Trailer Analysis | ‘Masters of the Air’ | Interpretation And Historical Prototypes

In November, Apple TV+ finally unveiled the highly anticipated final part of the WWII-themed mini-series, "Masters of the Air," crafted by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg [preceded by the renowned "Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific"]. The release date has been officially set for January 26th, 2024, spanning nine episodes to be fully aired by March 2024.

The series revolves around the most extensive and lengthiest aerial warfare in human history, the ETO Strategic bombing campaigns carried out by the Allies against Nazi Germany and its occupied territories also referred to as the "Reichsverteidigung" (Defense of the Reich) by the Germans.

According to the "United States Strategic Bombing Survey Over-all Report" published in 1947 post-war, the United States Army Air Corps lost 9949 bombers, 8420 escort fighters, and 79265 airmen. The Royal Air Force lost 11965 bombers, 10045 escort fighters, and 79281 airmen. The German Luftwaffe, defending against the air battle, lost 15430 aircraft and approximately 18000 planes due to bombing.

Against this vast historical backdrop, the series will center on the United States Army Air Corps crews operating in the European theater. The script, adapted by "Band of Brothers" screenwriter John Orloff from Donald Miller's novel of the same name, will particularly emphasize the 100th Bomb Group (The Eighth Air Force).

Historically, the 100th Bomb Group commenced combat missions on June 25, 1943, bombing U-Boat Pens in Bremen, marking the beginning of its legendary journey. The group's operational area spanned airports, industries, and naval facilities in France, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, and Ukraine. Due to significant losses from the summer to autumn of 1943, the group earned the nickname "Bloody Hundredth" from allied squadrons.

For instance, out of the initial 38 co-pilots assigned to the group, only 4 completed the designated 25 combat missions. On October 10, 1943, during an air raid on Münster, only one aircraft from the entire squadron survived. The group conducted its final combat mission of WWII on April 20, 1945, returning to the United States in December of the same year and officially disbanding on December 21 in New Jersey. They carried out over 300 combat missions throughout the war, received two outstanding unit awards, and endured heavy losses totaling 177 B-17 aircraft.

Subsequently restructured and reconstituted, today it operates as the 100th ARW, still carrying the nickname "Bloody Hundredth" and falling under the Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe). Stationed at Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall in Suffolk, England, it is the only permanent aerial refueling squadron of the United States in the European theater, employing Boeing KC-135R/T Stratotankers. To commemorate the combat achievements of its predecessor, the 100th Bomb Group, during the European war and to highlight the Air Force's historical legacy, today's 100th ARW is the only Air Force squadron allowed to display its WWII precursor's tail code ("super-D") on its aircraft.

The historical prototype of this aircraft was a B-17G-85-VE manufactured by Lockheed Corporation, produced on January 7, 1945, and delivered to the 100th Bomb Group stationed in England on March 29, assigned to the 349th Bomb Squadron as a Pathfinder named "Mike," and decommissioned in December after the war.

The crux of the problem for the U.S. military in executing large formations of intense bombing lay in the range of .50 caliber machine guns, forming the basis of the entire formation's logic. The effort to maintain a dense appearance aimed to maximize the .50-caliber firepower in response to attacks from German interceptors, reducing their success rate. The thicker the formation, the higher the density of firepower. To accomplish this tactic, the U.S. specifically developed and enhanced the B-17E for improved high-altitude stability, enlarging and elevating the empennage and upgrading firepower until the specialized air trench warfare model, the B-17G, was introduced.

On the other hand, the German Luftwaffe's counter to the U.S. dense box formation tactic involved the "Wild Boar Hunting Tactics" pioneered by Jagdgeschwader 300 (300th Fighter Wing). They attacked formations with eight or more fighter planes, focusing on one aircraft, preferably on the edge of the building. This made it difficult for the American machine gunners to concentrate on one, leaving at least one aircraft untouched. Other fighters would then calmly target the unguarded B-17 and open fire, while the rest would continue firing tracers at the formation. Eight fighter planes meant 24 machine guns or tracer trajectories, causing severe panic among the gunners and disrupting their ability to aim. Conversely, being attacked by over a dozen tracer trajectories would instill fear in the fighter pilots, making it challenging to seek and prompting them to flee.

In the trailer are a few close-ups of the German army, with the longest focusing on the anti-aircraft artillery emplacements. In reality, in 1940, Germany had 791 heavy anti-aircraft batteries and 686 light anti-aircraft batteries dedicated to defense, and by mid-1944, these numbers skyrocketed to 2655 heavy anti-aircraft batteries (10930 88 mm Flak 18/36 and Flak 37, 4157 105 mm Flak 38/39, and 128 mm Flak 40) and 1612 light anti-aircraft batteries (30463 20 mm Flak 30/38 and 37 mm Flak 43), involving 1,110,900 combatant(s.

Comparing the cost of shooting down an aircraft to the production cost of the plane:

In 1942, the cost for the German army to shoot down one aircraft using heavy anti-aircraft ammunition was $106,976, and using light anti-aircraft shell was $14,820.

In 1942, the unit prices for the North American B-25 Mitchell and Martin B-26 Marauder were $153,396 and $239,655, respectively. These costs excluded maintenance, armaments, fuel expenses, and the training costs associated with bomber crew members. Until the mid-war period, the German price for shooting down aircraft was not notably high.

The above content is an interpretation based on a mere 2-minute trailer and historical prototypes. Let's wait and see!