"Masters of the Air" finally has a release date

Nordic wrote:Sounds awesome

The Pantry wrote:Trailer is out.



The ‘Masters of the Air’ Trailer Is Here, and It Looks Like Two Hundred Million Bucks

Nordic wrote:“ Masters of the Air begins its run on January 26 with two episodes, after which one will be released weekly.”

The Pantry wrote:

Nordic wrote:“ Masters of the Air begins its run on January 26 with two episodes, after which one will be released weekly.”

Despise the way Hollywood slow rolls stuff to garner more attention and adverti$ing.  

The entire series is complete.  Wish I could pay to sit down and watch it all at one time for the full effect.

tGreenWay wrote:I thought this was going to be about Michael Jorden, Jason Richardson, Dominique Wilkins,  Dr. J., and Vince Carter.

The Pantry wrote:

Nordic wrote:“ Masters of the Air begins its run on January 26 with two episodes, after which one will be released weekly.”

Despise the way Hollywood slow rolls stuff to garner more attention and adverti$ing.  

The entire series is complete.  Wish I could pay to sit down and watch it all at one time for the full effect.

The Pantry wrote:Reminder.  Masters of the Air starts this Friday on Apple TV+

MiamiSpartan wrote:First two episodes released Friday.  I'm admittedly going to be a sunshine blower about this, but I'm loving it.  It isn't, and won't be, as good as Band Of Brothers.  That would be virtually impossible.  We will see how the plot develops.  I think focusing on one unit (for the most part) will help it be more cohesive than The Pacific (which I still loved, but was more like 3 different mini-series).

The battle scenes with the special effects available today are incredible.  

It feels wrong that it's not on HBO, but I'm just glad it was finally made.  

349th Sqdn. This crew joined the 100th Gp on 23/9/44.  Flew overseas B-17G 43-38480   This Aircraft was assigned to the 493rd Bomb Group at Debach and was lost on Sept 30, 1944.  Lt Adair flew 20 of their missions in "532" which they  nicknamed "Little Sweetheart" and  was later called "Kleen Sweep" by Hal Switzer's Crew.

“Goddard was pretty quiet, but fun to be around ... a good officer. When you think about it, he died fairly young after we got home [1958]. But while we were over there he was pretty much a grown-up to me. He was married and had a little girl already – and she [Paula] – was the reason we called the plane that we flew most of our missions on the ‘Little Sweetheart.’” – Conley E. Culpepper interview

According to his daughter, Maureen, via a phone call last Christmas, "Lucky Jim" Adair carried a 4-leaf clover from Iowa inside wax paper his wallet for the duration of the war (and long afterward). It was given to him by his future wife Geneva before he left the States.

Missions of 1st  Lt James Adair

#     DATE      TARGET                      A/C                                      COMMENTs

1.   12/10/44  Bremen                      681   Grumblin Gremlin III         FW 190 parts Factory          
2.   15/10/44  Cologne                     011   The Reluctant Dragon      Marshalling Yards
3.   19/10/44  Ludwigshaven             987   The Little Skipper            RR Yds, Bomb Bay doors stuck open, #3 eng. Burned out
4.   22/10/44  Munster                     215    The Grumblin Gremlin      RR Yds
     25/10/44  Heligoland                  211    no name                       Recalled after assembly
5.   26/10/44  Hanover                     535    no name                       Tank and Gun factory                
6.   02/11/44  Merseburg                  987    The Little Skipper           Oil
7.   05/11/44  Ludwigshaven             986    Once In A While             Chem. Plant, Chaff Ship, Landed at ? Because of strong winds
8.   06/11/44  Neumunster               295     White Cargo                  Marshalling Yards
9.   16/11/44  Langerwehe (Aachen) 313     Lil Butch                        Landed with 120 Gal of gas
10. 21/11/44  Osnabruck                  535     no name                       RR Yds
11. 26/11/44  Hamm                        073    That's All Brother            RR Yds
12. 02/12/44  Koblenz                      681    Grumblin Gremlin III         Recalled after passing sortie line
13. 04/12/44  Friedburg                    987    The Little Skipper           RR Yds
14. 05/12/44  Berlin                         987    The Little Skipper           Tank & Gun factory, Hendrix and Horny passed out from anoxia.      
15. 12/12/44  Darmstadt                  532     Little Sweetheart           RR Yds, 2nd Element Lead
16. 18/12/44  Mainz                         532     Little Sweetheart           Brought Bombs Back
17. 24/12/44  Biblis                          532     Little Sweetheart           Airfield Plastered
18. 25/12/44  Kaiserlautern               532     Little Sweetheart           RR Yds
19. 28/12/44  Koblenz                      532     Little Sweetheart           RR Yds
20. 29/12/44  Frankfurt                    532     Little Sweetheart           RR Yds No 3 in Low Element
21. 30/12/44  Kassel                        230     no name                       Aborted-No1 Eng burned out                  
22. 03/01/45  Fulda                         532     Little Sweetheart           RR Yds
23. 05/01/45  Frankfurt                    532     Little Sweetheart           RR Yds, Low Element Lead
24. 07/01/45  Cologne                     532     Little Sweetheart           Drove over primary, hit Limburg                                  
25. 20/01/45  Heilbronn                   532     Little Sweetheart           RR Yds, Deputy Lead
26. 21/01/45  Mannheim                  532     Little Sweetheart           RR Yds, Low Lead
27. 29/01/45  Kassel                        532     Little Sweetheart          2nd Element Lead
28. 09/02/45  Weimar                      532     Little Sweetheart          Arm Plant, 2nd Element Lead
29. 14/02/45  Chemnitz                    532    Little Sweetheart           RR Yds, Low Element Lead
30. 15/02/45  Cottbus                      532    Little Sweetheart           RR Yds
31. 20/02/45  Nurnburg                    532    Little Sweetheart           no comment
32. 21/02/45  Nurnburg                    532    Little Sweetheart           no comment
33. 23/02/45  Trenchtlingen              532    Little Sweetheart           RR Yds
34. 24/02/45  Bremen                       532   Little Sweetheart           RR Bridge
35. 25/02/45  Munich                        532   Little Sweetheart           RR Yds. FINIS

Lt Adair's Medals: Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Cluster
ETO Ribbon with one Battle Star

NOTES from Lt Jim Adair's Pilot Log Book:

Assignment and Training of the Crew were in Sioux City Iowa from 6/44 to 9/44.  Crew members were previously trained for their positions at various bases. Milton Brucker came from a Bombardier training base in Texas.  In September 1944, the crew was sent to Lincoln, Nebraska to pick up a new B-17G.  From Lincoln the Crew flew to Syracuse, N.Y. to fuel, then onward to Grenier field, New Hampshire.  From there, departed for Presque Newfoundland.  Had to return to Grenier Field after detecting a faulty fuel Pump.  Waited 8 Days for a replacement to come in.  Finally left September 12th for Goose Bay, Newfoundland (5 hour, 40 minute flight).  Stayed overnight, left September 14th, flying to Meeks Field in Iceland (8 hr Flight).  Stayed at Meeks Field overnight (nothing but C rations for Food).  Left Iceland September 16th, heading for Wales (5 hours 40 minutes).

The takeoff from Iceland was extremely hazardous due to the strong cross winds and boulders along side of the runway, Very Scary!!!  Had to take off at 70mph substantially less that usual take off speed because of strong cross winds and boulders alongside the runway.  Pilot told the control tower of the dangers in that particular runway hoping there might be a better choice for future takeoffs.  Arrived in Wales 5 1/2 hours later, left the new plane in Wales and boarded a train for Thorpe Abbotts Air Base.  Beginning October 5, 1944, Practice missions 30 minutes to 3 1/2hrs in length were scheduled.
First Bombing Mission was 10/12/44 to Bremen, Germany, Flying time 6 hrs 20 minutes.  Bombing raids usually had 27-36 Planes from the 100th flying in formation plus other Groups from England making 1200 planes total on a mission.  Target in Bremen was FW 190 parts factory.  Battle of Bulge had 3000 plus planes from the Eighth Air Force flying that Mission.  The only encounter our crew had with a German fighter plane (ME 262) WAS WHEN A German fighter pilot flew through our formation undetected due to heavy contrails.  He flew close enough to our plane for us to see his face.  Our gunners shot at him but he was probably flying 120 miles an hour faster and vanished in an instant.

The Pilots log went through censors and some of the data was deleted.  Censoring was done before V-E Day and at a time when our 35 Missions were already completed.

My Worst Three Missions were:

No1.   Bremen: WE discovered there was real flak out there and realized we could get killed!!!!

No 6   Merseburg: A refinery was heavily protected by flak guns brought in by rail. I witnessed one of our planes go down in flames

No 35 Munich: This was our last mission. Heavy Flak trailed us just 200 feet to one side during a long bomb run.  A plane just above us caught fire on #2 engine.  The bombardier jumped out immediately--afraid of an explosion.  The pilot of his plane made it back to base.  The Bombardier ended up a POW (it was actually to have been his last scheduled mission).  

My Crew felt very fortunate to complete 35 Missions without a casualty.  However, in the future age and illness took their toll.

Crewmate Comments:

“Adair was always fair. Some officers weren’t, but Adair was consistently fair. He’d listen to you, hear you out before deciding something, and he always trusted – and expected – you to do your job.”

“He was just an all-around outstanding pilot. Never once got rattled that I knew of. No matter what happened to us – or the plane – Adair got us home and landed smooth. I don’t ever recall a rough or bad landing with him.”

“I’d say Adair held us together. ... A good man. One of the finest I’ve ever known.” – Conley E. Culpepper interview

tGreenWay wrote:Very much enjoying this series. Between the exploding flack and bullets shredding those flying tin cans, it’s insane what those crews dealt with.

Spoiler:

tGreenWay wrote:Very much enjoying this series. Between the exploding flack and bullets shredding those flying tin cans, it’s insane what those crews dealt with.

The Pantry wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:Very much enjoying this series. Between the exploding flack and bullets shredding those flying tin cans, it’s insane what those crews dealt with.

Just remembered. Dad had a very small rust-colored spot on his right calf. Was from a piece of flack. Didn't get infected and didn't bug him...he never bothered to have it removed.

tGreenWay wrote:

The Pantry wrote:Just remembered. Dad had a very small rust-colored spot on his right calf. Was from a piece of flack. Didn't get infected and didn't bug him...he never bothered to have it removed.

That’s crazy.

Nordic wrote:Excellent stuff Pantry.

Overall the series is living up to expectations. The flying scenes are incredible and intense. The non-combat scenes are a bit rough. Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, etc. did an excellent job on character building in between intense combat scenes and that made you really connect with them. E1 of Band of Brothers is one of the best episodes. This is lacking that a bit, but still moves the plot along well enough.

Spoiler: