Masters of the Air (2024): Why It Crashed and Burned
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Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Quite a fair summary.
I enjoyed the series (and have it on DVD), and was particularly impressed with the sets and details. However, I've always thought that "something" was missing "somewhere", and have been unable to decide exactly what and where, and I think this video has possibly answered a least part of that feeling.
As for budget and cost over-runs, it's not that surprising as, apart from the problems due to the Covid pandemic, it's probable that a very large, and unnecessary, sum was spent on some elements of "set dressing" items. For example, scenes set in planning, the control tower and briefing rooms, included stacks of paperwork and photographs, portrayed in filing baskets, on desks, or out of focus in the background, where the content of such items could never be viewed by the audience. These items were researched and then printed, so that every sheet was printed with the actual details pertaining to operations that were planned/executed by the 100th BG.
Why ?!!
No one would see them, so why go to the effort and expense of producing something that's not relevant - stacks of plain paper would suffice, perhaps with the top sheet bearing some lines of type.
But I still like the series, even though it lacks the memorable impact of Band of Brothers, and I'll continue to watch it occasionally, especially as my "Tin Tent" is based just four miles from Thorpe Abbotts, the airfield used by the 100th BG. (the series was filmed at former RAF Abingdon, now an Army facility, and the production crew did a good job replicating the control tower and dispersal area of the real Thorpe Abbotts, even though there were a couple of continuity errors).
I enjoyed the series (and have it on DVD), and was particularly impressed with the sets and details. However, I've always thought that "something" was missing "somewhere", and have been unable to decide exactly what and where, and I think this video has possibly answered a least part of that feeling.
As for budget and cost over-runs, it's not that surprising as, apart from the problems due to the Covid pandemic, it's probable that a very large, and unnecessary, sum was spent on some elements of "set dressing" items. For example, scenes set in planning, the control tower and briefing rooms, included stacks of paperwork and photographs, portrayed in filing baskets, on desks, or out of focus in the background, where the content of such items could never be viewed by the audience. These items were researched and then printed, so that every sheet was printed with the actual details pertaining to operations that were planned/executed by the 100th BG.
Why ?!!
No one would see them, so why go to the effort and expense of producing something that's not relevant - stacks of plain paper would suffice, perhaps with the top sheet bearing some lines of type.
But I still like the series, even though it lacks the memorable impact of Band of Brothers, and I'll continue to watch it occasionally, especially as my "Tin Tent" is based just four miles from Thorpe Abbotts, the airfield used by the 100th BG. (the series was filmed at former RAF Abingdon, now an Army facility, and the production crew did a good job replicating the control tower and dispersal area of the real Thorpe Abbotts, even though there were a couple of continuity errors).
drgondog
Major
I kept expecting the production to demonstrate strong historical knowledge and fact and was disappointed in the number of errors. The
personal story if taken without context was fine.
personal story if taken without context was fine.
jimh
Senior Airman
I started watching it...and the crosswind landing took me right out of it and I turned it off. I know Taigh Ramey, flown with him a lot...he did the Aviation technical direction. I asked him about the production and he indicated he had time to brief the actors about the crew duties and "chair simulate" what it's actually like to fly a B-17...but it still went to the artsy side of the aisle. fast forward...About a month later I stocked up on wine and gave it another go. Visually, it is pretty stunning. With the amount of actual B-17's that were flying at the time, it was dissappointing that they didn't use any, or Mustangs, or German fighters...that was a huge miss but the CGI had some real highlights. Overall, I think it was too sanitary, wasn't gritty like BoB...the haircuts, the overall look of the actors, and the acting/script itself was cheesy. Going in with expectations is always a mistake, I was expecting a cross between Peck's 12 Oclock High and BoB. What I felt I watched was a cross between the 1989 Memphis Belle and any of the Red Tail Movies. All that negativity said, I'm glad they made it, and I hope it brought in a new generation to that bit of history. .....AND my biggest pet peave...the brakes did not squeal....you can't have a B-17 taxiing around with quiet brakes
Jim
Jim
smutny
Airman 1st Class
I was excited when I saw the first trailers and had high expectations. Then that tempered a bit when I saw the final trailers before release, so I went in expecting what I got. A Hollywood air war with all the same old schticks. Us "rivet counters" can fine a myriad of things wrong with it. But I think, for the general public, it was a good story. It's not an easy story to tell, but I think they got the basics across.
The following summer, and even now, while touring with Sentimental Journey (BTW, they mic'd up SJ for all the systems sounds in MotA), we do have a number of people that watch MotA before coming out to walk through or go for a ride. In Atlanta during the 2024 tour, one family chartered a flight and filled all the seats. The matriarch, who's father was a navigator, came out the day before to make sure she could climb in and out, our requirements are that riders must do so unassisted. I had a chat with her and asked her if she had a pic of her dad from the war, which she brought the following day.
The briefing was normal, then I tried to set a better picture of the environment their dad/grandad had to endure by talking about MotA vs what we were going to experience at a couple thousand feet. It was a good flight and the cool thing was the picture she brought was his crew pic in front of his B-17. We recreated that pic with the family in front of SJ, now both hang together in their home.
MotA has its place in pop culture. Is it the near documentary we wanted? No. But it has an effect that I've seen personally, and that's good.
The following summer, and even now, while touring with Sentimental Journey (BTW, they mic'd up SJ for all the systems sounds in MotA), we do have a number of people that watch MotA before coming out to walk through or go for a ride. In Atlanta during the 2024 tour, one family chartered a flight and filled all the seats. The matriarch, who's father was a navigator, came out the day before to make sure she could climb in and out, our requirements are that riders must do so unassisted. I had a chat with her and asked her if she had a pic of her dad from the war, which she brought the following day.
The briefing was normal, then I tried to set a better picture of the environment their dad/grandad had to endure by talking about MotA vs what we were going to experience at a couple thousand feet. It was a good flight and the cool thing was the picture she brought was his crew pic in front of his B-17. We recreated that pic with the family in front of SJ, now both hang together in their home.
MotA has its place in pop culture. Is it the near documentary we wanted? No. But it has an effect that I've seen personally, and that's good.
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wuzak
Captain
The personal story was not that compelling, IMO.
Of the 4 main characters, two were in PoW camps mid series, one was doing a desk job , and the most interesting character of the 4 was barely featured.
Context is what the series lacked the most.
For instance, the Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission.
No effort was given as to why the Regensburg force took off when they did.
Recators I have seen watch the series were of the impression that the Schweinfurt force delaying taking off was detrimental to the Regensburg force - theough the Schweinfurt force suffered far more, but that wasn't shown.
Fighter escort wasn't mentioned, IIRC, to episode 5 or 6, when the P-51 arrived.
drgondog
Major
No, the personal story was not that compelling, but it seemed to be the focus rather than a focus on the 8th AF story - I am in complete agreement with respect to the facts, or lack of them.
As to the escort theory, it was sad that the 332nd had to be forced into the 8th AF story when they miraculously showed up in P-51Ds escorting the 8th instead of the 15th AF, 18 mo early.
You're right about the Schweinfurt count, but actually the % lost as function of task force size were about the same. There were too many errors in the story to cover.
I still have not seen this series. Maybe that is a good thing?
I would recommend you watch it and make up your own mind.
