Spielberg Hanks Reunite For HBO Mini-Series "Masters of the Air"

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Yes, it'll be interesting to see how it develops.
Although the series is based on the book of the same name, it also draws heavily on the book "On a Wing and a Prayer", by the navigator Harry Crosby, who we've already met in the series and, so far, it corresponds with his accounts, although, of course, condensed.
 
The series has been about 10 years in the making and thereby lost the chance to interview relevant veterans as per BoB.
But
Knowledgeable folks are disappointed, to understate things.

The most-cited criticism is the egregious insertion of the Red Tails into the 8th AF, about 1,200 miles from their base in Italy. Just absurd. Some comments use "pandering" to describe it. (There was a 332nd display at The Mighty 8th Museum in Savannah, don't know if it's still there.)

Evidently there's a later-war segment with all-metal B-17Fs when G models were intended. Cheap-o CGI.

Purists note the funky oxygen masks, evidently not US WW II versions.
 
Perhaps a little early to judge, until we've seen the entire series, and it is possible the the "Red Tails" episode will make sense in he overall context of the series.
It's possible that the NMF B-17 is one of the full-size, working (but non-flying) aircraft made for the series, and yes, it should really be a "G" model, but better than nothing, and a great achievement by the production company.
The oxygen masks look very like the A-14 type to me, certainly in use in 1944, although perhaps, for the time period depicted (mid 1943) they should maybe have been the A-6B type, with the "bladder" - not sure when the A-14 was first introduced into the ETO.

It should be remembered that some compromises have to be made when producing a series like this, especially in regards to distance and spacing on the screen, the latter almost certainly leading to some scenes being "compressed", in order to "fit" the various elements on the screen. From what I've seen so far, the efforts for overall authenticity have been exceptional and, although things might not be 100% perfect throughout, and the storyline has had to be condensed, so far it's been very well done, and worth the wait.
 
Airframes said:
Perhaps a little early to judge, until we've seen the entire series, and it is possible the the "Red Tails" episode will make sense in he overall context of the series.
It's possible that the NMF B-17 is one of the full-size, working (but non-flying) aircraft made for the series, and yes, it should really be a "G" model, but better than nothing, and a great achievement by the production company.
The oxygen masks look very like the A-14 type to me, certainly in use in 1944, although perhaps, for the time period depicted (mid 1943) they should maybe have been the A-6B type, with the "bladder" - not sure when the A-14 was first introduced into the ETO.

It should be remembered that some compromises have to be made when producing a series like this, especially in regards to distance and spacing on the screen, the latter almost certainly leading to some scenes being "compressed", in order to "fit" the various elements on the screen. From what I've seen so far, the efforts for overall authenticity have been exceptional and, although things might not be 100% perfect throughout, and the storyline has had to be condensed, so far it's been very well done, and worth the wait.
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I agree. As a knowledgeable person I'm not disappointed. I am very well enjoying it.
 
I too am finding the ability to make the Forts alive is remarkable. Having built a 1:48 scale and 1:16 scale B-17G and E respectively, it's wonderful to see how they can do it. The dynamics of taxiing, take off, landing, etc. seems to be very accurate. Considering there are so few real ones still flying, it is amazing that they can create facsimiles with such fidelity. I've had the pleasure to know some real B-17 pilots in my work life. One had to ditch in the English Channel and didn't lose any crew. The Air Corps had the highest casuality rate in any unit in the service and when you imagine what it was like to pass through a forrest of flak, it was amazing that any of the crews ever made 25 missions.
 
Airframes said:
Perhaps a little early to judge, until we've seen the entire series, and it is possible the the "Red Tails" episode will make sense in he overall context of the series.
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The link seems to be that one or more of the 99th Fighter Squadron were in the same POW camp as Egan and Cleven, Luft Stalag III.

So it doesn't really make sense.

There were a lot of guys in the POW camp that weren't from the 100th BG, but we won't be getting an episode about them.
 
DerAdlerIstGelandet said:
Just watched episode 3. Damn, seriously, damn…

Its about the Schweinfurt-Regensburg raid.
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Very appreciative that the mission was the whole episode, rather than showing some high jinks on the base.

Air to air scenes were amazing.

Would like to have seen the P-47s turn up to escort them, albeit a little late, then have to turn for home as the bombers start getting hit by the fighters.

Would Harding have actually said that this was the "largest air armada assembled in the history of mankind", considering that the RAF recently (within 4 weeks) had several strikes with well over 700 bombers, and had a year earlier sent around 1,000 bombers?

I have seen that the way the rockets are depicted being used is incorrect. That is, they weren't fired from a maneuvering fighter inside a formation, but used as a stand-off weapon. they also weren't aimed specifically at an aircraft, but into the formation.

Did the airmen know about these rockets, which had only just started being introduced into Luftwaffe tactics?
 
I just watched episode three and was cringing at the loss of life, although I expected it. I won't spoil anything for those who haven't seen it, but the Regensburg/Schweinfurt mission was the centerpiece. I'm looking forward to the rest. Some are picking it apart piece by piece. It's Hollywood, after all. I'll trust Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg to get most of it right.

I've been studying the bombing campaign in Europe for decades, but the more I learn, the more I wonder how those men did it, day after day, and more than that, I wonder how I would have stood the stress, knowing my next mission might be my last. None of us will ever know, I guess.
 
Enjoyed the first episode so will see what the rest bring. You can tell the amount of CGI used but it's not been too bad so far. Not really feeling the characters so far like you so in band of brothers but then with the veterans talking at the end of each episode brings it much more together and definitely makes you related to the characters more.
 
Gnomey said:
Enjoyed the first episode so will see what the rest bring. You can tell the amount of CGI used but it's not been too bad so far. Not really feeling the characters so far like you so in band of brothers but then with the veterans talking at the end of each episode brings it much more together and definitely makes you related to the characters more.
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Hardly got to know who these guys were before they were into action.
 
Subscription or the naughty way Marcel....

The first 4 episodes have been pretty good so far....we see the 'reality' of this air War like the other series did to bring things into perspective.
Those smiling faces heading out on their first mission.....and returning with a completely different perspective etched into their faces upon return....
 
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