose?
Both Billie and Peggy knew how important it was to serve the country, although it broke their heart, they did not hesitate for more than a second to accept Billie’s call of duty. Billie promised Peggy he would write to her regularly, but he couldn’t keep his promise.
Being the War Wife
Being a soldier’s wife is not an easy task, it can be very emotionally and mentally exhausting. When the husbands are drafted, the wives are given strict instructions not to speak about where their husbands are going.
They can only talk about it when their husbands have reached their destinations safely. Similar to other war wives, Peggy kept her mouth shut, said goodbye to Billie, unknown to the fact that this is the last time they are seeing each other.
The Mystery Begins
Her other war-wife friends began to start receiving information about their husbands, however, there was no word about Billie. Peggy grew increasingly worried and went to the headquarters every day to retrieve information about Billie.
Due to the ongoing war, the office was in utter chaos, and nobody was replying to her correctly. Who knew due to the official chaos and disorganization, Billie would be lost forever in time?
Bailey Took Charge
Soon she received a telegram stating that Billie had gone no missing with no other details. The date, time, and place he went missing were not mentioned which left Peggy highly suspicious.
She knew, if she wanted to see Billie again, she would have to take charge and stop relying on the officials at military headquarters. She thus began her journey of unfolding the mystery behind Billie’s disappearance.
Scraping for Information
She kept re-reading the telegram to retrieve some kind of information about Billie. One day, while sitting with the telegram on the porch, Peggy suddenly noticed two different pens had been used to finish the message in the telegram.
Now there was a possibility that the official writing the message finished the ink and had to switch the pen. But Peggy’s gut said that the telegram has been written by two different people which made her more suspicious.
A Little Hope
Peggy decided to go down to the telegraph office and get things cleared up. She brought up the issue of ink change, but the official dismissed her saying she was getting unnecessarily suspicious.
However, Peggy refused to budge and pushed the official to look into the matter. Due to the pressure from Peggy, the official made some calls and finally had some more information for her. Would she finally know?
The Wrong Date
A few days after the official made the call, Peggy received another telegram stating the date Billie went missing. This telegram, however, confused Peggy more because it initially mentioned that he went missing on July 7th, which was then cut with a pen and replaced with July 17th.
This did not sit well with Peggy and grew her doubts and suspicions more. She again decided to go to the telegraph office and this time with more determination to find out the truth about her husband.
A Sad Truth
This time she found the officer waiting for her, who informed her that the death of her husband had been confirmed. The exact situation under which he died is still not clear, but the information of his death has been confirmed.
Some other pilot has seen Billie’s plane tumbling down from the sky at an uncontrollable speed. It was hard for anyone to escape that heart-breaking menace. Hearing this Peggy broke down ... the thought of having lost Billie forever made her sob intensely.
The Red Cross
With nothing else on her mind, Peggy and Billie’s family reached out to the International Red Cross society to try and find more information about Billie. Peggy kept reminding herself how much Billie appreciated her strong-headedness and refused to let things go and kept finding answers.
She kept clinging on hope to get to the bottom of the truth. Fortunately, the Red Cross could provide some clues about what happened to Billie.
The Confusing Reports
The International Red Cross Society could gather some reports for Peggy and mysteriously all the reports gave out different information. One report said Billie went missing in action, one said his plane underwent a technical failure, and one said he was found dead.
The confusing reports encouraged her to keep her search going even if it takes forever. In all this searching, more than 40 years had passed but Peggy continued tirelessly.
Word Was Spreading
Peggy still had no definite clue about the mysterious circumstances under which Billie disappeared. However, till now word has spread. Peggy’s situation had gathered local attention and there were people apart from friends and family supporting her cause.
Even a young local congressman, Alton Harvey stepped in to help Peggy and made a public announcement on local television. After a lot of digging around and bureaucratic pressure from Stuartheart’s end, Billie’s military records were opened to shed light on his mysterious disappearance.
Another Surprise
The military records did not offer any new information; however, it was revealed that someone else was also looking for Billie’s military records. After some more digging around it was found that one French woman has been requesting Billie’s military records for more than a decade and she has been going around in circles just like Peggy.
Upon finding this recent development Peggy grew curious about the French woman and why she wanted to see Billie’s files. She did also feel some relief from the fact that there was one more person who was invested in knowing all about Billie’s mysterious disappearance.
The Meeting
Alton Harvey arranged for both the women to meet and bond over their common goal of knowing more about Billie. As soon as Peggy saw the French woman, called Esme, she bombarded her with questions.
Bailey kept trying to recall if both Derek and she knew her from somewhere, but she is forgetting her now. Soon Esme confirmed that she is meeting Bailey for the first time, but she has a very important piece of information about Derek.
Finally, The Truth
Everything Esme told Peggy about Billie blew her mind and made her extremely proud of Billie. After 68 years of Billie’s disappearance, Peggy finally got to know the truth that on the day of his disappearance Billie was flying a P-51 mustang and took to the skies above the English Channel.
Due to engine failure, his plane was about to crash. He had two options: either he could eject himself from the cockpit and let the plane crash in the middle of a town or he could take the plane in the outskirts and make it crash in a secluded area to not harm others.
A True Patriot
Billie did not even have a moment of doubt and decided to make the plane crash somewhere safe where it won’t harm others. He flew the plane out of the city limits until he slammed into a forest in the middle of the trees.
It was a great act of valor from a true hero. He successfully managed to save the life of others, but could he save his own life?
Somebody Found Him
A forest dweller who lived nearby was on his way back when he found Billie unconscious stuck in the cockpit. Being a good human he was, he got Billie out of the cockpit and rushed him to the nearest hospital.
Billie had taken a lot of impact from the crash and was in a bad shape. Esme was one of the nurses who worked at the hospital.
Too Late
Billie was in a very critical state, but Esme tried her best to treat him. However, after two days, his condition worsened, and he passed away. The local people who visited the hospital told Esme about his sacrifice.
Since Billie couldn’t speak and had no identity card with him, Esme couldn’t know who this brave pilot was. But she was determined, that she'd find something about him!
Esme's Journey
Esme’s late brother was a soldier as well who was killed in battle. Hearing Billie's story she was reminded of her brother and wanted to pay her gratitude to Billie’s family.
She thus began her journey of finding the family of the wounded pilot found stuck in the cockpit. It was after years of waiting and hard work that she could finally meet Peggy.
The Mystery Solved
Peggy was extremely sad to learn about the circumstances of her husband’s death, but she was also very proud of him. She couldn’t imagine the horror which would have happened if the plane crashed in the town.
Finally, she had all the information about Bille and decided to honor him. Esme informed Peggy about Billie’s remains buried near the crash site.
Reunited After 68 Years
Peggy visited the crash site and Billie’s grave. She wanted to bring Billie home so he could be near her. Soon his remains were moved, and a lot of people visit him every day in memory of his courage and strength.
It was after 68 years that Peggy could meet her husband again! None of this would have been possible if Alton Harvey had not been so dedicated to finding Billie. Naturally, Peggy was quite thankful!
The End.
It was Alton Harvey's efforts that made Peggy re-believe in her hopes of finding her husband. She was never defeated, though she needed the support which she finally found in many people along the way.
Peggy and Billie's love story was extraordinary. They spent very little time together, but whatever time they had, they made the most of it. It was only natural for Peggy to get closure and be reunited with the love of her life!