Masters of the Air
- Ray Via II
- Jul 27
- 9 min read
Masters of the Air is a gripping World War II miniseries released in January 2024 on Apple TV+, produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman. Serving as a spiritual successor to Band of Brothers and The Pacific, the series adapts Donald L. Miller's 2007 book, Masters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany. It follows the U.S. Army Air Forces' 100th Bomb Group, known as the "Bloody Hundredth," as they carry out daylight bombing missions over Nazi-occupied Europe from RAF Thorpe Abbotts in England. Spanning the years 1942 to 1945, the show examines the brutal realities of high-altitude bombing, the heavy human toll of the air campaign, and the psychological strain endured by the young American crews.
Austin Butler portrays Major Gale "Buck" Cleven with quiet steel, while Callum Turner brings energy to Major John "Bucky" Egan.
Together, they anchor a story of courage, sacrifice, and brotherhood in the frozen skies over Europe.
Major Gale “Buck” Cleven, one of the first commanding officers of the 100th Bomb Group, led the 350th Bomb Squadron with calm determination and an unwavering moral compass. He flew 15 combat missions during the perilous early phase of the air war, when American bomber crews faced staggering losses and uncertain odds. His aircraft was eventually shot down by German fighters in late 1943, leading to his capture and imprisonment at Stalag Luft III.
At his side throughout much of the war was Major John “Bucky” Egan, who matched Cleven’s nerve in the air and flew 21 missions, many of them side by side with his close friend. His fierce loyalty, humor, and fearless leadership made him a natural foil to Cleven’s quiet resolve. Egan, too, was captured after being shot down and endured the same brutal captivity.
Lt. Harry Crosby, portrayed by Anthony Boyle, served as the lead navigator for the 100th Bomb Group and later advanced to the position of operations officer. He flew 32 combat missions, guiding formations deep into enemy territory under immense pressure and near-constant threat. Crosby’s narration shapes the series, offering a reflective and thoughtful contrast to the swagger and bravado of the pilots around him. His contributions extended beyond the cockpit as he helped refine navigational techniques that improved mission effectiveness across the Eighth Air Force. After the war, he earned a doctorate, taught literature at Harvard, and wrote A Wing and a Prayer, the memoir that deeply informed the series’ tone and perspective. Through Crosby’s lens, Masters of the Air grounds its action in emotional clarity and intellectual depth.
Lt. Curtis Biddick, brought to life by Nate Mann, appears early in the series as a fearless and gifted pilot. Flying a B-17 nicknamed Royal Flush, Biddick built a reputation for bold flying and calm leadership under fire. He completed 10 missions before dying during the Regensburg raid in August 1943, one of the most harrowing and costly operations flown by the Eighth Air Force. His death shook the 100th Bomb Group, becoming a turning point in their story and a stark reminder of the war’s lethal stakes.
Robert “Rosie” Rosenthal, played with quiet strength by Jonas Moore, stands out as one of the 100th’s most extraordinary airmen. A Jewish-American attorney from New York, Rosenthal flew 52 combat missions, surviving flak damage, fighter attacks, and multiple crashes. Refusing to rest after surviving near-fatal sorties, he kept returning to combat with unwavering determination. After the war, he continued his fight for justice as a prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials. In Masters of the Air, Rosenthal’s endurance and moral conviction offer a powerful contrast to the surrounding loss, making him a living symbol of resilience, purpose, and survival against the odds.
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress takes center stage in both the action and storytelling. This rugged, four-engine heavy bomber, flown extensively by the Eighth Air Force, earned its name for its ability to absorb damage and bring its crew home safely. The B-17 featured 13 .50 caliber machine guns, a crew of ten, and a bomb load of up to 8,000 pounds for short-range missions. The crew included a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, radio operator, flight engineer/top turret gunner, ball turret gunner, two waist gunners, and a tail gunner. With a combat range of between 1,800 and 2,000 miles, the aircraft could strike deep into Germany. However, it often flew without a fighter escort during the early part of the war. Missions to Berlin, Schweinfurt, and Regensburg pushed the B-17s to their limits, frequently ending in catastrophic losses.
Inside the bomber, the series captures the frigid temperatures, tight passageways, and dangerous isolation faced by the crew. Waist gunners stood exposed to temperatures as low as -50°F, while the bombardier sat vulnerable in the Plexiglas nose. The ball turret gunner occupied a cramped, rotating sphere beneath the fuselage, often without a parachute. One of the B-17's most advanced features was the Norden bombsight, a gyro-stabilized, top-secret device that allowed the bombardier to guide the aircraft during its final bombing run. Combined with the autopilot, the Norden promised accuracy within a few hundred feet from an altitude of over 20,000 feet. Although weather, enemy defenses, and navigational errors often reduced its effectiveness, it remained central to the U.S. doctrine of precision bombing.
To portray these missions, the production team used a combination of practical effects and advanced CGI. The interior sets included full-scale mock-ups of the cockpit, nose, ball turret, and waist gunner stations, all mounted on gimbals to simulate movement and turbulence. Frost, lighting, and camera angles recreated the harsh environment at altitude. CGI rendered nearly all exterior flight scenes, including dogfights, flak bursts, bombing runs, and entire bomber formations flying in combat boxes. The production digitally created B-17s, German fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190, as well as escort aircraft like the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang. The visual effects achieved scale and realism while preserving historical accuracy and narrative clarity.
The series focuses on the 100th Bomb Group, part of the Eighth Air Force, based at RAF Thorpe Abbotts in Norfolk, England. Renowned for its staggering casualty rates, the “Bloody Hundredth” forged its legendary status through a series of brutal missions in 1943 and early 1944, securing its place as one of the most storied units in the history of the U.S. Army Air Forces.
Within the group, the four squadrons featured in the show were the 349th, 350th, 351st, and 418th Bomb Squadrons, each of which provides distinct mission histories and visual identity through squadron codes and nose-band colors:
349th Bomb Squadron (code “XR,” dark blue noseband) was activated in June 1942 and began combat missions in June 1943. It initially attacked French airfields and naval targets, then shifted to German oil facilities by mid-1944. It supported D-Day (Normandy), Operation Cobra (Saint-Lô), the drive toward the Siegfried Line, the Battle of the Bulge, and Operation Varsity across the Rhine in March 1945.
Cleven and Egan led the 350th Bomb Squadron (code “LN,” yellow noseband). It flew the critical Regensburg raid on 17 August 1943, suffering heavy losses as 10 of 21 B-17s failed to return. The squadron earned its first Distinguished Unit Citation for this mission. In early March 1944, during Big Week and the Berlin raids, 23 of its formation failed to return, marking what became the costliest Eighth Air Force mission. The squadron earned a second DUC. Later, it targeted oil refineries and supported Allied ground offensives through the fall of 1944 and the spring of 1945.
351st Bomb Squadron (code “EP,” light green noseband) operated alongside the other squadrons in strategic bombing from mid-1943 to April 1945. It participated in raids on Berlin and oil targets, supported Normandy and subsequent European campaigns, and flew interdiction missions during the Battle of the Bulge and Rhine crossing.
The 418th Bomb Squadron (code “LD,” with a red noseband) was organized in mid-1942 and began combat operations after June 1943. It took part in the Regensburg and disastrous October “Black Week” raids, targeting Bremen and Münster. In March 1944, it joined the costly Berlin raids. Afterward, it concentrated on oil targets and supported ground operations through late 1944 and into the spring of 1945.
Key missions dramatized in the series include the bombing raids over Regensburg, Münster, and Berlin, as well as the harrowing attack on Bremen that cemented the group’s reputation for bravery under fire.
The Regensburg raid (17 August 1943), where the 350th and 418th flew without escort and lost multiple aircraft, receiving their first Distinguished Unit Citation.
Black Week missions (8–10 October 1943) to Bremen and Münster; the 100th Bomb Group lost seven B-17s at Bremen and twelve at Münster, with only one bomber returning from Münster, flown by Robert Rosenthal of the 350th Bomb Squadron.
Big Week and Berlin raids (early March 1944), involving all squadrons; the 350th lost 15 aircraft on 6 March and earned its second Distinguished Unit Citation for raids on Berlin between March 4–8.
The series centers on the 100th Bomb Group’s most dramatic operations; however, the 100th Bomb Group completed 306 combat missions during World War II, with many other documented missions that significantly shaped the course of the air war.
Operation Argument (“Big Week,” Feb 20–25, 1944): Coordinated attacks on Axis aircraft industry; the 100th flew multiple Berlin and Leipzig raids.
Operation Frantic shuttle missions (Aug–Sep 1944): The 100th flew to Poland, Hungary, and the USSR, bombing Gdynia, Trzebinia, and Szolnok before landing in the Soviet Union.
Normandy support and strategic deception (June 5–26, 1944): Missions included airfields, bridges near Calais, and coastal defense suppression before and after D-Day.
Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944–Jan 1945): The 100th flew interdiction missions targeting bridges, rail yards, and German counterattack routes amid severe winter conditions.
Operation Varsity and Rhine crossing (March 1945): Bombed enemy positions and transportation nodes to facilitate Allied daylight airborne operations into Germany.
Operation Chowhound/Manna relief drops (May 1945): Flew food and humanitarian aid missions to the Netherlands at the close of the war.
Within Masters of the Air, the 350th Squadron remains the most visible, thanks to its leadership under Cleven and Egan, as well as its roles in the Regensburg and Berlin campaigns. The other squadrons are subtly featured on briefing room walls, in formation shots, and during key mission sequences, reflecting the grueling coordination required in each combat box formation. Together, these dramatized and documented missions capture the whole arc of the 100th Bomb Group’s combat legacy, from the early days of unescorted deep strikes into Germany to the final months of tactical support and postwar relief.
The 100th Bomb Group's storied history is reflected not only in its heroic missions but also in the distinctive B-17 Flying Fortresses that served within its squadrons. Each aircraft carried a unique name and serial number, many of which were adorned with iconic nose art that boosted crew morale and cemented their place in aviation history.
351st Bomb Squadron
Our Gal Sal — Serial 42‑31767 (B‑17G‑30‑BO)
Piccadilly Lilly II — Serial 42‑37800 (B‑17G‑10‑DL)
Boeing Belle — Serial 42‑39867 (B‑17G‑5‑VE)
The Latest Rumor — Serial 42‑97126 (B‑17G‑40‑BO)
Mason and Dixon — Serial 42‑31412 (B‑17G‑15‑BO)
Nine Little Yanks & a Jerk — Serial 42‑3271 (B‑17F‑40‑DL)
418th Bomb Squadron
Royal Flush — Serial 42‑6087 (B‑17F‑45‑VE)
Stymie — Serial 42‑3237 (B‑17F‑40‑DL)
Sly Fox — Serial 42‑30278 (B‑17F‑?‑DL)
Yo-Yo Buddy — Serial 43‑39199 (B‑17G‑105‑BO)
Rosie’s Riveters — Serials 42‑30758 (F‑model) & 42‑31504 (G‑model)
349th Bomb Squadron
Yehudi — Serial 42‑107230 (B‑17G‑35‑DL)
Black Jack — Serial 42‑30086 (B‑17G)
Hundred Proof — Serial 42‑98015 (B‑17G)
The Reluctant Dragon — Serial 43‑38011 (B‑17G)
Squawkin Hawk — Serial 42‑30088 (B‑17F)
Boss Lady — Serial 42‑102611 (B‑17G‑55‑BO); occasionally assigned to 350th/349th as well
350th Bomb Squadron
Boss Lady — Serial 42‑102611 (B‑17G‑55‑BO)
Varga Venus — Serial 42‑102621 (B‑17G‑55‑BO)
Yankee Wahine — Serial 42‑102667 (B‑17G‑55‑BO)
Traps — Serial 42‑102977 (B‑17G‑60‑BO)
Got To Do It — Serial 42‑102934 (B‑17G‑55‑BO)
Times A Wastin’ — Serial 42‑102528 (B‑17G‑50‑BO)
Lady Geraldine — Serial 42‑102649 (B‑17G‑55‑BO)
All four squadrons flew B-17s marked with the distinctive "Square D" tail code, and the show accurately depicts their markings, call signs, and unit patches. Masters of the Air makes a strong commitment to historical authenticity. It accurately presents the combat box formations used to concentrate defensive firepower, and it realistically portrays the fear and intensity of flak bursts, mechanical failures, and mid-air collisions. The 100th Bomb Group's costly missions to Regensburg, Bremen, and Münster are detailed, with aircraft markings, uniforms, and ground operations faithfully reproduced.
POW scenes, particularly those in Stalag Luft III, reflect the harsh realities of interrogation and captivity, drawing from firsthand accounts and archival records. The performances and script pull heavily from letters, journals, and official documents to give voice to the men who lived it.
Despite its accuracy, the series condenses timelines and simplifies some of the complexity of air war logistics. It compresses months of missions into days for dramatic effect, occasionally merging separate events into single episodes. The Regensburg and Münster raids, although distinct in real history, share a similar tone and structure.
Luftwaffe tactics, especially radar coordination and flak zone management, receive less depth than they merit. The absence of British RAF operations and the joint bombing strategy omits a crucial part of the Allied air campaign. The series also underplays the B-17's frequent mechanical failures. Crews often aborted missions due to engine issues or oxygen system malfunctions, a logistical challenge not fully explored in the show. Furthermore, the broader political and ethical debates about strategic bombing, civilian casualties, and target selection remain mostly untouched.
Still, Masters of the Air succeeds as both a historical drama and a memorial to the bomber crews who flew through cold, flak, and fear. It honors their sacrifice, captures the horror and heroism of the air war, and reminds modern viewers that freedom comes with a terrible high price.