An Interview with Tom Hanks | Making Masters of the Air

[@williamthomas1]

I think it's time for Tom and Steve to do a Vietnam War Series. There are many of them still around and they deserve one too. ETA: I watched the first 2 and they were very good.

[@MansonMamaril]

Dale Dye...

[@Smoshy16]

Won't ever happen. America was on the wrong side of that war.

[@EricTheSwede]

You know what war is often refered to as "the forgotten war"? Korea.. Give us some Korea content!

[@williamthomas1]

@@EricTheSwede They could do a whole series on Chosin.

[@WinCan04]

Hollywood will never betray their allies aka the communist Vietnamese. It’ll never be made.

[@F4FWildcat]

My Uncle flew as a co-pilot on a B-17. He started missions in '44. The Luftwaffe was combat ineffective about that time. He said they had plenty of flak to fly through. I was always happy to hear stories from him on his missions. He stayed in the military. When the air force split from the army, he stayed in the army and went into the field artillery. He then went on to fight in Korea and Vietnam. His last war saw him severely wounded, but he survived and thrived into his nineties. My uncle, my dad and their four brothers all served. They are all gone now. I miss them so much. Every time I hear of a man and woman from that generation passing, I feel that much further from my parents. Thanks for bringing this generation back to life, even if it is only in the movies.

[@F4FWildcat]

Yesterday, I received my uncle's letter to his mom and dad. They had been authorized to note all the missions they had flown. His first mission was January 29th, 1945. He flew 33 missions plus two humanitarian missions. One to Holland and one to a PW camp in Lenz, Austria. The war ended before they could complete the required 35 combat missions. They missed one mission. Another crew took their place. That plane was lost to enemy action with only three getting out of the plane. He said that he was happy the crew was able to stay together for all the missions. They all survived without so much as a scratch.

[@ac1646]

@@F4FWildcat Thank you for this and for your family's service.

[@bradmarkell12167]

Why he survived

[@sanfordberg4880]

I am lucky as I am able to talk to a B17 waist gunner in my mother’s care center. He is 104 and is sharp/lucid. He flew 35 missions over Germany. I asked him, “Weren’t you responsible for 25 missions?” He said that as the war went on, 35 missions were required as so many planes had been shot down. Also during this time, there was only one waist gunner - one would run from one side of the plane to the other. He was wounded by shrapnel but never put in for a Purple Heart. He said under his breath, “I was a dumb kid.” I asked him to explain. He said in hindsight, there would have been benefits to a Purple Heart. He said that the fact he grew up as a farm kid from St. Peter, Minnesota, he knew how to handle the cold in a B17. Howard said he was working for Lockheed Aircraft in California as there were no jobs in Minnesota. He could have gotten a deferment, but wanted to fight. The next thing he knew he was in flak over Germany on his first mission. He said he thought, “What am I doing here?!?”

[@ac1646]

Wow. Thank you for sharing. 😍

[@FrankNewman-gn9cv]

My father was a Squadron Commander from Feb. ‘44 to Sept. ‘44. He discussed his experiences. Also, he stayed in the Air Force so I grew up around combat pilots. You have made so many errors and have unintentionally distorted so much. You created a very good series but you should stop talking.

[@ericharmon7163]

As an airman, the part with the checklist, engine startup, and launch really hit home. I was an avionics specialist. I did all that with the crew. On TDY I was teamed with a crew chief. You call flight controls, call engine start, then climb up that ladder into the cockpit, at least on my aircraft, and taxi out. Those scenes really brought back a lot of memories. And there is a checklist for everything you do on an aircraft. I chased down and fixed many malfunctions while in flight. Often over the north Atlantic.

[@mikem668]

The North Atlantic? Not good. I flew in the Navy. In Deep Water Survival School, the rule was you had a couple minutes max to get out of the water or you're toast. Wrong word for hyperthermia. Fortunately, we flew in the Med. We had two crazy events. Once the ground crew lost a wrench in a P-3. No flight that day. One day, in the ready room, the crew chief showed us this huge box and cable with frayed wires sticking out. It had fallen out of the tail of our A-3. Scared the hell out of me. A Gunny I flew with questioned the guy: Did you have a structural engineer look at the plane? How do you know it's safe? The crew chief was laughing. No problem. I guess he was right because we flew 3 times that day and I'm still here. A friend's father was one of the first Air traffic controllers on a carrier. He told me the flight deck was a death trap. I'd put my hand up, check for jet exhaust, take a peek, then run as fast as I could to the plane. The flight deck guys were braver than I was.

[@LGAustralia]

I particularly loved how they also gave kudos to the ground crew and mechanics.

[@mistyden]

Thanks to all who invested all their heart, sweat and love in making this movie and honoring these men. I have greatly enjoyed the first two episodes and cannot wait to see the entire series. My grandfather, George McKee, was a B-17 pilot for the 390th which was one of the three bomb groups (along with the 100th and 95th) that made up the 13th combat wing; consequently, he flew in a number of the missions detailed in Masters of the Air. When the book came out in 2007 he told me it was the most accurate description he had read of what they experienced. He made a career of the Air Force serving 36 years and rising to the rank of Lieutenant General (he started as a private and air mechanic in 1940). In 1973 he became commander of the 8th Air Force. For those interested in the history of these brave individuals the 8th Air Force Museum just outside of Savannah, GA is fantastic. The 390th Bomb Group also has a museum in Tucson, AZ. For those who take time to post negative comments here or other places….get a life.

[@nebraska7598]

My middle school math teacher was a bombardier, kept a piece of German Flak in his desk. Just to remind himself that we weren’t the worst thing to happen to him. He was a tough old bastard

[@jamesconfrey9117]

God bless all those that lost there lifes in ww2. My dad survived, he went ashore the beach at Juno in Normandy. He got together with my mom, in Kolding/Denmark when Denmark was liberated, the 4th of may. He died 1997. 72 years old. There are so many heroes out there that made a difference, on land air, or sea.god bless them all.

[@pablocortes6950]

I guess I'm a WWII buff. So thankful for Tom Hanks for all he has done to educate the rest of us . My flight instructor Frank Fisch flew a F4U Corsair and was a confirmed Ace . He had was an amazing Man!! Thank You to all our Veteran!!

[@Btn1136]

This is the definitive podcast if you’re looking for one btw. Excellent content as usual.

[@fettfan91]

The Band Brothers podcast series was really insightful, glad they’re doing one for Masters of the Air.

[@kennisjarvis8105]

As a daughter of a B-17 navigator of the 306th based in Thurleigh, I found, what I have watched so far, is emotional for me. My father flew 23 missions before his plane was hit and severely damaged upon return from dropping bombs in Germany. They made it across the channel and emergency landed in Manston. My dad went the rear of the plane to get everyone out but at 300 feet, it was too close to the ground for him to jump. Luckily he survived, but if you saw the picture of the wreckage, it seems almost impossible. Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack at the age of 49.

[@Plisken65]

Sorry for the loss of your hero dad.

[@ac1646]

😢😢🫶

[@STEVE17X5]

God bless your father and the rest of the greatest generation..

[@MattAdams-k5p]

I would also love to see a series like these from this trio about the Korean War.

[@springertube]

I have thought this way for a long time, Korea's definitely underserved at least regarding "Hollywood" films in the past five or six decades... but with lots of good books that could serve as fodder. That ship may have sailed, however, what with the current geopolitical climate possibly making that particularly difficult relative to NK. Similarly, but kind of opposite in a sense, more about Vietnam right now may be difficult precisely because of improved relations vis a vis the US recently - but with complications due to the extremely volatile regional situation now regarding its giant neighbor to the north - with so many global implications. Ie, perhaps no time to reopen those VN wounds with and possibly antagonizing a prospective film's subject country.

[@stefanblackadder5236]

Thank you to everyone involved in this project. None of us should ever forget these men and women.

[@RoastBeef1968]

I dont know who could do any better than Spielberg and Hanks for telling these amazing war stories.

[@SticksAandstonesBozo]

How am I just hearing about this ?!?!? This pod is incredible !!!

[@msspi764]

I’ve spent a career as a historian, public historian, and manager. I have a real appreciation for the effort that goes into the level of accuracy y’all strove for. One of the things that pulled me towards this life was Edward Jablonski’s book Flying Fortress. I dug deep into that story and the details. I’m impressed by what you’ve achieved. All those little things. What grabbed me immediately was the fort you showed was an E variant. That’s a rare bird that you can tell because of the tail and the multi piece nose. That’s what the 100th had at first. The F was and is more numerous and few would have criticized you for missing that detail. But you didn’t. So you hooked me. I’m in.

[@WilliamRubin-j8j]

Frederic E Rubin 384th Bomb Group Grafton Underwood. Dad was a squadron navigator and flew 30 missions from July 44 until January 45. He was a great dad and a great man.

[@stevenwatsham5973]

Living not to far from the 381st airfield at Ridgewell I am happy that this story is finally being told..

[@samson9535]

My uncle was a B-17 bomber pilot in the 549th Bombardment Squadron, also known as " The Bombing Devils". He was one of the original "kindergarten pilots" because, as squadron commander, he led numerous missions over France and Germany before his twenty-fifth birthday. For his valiant service to his country, including missions flown during the Battle of Normandy, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Unit Citation, and EAME Theater Ribbon with three Bronze Service Stars.

[@chrismayo4902]

We also need Korea and Vietnam by guys like Mr Hanks and his crew’ the ability to tell a story the way it was is an art and a treasure to be preserved.

[@imanicoppola-v5n]

47r

[@Cenapsis]

What a wonderful discussion rich in all aspects of the life of a soldier and an airman in World War II. Thanks so much for the superior education and entertainment I received in this podcast.

[@MaryamofShomal]

I loved this one so much I watched it twice back to back all the way through 😍 I love BoB and The Pacific so so so so much, and this was a beautiful addition to the BoB family. God bless and protect all who serve and who have served, and may their memories live on forever 🙏🏽🇺🇸🙏🏽

[@rzr2ffe325]

I love the series so far. Undoubtedly there is much tragedy to come. It’s a story worth telling.

[@tau3457]

This was my first time listening to Donald Miller and I found him far more engaging than the Hollywood men. I am going to read some of his work now for sure!

[@richardvernon317]

Masters of the Air is a very good book. Miller paints a very accurate view of what worked and what didn't in the Bomber War and covers it from the very highest level down to the guys at the coalface in great detail.

[@dummre83]

It is a fantastic book. Read it you won’t be disappointed

[@mistyden]

Don’s book is fantastic. When the book came out in 2007 my grandfather, a B-17 pilot who flew his required 35 missions, said it was the best book he ever read on what they experienced. Also agree that it is always interesting to hear done speak.

[@stephenrask536]

Tom hanks has such an iconic voice for narrative and storytelling roles.. its ridiculous the moment he started his story it hit me ohh this is like saving private ryan, a man called otto, or castaway.. a guy telling his story

[@stuartosborne5069]

My father commented, “The flak was so loud, you didn’t know how close it was. I was in the waist of the plane, took a few steps to one side and when I turned back, there was a 3 foot hole where I’d just been standing.” Incredible!

[@L2fish]

My friends dad was a pilot in the Eight. Highly decorated including the flying cross. He also flew in Korea and Vietnam, last name was Schreck. According to my friend he lost a third engine at the canal, thought he had enough altitude to make it across the channel, too low to bail out. Ended up belly landing in a field on the English coast

[@christiancruz4533]

What an Amazing podcast, my favorite WW2 series so far. I so love ww2 fighters and bombers and for TH & SS to make this tv show so gratefull, cuddos to Aplle Tv and the director also Miller for the book wich has way more content that the acctual tv show. ❤

[@Pheebs77]

I've flown on B17 Nine-O-Nine and Canadian Lancaster Vera and yes, they are tiny, and the metal is sooooo think. Massive respect for the young boys who flew on there. They were boys! I've met many flyboy veterans, they all have an extra spark for life that only staring death in the face can give you.

[@papadopp3870]

I appreciate Tom’s mention of Berne Lay, Jr, co-author of 12 O’clock High! That book and film provided us the idea- the context and milieu- of men, boys, officers and men. Any telling of Air War as fought by the 8th starts with Sy Bartlett and Col. Lay.

[@sinisterbohemian]

8:22 My Grandfather enlisted in the army air corp in April 1942 shortly after getting married. My uncle was born later that year and didn't meet his father until after he returned home from the Pacific Theater in November 1945. When asked if he wanted to tell little Francis he was his daddy, Grandpa said "no, he'll figure it out eventually".

[@4dmind]

Having seen all of Masters of the Air, my only complaint is that there needed to be a handful more episodes. Episode 8 was very noticeably rushed, and we didn't get enough time with lots of characters (the Tuskegee pilots, for example). And my second statement is a request - we need someone to produce something about the Pacific pilots - not a Midway film, but maybe something showing the Hellcat pilots from carriers, possibly centering around the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

[@AndrewKawaoka]

Just Awesome

[@jghuf5674]

Hearing Tom Hanks talk about the bond between men in combat reminds me of Sebastian Junger’s Ted talk about this very thing. If you haven’t listened to it, you should.

[@AdmiralYeti8042]

I hope they do a navy series based around the Silent Service. There’s never been anything on film that has ever done true justice to what the Pacific submariners went through and what they did to the Japanese.

[@jvleasure]

I'd like to see the book Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors be the focus of a Navy installment.

[@kodoyama]

I just hope they release a Blu-ray box set for this series to accompany BoB and Pacific, but given it’s an AppleTV show I’m not too optimistic unfortunately

[@demi3115]

I'd love for them to make a resistance perspective

[@seanquigley3605]

I really hope this series opens up more quality content to be produced on the 8th. Maybe one day John Comers bio "Combat Crew" will get the series treatment over 25 episodes.....it literally has everything a screen play needs.

[@Aspen7780]

100% agree. One of the best books I’ve ever read. Goes a long way to letting the reader experience the war as best they can through literature. Also, Comer mentions the 100th. He mentions they had a reputation as a lard luck unit, even among other b-17 squadrons in the 8th.

[@d53101]

I really enjoyed the book Masters of the Air. And enjoyed the series. Not mentioned much, but the landing sequence in Greenland was really well done I think. The air combat looked well done to me. I would love to see a series done the RAF/RCAF night bombing campaign. My second cousin was a navigator in the RCAF. He and his crew were in a Handley Page Halifax III and shot down over Belgium in April 1944. He was killed along with 5 other crewmen. They were on their first combat operation in a brand new aircraft.

[@coniccinoc]

Remarkable.

[@Leggens7835]

Great show put on here gentleman, also Salina KS born and raised and i have been to said B 17 Tom was talking about.

[@drewarchibald6709]

The navy!! We need something of the pacific fleets. Maybe submarines?

[@aaronseet2738]

Already looking forward to the series version of *Das Boot* .

[@garyboyd3255]

There was parachute training and first aid. Especially for pilots. Randolph had an "east stage" and parachute ops building. But the kids were going through quickly.

[@davidkimmel4216]

What more can you say. Because of The Greatest Generation. We are able to Have The Freedom We Are Given Today.

[@davidk7324]

Thanks to everyone. MotA will be a generational treasure, just like BoB and The Pacific. I hope a US Navy series (destroyer, submarine, carrier) in the Pacific is planned. It would complete the story of the US fighting man's experience during WW2.

[@cooper57m]

My Father in Law was a radio operator on a B17, he flew 35 missions, and earned the distinguished flying cross. He once requested permission to practice bailing out of a B17 during a check-out flight. His CO said, "Son, there's no point practicing a maneuver that has to be done right the first time."

[@craigthescott5074]

Many people are saying this show isn’t very good and it’s not realistic. Remember this isn’t a documentary it’s a show and it’s meant to be entertaining.

[@GermanyHawksfan]

I'm glad they decided to make a series about the 8th, although I wish they chose another BG other than the 100th. I think the 303rd would have been a much better story. Half a Wing, Three Engines, and a Prayer is a fantastic book about the 303rd.

[@DebWittner1]

My dad picked up a brand new B-17 from Smoky Hill AFB in Salina in 1943 before leaving for North Africa.

[@ninkd0311]

Are tom and Steve going to do a navy ww 2 one

[@dabda8510]

44:48 Only B17 to come back in a mission. Sure it could have been a group of 4, 8, 12. But still... To survive all that and to be expected to live your happy life... That story made me choke up...

[@matthewberg5835]

As a World War II history person and someone whose grandpa flew bombers They got some things wrong in this show but it’s still good

[@4dmind]

The vast majority of heavy bombers were hit and/or taken out by flak. More so that fighters, more so that friendly fire, etc. And it's by a huge factor - something like 40% flak relatively to maybe 7% enemy fighters, for example. I saw the stats on a video about friendly fire, which was much less common than you might imagine.

[@highbidder3952]

It would be great if EVERYBODY could access this film. Apple Grab, As the world turns.

[@dogbreathjesus]

Yes, its time for them to perhaps give Vietnam it just due

[@terrenceemcknight9712]

I just finished the Book "Daring Young Men" by Richard Reeves. Most detailed, inspiring and endearing study I've ever read about the Berlin Airlift. America at her best. Feeding the people who were our dire enemies three years before. I'm convinced Playtone/Amblin are the ones to create a fine Feature Film/Mini Series that show the continued sacrifice of many WWII Air crew Vets, of which 79 gave their lives over that year and a half. T. McKnight

[@nicolasbertin8552]

It's not true that they didn't do combat training and only did mechanical stuff, on the reaction video for episode one on a veterans channel they showed Al Couture who used to pilot a B-24 Bomber with the 456th Bombardment Group, and he clearly said they had fighters "attacking" planes so they could practice shooting. Of course they didn't practice for flak. But they did practice the "being attacked by fighters" part. Al Couture was trained in Boise, Idaho.

[@VictoriaVaughan-b5n]

Make it 40

[@mirma57]

I think the Masters story deserves better than this miniseries provides. It’s been promoted for its lineage to Band of Brothers and The Pacific but it’s not as good as either. I guess Masters is playing to a different audience with different priorities. Whether Masters misread their audience remains to be seen, but this series lacks the restraint BoB and Pacific used so effectively to portray historical drama about war. Masters seems to think bigger explosions and a more intrusive musical score are needed to generate drama. I think that does disservice to the story. A prime example is in Episode 3 where the airman reluctantly abandons his comrade trapped in his station on their doomed bomber. It’s presented like an adventure movie with overbearing music leading to the scene’s climax: an exaggerated explosion timed for the moment the airman bails out. It had the tone of an Indiana Jones or a Mission Impossible movie. What I appreciated about Band of Brothers and The Pacific was that they presented the story honestly without a lot of histrionics. If you want pretty stars, brash special effects and melodrama in your war movie, download Pearl Harbor or Midway Spielberg and Hanks are definitely off their game on Masters. Maybe they’ve lost their passion for “getting it right” and are coasting on their well-deserved laurels from BoB and Pacific.

[@mikedx2706]

I agree. Masters of the Air is clearly second rate compared to B of B and The Pacific.

[@jasonchappina8319]

I also agree, but I think that,especially regarding Band of Brothers, one big advantage Hanks and Spielberg had when making it as opposed to this new series, is that a good number of the actual veterans the actors were playing were still alive back in 1999,2000 when they were making BoB. Of course, no disrespect meant to Hanks,Spielberg or certainly the men who flew over Europe, but I think the poster above is correct, this series is just a little too "Hollywooed up". I personally felt BoB and the Pacific were much more gritty ,and thus more realistic.

[@mannyromero4511]

Now......how about Thud Ridge or the Wild Weasels.

[@codypanek]

First episode felt a little disjointed until the first combat flight, especially with the opening "its a long story on the nicknames" that was 30 seconds long and the POV switching from Buck to Crosby back to Buck. Wish we had more of a BOB training open with Nebraska. I really liked episode two. I understand the CGI complaints but there just aren't enough airframes left, time is passing us. Looking forward to the 3rd episode. That was kind of when BOB hit its stride.

[@mcmoose64]

A lot of people on various forums have lamented the lack of a "training episode" similar to ep1, Band of Brothers. I don't think it would work for this show. (Spoiler Alert)​ most of the original crews, the vast majority in fact, were killed or captured within months of deploying. By ep4 all of the people you introduced in ep1 would be gone other than the Harry Crosby character.

[@jleechadwick]

My father was 20 years old when he went over to England. He was stationed with the 401st BG in Deenethorpe, North Hamptonshire, England. He was a bombardier. I can't imagine what it was like for my grandmother. Dad was her only son. My grandfather was not in good health, so my grandmother was the one listed as next of kin. I was looking at the summary of the missions that his group (612th BS) participated in. I think their first missions started in August of 1944. They were in every battle until October 7, 1944 and the bombing of Politz, Germany. The Summary of the battle that day that was written by the 401st BG was that it was the worst battle of the war for them. The German fighter planes were out in force, and they got hit by so much flak. Five crews did not come back (one of them was Dad's--the flak had damaged two of the engines and he decided to try and make it to Sweden (one of the other planes did the same). Three were shot down. Whether they died when their plane crashed or whether they were taken prisoner, I don't know. The two crews that went to Sweden were there until the end of the war, and the USAAF didn't get the planes back until the end of the war. I belong to the FB page on the 8th Air Force Historical Society, and a poster on there was the daughter of one of Dad's crewmates. I told her that Dad never forgot his fellow crew members and when he would see their crew picture, he never had to look at the caption identifying each member in the picture. He didn't need the caption--he could tell you each person's name and where they were from. The members of the crew were from all over the US. Luckily, he made it back home safely and was able to spend quite a bit of time with my grandfather before he died in 1949 (he and my grandmother had been married for 47 years). He also was finally able to finish the last 1-1/2 years of college to get his engineering degree. I love learning about our WW2 soldiers, whether they fought in Europe or in the Pacific. Dad told me once how scary it could be down there with the bombs. Sometimes a bomb would get stuck and he'd have to kick it out, and he said that down there you could see the flak from the anti-aircraft guns coming up at you. Like a lot of the men, he didn't talk about the war much.

[@Cainer444]

My dad was also a WWII veteran. He was in the 20th AF and they bombed Japanese cities from his base on Guam. I wish I had asked him more about his service time in the war. This country owes so much to that generation.

[@heynsenene]

Wait? This guy's mom is Rosie the Riveter?

[@Tampertownmediagroup]

Start doing American Civil War movies

[@moss8448]

not Boeing but Blowin

[@ianmunro1427]

The air war in Europe, from the US point of view!

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Why do Spielberg/Hanks have to shit on the Brits in their productions? I thought Germany was the enemy in WW2

[@mikem668]

Are you sure there wasn't a culture clash at the time? I know there was friction among the brass. Not sure how it was at the lower levels. I had a family friend who was supposed to be in the first wave on D-Day, but got sick. So he'd spent some time in Britain. He told me a story about seeing The Bridge Over the River Kwai. Alec Guinness is let out of a hut, intended to punish him. The heat was unbelievable. He gets out half-dead and adopts an attitude that Monty Python would later play on. My friend was the only one in the theater that laughed, because he'd seen that stiff upper lip, cheerio stuff during the war. I also saw something similar towards the Brits in Australia over cricket. We're three countries that are the same, but different. My sense is The Beatles and the British Invasion united Britain and America in a way that hadn't existed for a long time before the war. Certainly not during WWI if you read about the debates in the US on our entry.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@@mikem668 If it was nothing but arguing, culture clashes, differences in opinion etc as portrayed in these Spielberg/Hanks productions then the allied effort would have been a complete mess and nothing would have got done. The overwhelming vast majority of the time the allies worked very well together. No need to show stereotypical RAF officers acting like arseholes and THEN give the false impression they randomly dropped bombs anywhere in Germany without thought or planning and didn't care what they hit.

[@mikem668]

@@lyndoncmp5751 I not an expert and I haven't seen the series. That said, I doubt some of your argument. First, it's a certainty that there was a lot of bickering and politics. Not only between the British and Americans. But also the Free French and Poles. IIRC it wasn't entirely nationality based. Second, it not clear to me how much cooperation there was at the lower level. The fronts were divided at the end, and while there was competition, normally the forces weren't intermixed. The British and Commonwealth fought in North Africa without our troops, and the US wasn't very good initially. On Sicily Montgomery and Patton clashed, but IIRC the landed in different places with different objectives at first. At Normandy we were on different beaches. We all were stymied for a while, and there was some bad blood when Montgomery's promised breakout failed. Prima Donnas on both sides. At Arnhem it was collaborative, but each of the four major units (3 airborne and 1 armor) had different missions. The plan was bad, so that might have caused griping. The Brits were at the Bulge, but 55,000 to 500,000 US, and in the later stages. Third, the British bombed at night. The American in daylight. There were all kinds of arguments, but IIRC the night raids were less accurate. Apparently Churchill didn't like area bombing and Bomber Harris argued with him. I'm not one to second guess decisions and failures made in the hopes of ending the war. They tried stuff. Later studies argued it didn't work. That doesn't take away from the bravery if the men or the fact that Britain had a way worse time than the average Americans mostly safe in North America. Though everyone worried about loved ones in harm's way. *** However... American industry did the heavy lifting along with American money. In the Pacific, after Singapore fell and the British fleet was hammered, the US and Australians did it alone. Something the Aussie's haven't forgotten. Though the Brits and Indians fought in Burma. The British have never had a large army. They always fought with allies. In North Africa with Australians, New Zealanders, Indians and South Africans. And that’s not even considering the Eastern Front, where most of the killing happened. I can say that when I was in the Navy in the late 70s, I knew lots of Brits, including some in the military, and we all got along. The name of our pub was the Trafalgar.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@@mikem668 You doubt that the overwhelming vast majority of the time the allies worked very well together? Seriously? Then how on earth were they so successful and how did they manage to plan and execute massive invasions and campaigns so well? D-Day and Normandy was a rip roaring success. It came in ahead of schedule and with fewer casualties than expected. Montgomery's 2nd British Army was liberating Brussels, Belgium when only Paris was supposed to be reached by then. When Montgomery came down to command the American forces in the Bulge, American commanders like Gavin, Ridgway, Hasbrouck and Collins had good words to say about him. Simpson always said good things about Montgomery. They cooperated very well together. Ridgway wrote Montgomery a personal letter thanking him for his support and guidance and said he hoped to serve under his leadership again. Major Richard Winters of Band of Brothers called Montgomery "The real deal. An Example to follow". Montgomery and Patton clashing in Sicily is another Hollywood exaggeration. It never happened like that in real life. They were always cordial and Montgomery never wrote or said a bad word about Patton. In fact both Montgomery and Patton worked out that Patton should try and get to Messina first, to cut the Germans off. It's in the diaries of both men. Montgomery : "the Seventh American Army (Patton) should develop two strong thrusts with (a) two divisions on Highway 120 and (b) two divisions on Highway 113 towards Messina" Even Patton, on being told of Monty's suggestions in a meeting with him soon after wrote in response in his own diary: "I felt something was wrong (with the plan) but have not found it yet. After all this had been settled, Alexander came. He told Monty to explain his plan. Monty said he and I had already decided what we were going to do so Alexander got madder and told Monty to show him the plan". From Monty and Patton, Two Paths To Victory by Michael Reynolds. With respect, your post sadly displays the same belittling of the British miliary in WW2 as these Hollywood productions display again and again. Must be a thing over there.

[@whodatsaddle]

Why does Tom Hanks say “stasis” like that…?

[@justinjohnson4920]

Unbelievable amout of advertisements...

[@mogrevatt4115]

Just watched first two episodes - disappointed, however through this podcast - I found and then went on to researched the British commonwealth air training plan - I found this to be very interesting -

[@164DiecastVideos]

Not a fan so far. Think it comes down to the casting. Austin for me is a total mis-cast. There is something just not sincere about him. The irony is,Band of Brothers most of the lead cast were British and not american. I’m dissappointed by Hanks “version” of the RAF. We’d been at war for 3 years. Theres just a condescending attitude towards the RAF and I find it disrespectful. The CGI is odd. At times its fab. At other times its soft edged and its jarring. The speeds captured during the combat are bang on and the most accurate portrayal I have seen. I think the cast of Band of Brothers was sublime. The Pacific wasn’t bad, but was disjointed. So far, the Masters of the Air has me rooting for the background guys. Austins character i don’t care for. Buckey is the least irritating so far of the the “lead cast” Band of brothers you rooted for all of them under Damien Lewis.. The only people you didnt care for, were the likes of Sobel and Dyk - and thats because they werent good guys. I’m hoping it improves. Hopefully Masters of the air has a Foy / Bastogne episode to redeem it. I just expected better from Hanks, knowing he did BoB.

[@maartendezwaan9715]

My thoughts exactly!

[@Pseudonym-aka-alias]

The dialogue is rubbish, and true to fashion, Spielberg mocking the British.

[@Giantist]

I agree, Dialogue so far is a tad boring@@Pseudonym-aka-alias

[@welstrung]

I like Tom Hanks but I would have to disagree and give Ken Burns the title of American story teller🤔

[@MrKen-wy5dk]

Great video except for all the KZbin obnoxious ads. I quit watching after 10 minutes.

[@pjhaebe]

Would love to see this but no way I’m paying for apple crap

[@gaylaaustin7468]

Sigh. . . Where to even begin with that level of ignorance

[@wonderlabs_AI]

After two episodes, I think it’s quite clear it’s no Band of Brothers. However I’m still going to enjoy it a lot. Love seeing the air base and the interior shots of the B17. I like the navigators Harry Crosby and Bubbles, and Bucky is good. The Austin Butler casting isn’t working for me, he’s far too ‘cool for school’, and he didn’t ‘sell’ the first mission aftershock for me. They’re saying Buck and Bucky is like Winters and Nixon (although there’s probably a marketing incentive to make this connection) but it really is not anywhere close to that on screen, thus far.

[@bracoop2]

There’s so much more stuff that has to be done to be historically accurate that I don’t think it’s possible to have as much of the personal stories as BoB.

[@jamescraig3121]

I agree, BoB was the “gold standard” but the attention to detail that Masters has is unbelievable. Totally different war campaign from the tight perspective of being in a tin can.

[@gpapa31]

It’s incredibly sad that is impossible to shoot this film without the use of CGI. it’s the only thing that ruins it for me. The story is incredible and cinematography but looks like a video game. You can tell every frame with CGI the aircraft and even surrounding scenery looks “dreamy” and kind of fuzzy (lack of sharpness).

[@maxmartinez2179]

Why know Omar Gonzales?? He is kinda getting screwed a 2nd time.

[@meirionowen5979]

Masters of the Air!! Arse! RAF- WE SH0WED YA THE WAY!!! 'Boeing.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hah FFS! What SH!TE!

[@Tailwheelr16]

A little deference if possible-you’re not speaking-writing German!

[@dickturpin3115]

Yes, it was disappointingly predictable the way this seemingy fictional story treated the RAF. Equally predictable that you get the mentally challenged responses about not speaking German. The series doesn't really touch on the Americans having to withdraw the 8th air force from the front line due to them being essentially wiped out or that they ultimately failed to hit their targets leading them to adopt carpet bombing and ditching the norden bomb sight in favour of the British H2S. It doesn't mention their hopeless leadership that were akin to the worst butchers of WW1 generals. Let them believe what they want.

[@gibson617ajg]

@@dickturpin3115 Back-of-the -net Mr Turpin!

[@spoileralert8440]

Reminder that all sides of WW2 were ultimately funded and controlled by the same few rich elites. It was just a real life game of axis and allies played by the elites.

[@elliot7593]

You can’t fight flak.

[@nickdanger3802]

Galland November 1943 "The fighter and heavy formations have not been able to secure decisive success in air defense against American four-engined formations. The introduction of new weapons . . . has not appreciably changed the situation. The main reason for the failure is that the Kommandeure and Kapitane do not succeed in securing attacks in close formation up to the shortest ranges. The Reichsmarschall has, therefore, ordered the setting up of an assault Staffel (Sturmstaffel). Its tasks will be to break up the enemy by using more heavily armored fighters in all-out . . . attacks . . . . Then there is no need to discuss here whether this is to be done by shooting down the enemy at the closest range, by employing a new type of weapon, or by ramming. Ultra, History of US Strategic Air Force Europe Versus German Air Force pages 112-13

[@stanleygurski7733]

Go back to WWI and do Harlem Hellfighters.Could be BLACK BAND of BROTHERS.

[@randallsmith5631]

No bailing out of the bombers training. AWFUL

[@davidcbr0wn]

Brought to you by Boeing.

[@KlingbergWingMkII]

I hope Tom got his money up front because the series is crap. I have been in love with aviation for over 60 years and this show does a huge disservice to everyone involved in any form of aviation. Anybody with any knowledge of the activity will immediately see all the errors and then there is all the terrible acting backed by equally bad writing. Don't waste your time (sorry Tom, I'm still a fan of yours)

[@SimUKReviews]

I love BOB, Tom & SS....but episode 1 was a massive disappointment. In BOB we went through training and got to know each character....they just skipped a major part. For me the actors failed to master their characters as a result.

[@richardvernon317]

Spoiler Alert!!!!!! *********************************************** A lot of the guys covered in episodes 1 to 4 are not going to be at Thorpe Abbots in Episode 5. Those still alive will be a stone's throw away from the guys in the Great Escape.

[@tony3313]

Sorry, but Masters doesn't compare to Band of Brothers or The Pacific.

[@Englishman-Abroad]

I have seen the trailer for this film and the visuals are crap. Looks like a 2000 PS2 game. Suggest you watch Battle of Britain. Real planes, real cinematography. I’m skipping this one.

[@forky-reviews-and-rants]

It's a good show BUT ignorance is still a factor in Hollywood how can a bomber miles from french coast get attacked by flack ep1 flack shoots straight up almost so that would have made all the flack in the Sea lmao all excitement for tv

[@MrSomethingdark]

It's time for Tom and Steve to stop making progressively worse WW2 film art.

[@RKLIFE17]

Great podcast. Apple TV’s CGI is horrible.

[@psychopigeon8973]

cg was fine.

[@breakznenta]

Didn’t have a issue with either

[@williamthomas1]

The story seems wrong, there should be dialog between the countries, film clips of Churchill and Ike, WTF is this?

[@dronessential]

The cgi in for all mankind was great, but this cgi looks pretty distracting.

[@stevenjohnson2714]

Its like a really bad Elvis Presley film

[@justathought1971]

Gross 🤮 why do people continue to speak about TH . He doesn’t even deserve his name anymore . Like dust in the wind 💨

[@specialcookday]

I rather watch Disney+ TV A shop for Killers. Then this freshman 🏈 high-school level acting and cheap CG.

[@EBRoyJr]

You guys really downgraded from the first two series. The narration and interviews at the beginning of those episodes really made the series special. Not having them in this series was a big mistake.

[@andywenner4807]

Not many vets left to talk to...

[@nealmccoy5727]

Very disappointing first 2 episodes. Everything felt rushed. There was little character development. Everything was disjointed. I waited years for this show and in just 2 episodes I have ceased to care about the remainder of the series. I am very let down to say the least.

[@psychopigeon8973]

you need to stop expecting BoB, first ep was great and Masters stands on its own

[@164DiecastVideos]

Think it comes down to the casting. Austin for me is a total mis-cast. There is something just not sincere about him. The irony is,Band of Brothers most of the lead cast were British and not american. I’m dissappointed by Hanks “version” of the RAF. We’d been at war for 3 years. Theres just a condescending attitude towards the RAF and I find it disrespectful. The CGI is odd. At times its fab. At other times its soft edged and its jarring. The speeds captured during the combat are bang on and the most accurate portrayal I have seen. I think the cast of Band of Brothers was sublime. The Pacific wasn’t bad, but was disjointed. So far, the Masters of the Air has me rooting for the background guys. Austins character i don’t care for. Buckey is the least irritating so far. Band of brothers you rooted for. The only people you didnt care for, were the likes of Sobel and Dyk - and thats because they werent good guys. I’m hoping it improves. Hopefully Masters of the air has a Foy / Bastogne episode to redeem it. I just expected better from Hanks, knowing he did BoB.

[@gibson617ajg]

@@164DiecastVideos The 'condescending attitude' towards the British can also be found in Saving Private Ryan and Band Of Brothers. Coincidence? I think not.

[@josephinekush5056]

"Some people repaired shoes and others stole money." What a terrible thing to say about those not in uniform but kept those who were in their uniform, in uniform. I've never heard such BS. Not surprised - "Baby Boomers."

[@dummre83]

It happened. It’s fact. One of the biggest markets in WWII was the black market. Not everyone at the time (but most did) weren’t 100% on board. There were crooks and thrives in that time period. There is a fallacy that “everyone did their part” that’s not completely true. Most people of that time period did.

[@gagamba9198]

I think Tom and Steve need to cease producing WWII series. Band of Brothers was great, but since then the follow ones have been poor.