Historical Review of Masters of the Air Episode 5

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

Hope you all realize the appreciation of the effort you all put into these episodes. Bravo gentlemen.

[@kennyd2134]

I second that motion.

[@edmitchell784]

The “slow motion “ scenes are a good way to portray how time seems to slow down at times of high stress especially while flying.

[@davidgoddard594]

Great episode. I have the Munster Raid book and re-read it this weekend after episode5. In the book ,page 129, Lt Winfrey Lewis copilot of Royal Flush says “ The lead ship began a slow descent, trailing smoke. I could see Maj. John Egan, in his unusual light-coloured flying jacket, sitting in the right-hand seat of the lead plane”🤷🏻‍♂️ keep up the great work both on these and your Pacific episodes.

[@martinazariancriminaldefen3081]

Thank you, gentlemen, for your insightful reviews of this series. So far, the fourth and fifth episodes, in my opinion, have been the best. Both episodes, more than the first three deal with loss. From the London mother crying for her dead child, Bucky's gut-wrenching coded phone call to base to learn of the loss of his best friend, and so many bombers and their crews, and the story of the wife of the Polish pilot it's about loss and the pain that comes from it. Friends and loved ones are not coming back. Good job to each of you. Kudos to the series. I look forward to each new episode and your excellent reviews. P.S. Loved the way the episode depicted how Rosenthal flew his B-17 like a fighter. He kept his most effective armament aimed at the BF-109s while minimizing his target profile. One heck of a pilot.

[@Squirmula1]

I had the opportunity to interview a German fellow who was a 9-11 year old during this time. He wasn't a city dweller, but he told me the amount of debris - engines, weapons, aircraft, spent rounds, human bodies etc that fell during the air battles represented a serious threat to the folks (French, Dutch, Belgians too) on the ground regardless of whether they were being "bombed" or not.

[@robertmoffitt1336]

I'm the same way with the music, it's definately growing on me! For me, the music from Band of Brothers and The Pacific was and always will be very special to me. I think this sound track will be also, but I don't think I could name a favorite from the three. They are all special, just like the people and the stories they are telling. I'm all paid up on my Apple+ subscription, and still haven't watched a single episode! So I'm still watching vicariously through these episodes!

[@stevenpetito6291]

Thank you, gentlemen, for the extra time you are putting in to produce these reviews. Your knowledgeable input and personal insights are a great add to the show!

[@jayjohnson9996]

I really loved episode 5 it was a very intense and had me sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time.

[@jthegrind]

Was waiting for your review guys…this episode was the best so far, Rosenthal is something else!

[@rodneymccoy8108]

Been waiting on this all day. This episode left me speechless.

[@xflyingtiger]

Bill, I noticed the flight computer too. It has been 50 years since I was a general aviation flight instructor but the computer looks like an E6-B circular slide rule standard aviation equipment. Thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate your expertise.

[@wilsonj4705]

Spock even used one in the original Star Trek series.

[@jimirvine763]

The brushed aluminum flight computer shown on the nav's desk is a Dalton E-6B. They were used in WW2, although they had a different look. Jeppesen's are circular flight computers made of plastic, euphemistically referred to flight crews as "the whizz wheel". I was using my whizz wheel well into the modern age of avionics. The time calculations that are generated by flight management systems use the winds at the current position, not the forecast winds along the planned or contingency route.

[@sven5415]

With episode 4 and 5, the audience is in danger to develop PTSD itself. Really, the Greatest Generation is portrayed in this show!

[@pedenharley6266]

Thank you for doing this series. I’ve really enjoyed listening to your take on this show and the history behind it.

[@josephgilorma6979]

Regarding the inaccuracy in the portrayal of Bubbles death. I was watching another podcast before this dropped. It contained entertainment reviewers, not historians, and they enjoyed the series, but felt that the episodes are too short, since a series has no time constraints. Given that fact, there should have been time to portray Bubbles' death correctly and add that mission to the series. I was not aware of this inaccuracy until you mentioned it. As always, thank you.

[@saenole66]

The best music of any WvWII documentary comes from Victory At Sea, hands down. Your reviews are so good, can’t wait to see it.

[@dans.5745]

My favorite in the Victory at Sea series is the music: "Beneath the Southern Cross".

[@derekperry3488]

Love these MOTA recaps guys. I look forward to them every week. I don't always agree with every take but that's what it's about. Great job and thanks so much!

[@Les537]

Thanks, boys. I'm watching this show vicariously through you.

[@LeonardCooperman]

I love these recaps from you guys. I have time to watch each episode at least twice

[@crisovejanegra3517]

Oh yes, after watching this thrilling and emotive episode (part) yesterday I needed your review so bad! Thanks guys... and here we go... 3...2...1...!

[@nickwoods5150]

Thanks for setting the record straight gentlemen. It’s nice to be able to distinguish the proper facts from the fiction.

[@davidk7324]

Thanks gentlemen. You might enjoy reading about the late Senator George McGovern's experience (Bill knows of whom I speak) as a B-24 pilot flying out of Italy. 35 missions. Quite a story about his aircraft accidentally bombing a civilian target. Years later, he found out that his error did not cause deaths of innocents.

[@teacherdude]

I think the scene where parts of the B-17 fall to the ground slowly reflects the psychological reality of those in the surviving plane - that sense that things slow down to almost slow motion levels in times of intense stress.

[@rsalazar1917]

Great series and wonderful commentary. Question: Does anybody know who picked the "front steps of the cathedral" as the principle bomb target? Someone must have had ultimate responsibility.

[@Alexander-dt8sk]

That scene of Rosie maneuvering a his B-17 like a fighter was amazing!

[@maxlopez8552]

Outstandind channel guys! Really appreciate you and seen every episode.

[@thomasmitchell7645]

Guys, I learn more from listening to one of your reviews than I did touring the National WWII Museum and the USAF Museum in Dayton. After this is finished and you come to a slow point in your regular podcast (after Leyte Gulf or Iwo Jima), I suggest that you do a similar review of the episodes of the miniseries Pacific, especially as this is the subject of your podeast.

[@MrTScolaro]

Close to Bill, I was an engineering major. The slowly sinking aircraft parts bothered me when I first saw it. It then occurred to me that you were not supposed to view it literally. IT was slow because that is how it appeared to the guys up there.

[@xeutoniumnyborg1192]

That scene along with the scene of the ME-109 passing by, are representations of what is known as Tachypsychia or time dilation effect. It usually occurs during high stress or emotionally charged situations. That scene where the sky seemed to rain B-17 parts was surreal to watch.

[@XxBloggs]

They’re also trying to make it have a biblical quality to those scenes. Something profound and dramatic that you remember forever.

[@parrot849]

Capt. Todi and Seth, Someone may have already commented on this subject, but regarding the issue of the footlocker of a crewman who has been listed as “missing presumed dead,” it is my understanding that during the war, whomever was tasked with inventorying the MIA airman’s footlocker in preparation for shipment back to his next of kin, the Army Air Force issued standing orders requiring the removal of any items or material that may be considered of an offensive, obscene, or of a possibly disturbing nature. Probably a good call on the military’s part. I’d hate to imagine a grieving mother receiving a package of her missing presumed dead son’s personal things that included a dozen condoms, a French porno magazine, or a live souvenir hand grenade. Apparently this was routinely done throughout both the European and Pacific Theaters of Operations.

[@dans.5745]

It was the procedure and still is the procedure of the US military to remove inappropriate personal affects, before being returned to the family.

[@jaredwren9304]

Okay internet, time to come up with a kick-ass call sign for our boy Seth.

[@brushhogg1]

Call sign "Museum"....

[@daleheun7222]

Seth is always having issues with his earbuds. Maybe a spin off of this?

[@mattds45]

'Buddy'?@@daleheun7222

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

@@daleheun7222those things drive me crazy

[@kevinoviatt3958]

The French Horn solo in the theme is great

[@stephb_]

I always look forward to your reviews for this series.

[@conniecooley5542]

I am enjoying your videos so much. You guys have helped explain lots of interesting facts about the movie.

[@ShibuyaSloth94]

The Chant - Artie Shaw!!

[@seanquigley3605]

This once again was a great run down of an episode, I'm glad you mentioned Bubbles death. I was honestly snookered by it so I would have had my history wrong and that does piss me off(now I have to tell the fiance I got it wrong because she asked me if that was true.). The scene of the debris I think was perfect....not perfect in reality but in how something like that imprinted on the guys mind....you just know those types of events came back in the dark of night for them the rest of their lives. I was really happy, so happy in fact I paused the episode to point it out to my fiance that they were showing all the work that went into planning and prepping for a mission. I am worried about future episodes as we are already past the halfway mark of episodes and we still have the POW narrative to include into the story. Seth I think they put Bubbles death there to recognize it as we won't be seeing as much mission action in the future. It's what happens when they try and cram 25 pounds of story into a 5 pound sack. God I really hope someone makes a similar quality series over 25 episodes so we can really see it and take it all in. Just in case someone with that kind of ability is reading this John Comers book "Combat Crew" is ready made almost word for word and mission for mission made for that.

[@ianrwatson5974]

Fantastic review. I always enjoy your videos. I was so happy to P47s. I think it gets a bad reputation because of the fuel but if you were choose an aircraft that role at that stage in time, hands down P47. The firepower, high altitude performance and the survivability for the pilot. Sometimes we forget that at this point we haven't perfected the fighter relay system and thay the Spitfire had a worse range.

[@AlGreenLightThroughGlass]

Rosie was originally held back in the US as a training pilot for gunners - that's where he honed his skills in tactical evasive flying which saved his crew over Munster and earned him the Silver Star. He spoke about it in an interview posted on YT 14 years ago.

[@timschoenberger242]

Here's something to remember regarding days in a row they flew: weather in Europe was notoriously bad, especially in Europe. Many days they could not fly because of weather over the target as well as is Europe. When the weather was good, they sent missions.

[@lorenwatts2920]

I was in the 99th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB SD in 1990-1994. The wing was made active from WW2 history in 1988. The 99th crew force consisted of only instructors. The mission of the wing was to train all SAC bomb wings in combat tactics. Tactics that would integrate the aircraft weapons (about 20 different conventional bombs and missiles), ECM and maneuver of the of the aircraft. Along with coordination of other air force assets such as fighters and AWACs. Prior to this SAC's training only focused on the delivery of nuclear bombs as a single aircraft. The knowledge and experience of previous conventional wars was ignored. Even the aircraft self defense capability (ECM and Gunnery in the B52 case) was largely ignored as a crew. As SAC's leadership at the wing level was focused solely on bomb score (distance from the target). Training crews to learn and use the NEW tactics was an up-hill fight. Anything that could badly affect the bomb score was a waste of effort and despised by the units wing leadership. That changed in 1991 when Desert Storm began. Following Desert Storm SAC became nostalgic about bomber history and the historyof the 100th became known. Several of us in the 99th thought why didn't SAC activate us as the 100th. From a history perspective the 100th made sense. The 99th in WW2 had been an all black bomb wing. So SAC had made a political correct decision to reactivate us as the 99th. I have become captured by your history podcasts. I binge watch several all of your podcasts nearlyevery day. I enjoy the history lessons it teaches and explanations of how the world became what it is today.

[@kylecarmichael5890]

I applaud Seth's outrage about Bubbles' death. And for the same reasons.

[@rfreitas1949]

I saw something about the Ammo loads carried and was surprised to see such a variation from position to position

[@jetdriver]

I’ve been catching up on this series over the last couple of days getting up through Episode 5. Because of that this is the first of your reviews that I’ve watched. After watching episode 5 I started looking and only just learned that this series is based on a real bomb group and that this mission with only one plane making it home actually happened. Holy cow. We look at the losses suffered by the Torpedo squadrons at Midway and are appalled. I’ve often wondered what it must have been like in the ready rooms of VT-6,8,3 after those strikes given the losses suffered. But those were two man crews. Losing 11 of 17 forts that’s 110 men just gone. How on earth can you possibly reconstitute a group after losses like that? I can’t even imagine what it would have been like to be the surviving crew after a mission like that. I’m with you on altering history for no reason at all. Especially with real people it’s just not acceptable.

[@mustavogaia2655]

I'm getting worrird whether the series will "stick the landing". There are four more episodes to go and, if the opening serves as a guide, they are still to close some plots and open new ones: P51s, redtails, the guys escaping France, Buck and Bucky as PoWs. Possibly each episode from now on will represent a three months jump.

[@HeeHawHighlander]

Seth, it’s “Reservations”, not Resignations. 😂 You guys are awesome, keep up the great work!❤

[@GazzaLDN]

Good review guys, episode covers the reality of precision v area bombing well. I know the RAF Heavy bombers practiced an evasion maneuver called a corkscrew when targeted by a nigh fighter, would Rosenthal be doing the same thing.

[@patrickkidd2711]

Great works guys! However I must make one minor correction. Oak trees have acorns, maple trees winglets that carry the seed. Likely that was the comparison Captain T was referring too. Other then that I think you guys along with your guests a SUPER.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Haha. You would think I would know that growing up in Ohio

[@48Nugget]

I have a couple of questions about the Norden bombsight. We see is a couple of scenes in MotA that if a Fort was about to go down or likely to go down that the Norden bombsight had to be destroyed - perhaps by firing a couple of rounds into it or throwing it out of the aircraft if over sea like when Buck was heading to North Africa. Does anyone know if the Germans ever got hold of a Norden bombsight in tact and if so, did they manufacture a copy or a similar device? Also, were Norden sights installed on RAF bombers at any point (perhaps they were not suitable for night time bombing - sorry, I don't know much about the sight, hence my questions). Thank you

[@pepsiblik874]

The issue is that the USAAF was slow to develop the concept of drop tanks. The P47, later in the war, could also penetrate deep into Germany, like the P51 (the reason the 8th air force phased out the P47 in favour of the P51 had everything to do with cost, not ability. The P51 was half or a third of the price compared to the P47). But in 1943 the drop tanks were not available in large quantities to the USAAF in Europe, even though the RAF had shown their usefulness and had come up with a manufacturing process to make the tanks out of paper. Also, as of January 1943 there was a 200 gallon drop tank available for the P47. They were just not ordered and shipped to Europe. Had the tanks been available, the fighter escort of P47's could have stayed with the bombers all the way to Münster (and beyond, like Schweinfürt). And in late 1943, the P47 was arguably the best fighter bar none. There was a reason why the Germans waited for the escort to turn back before tangling with the USAAF. Check "Greg's Airplanes and Automobiles" video on a detailed reasoning kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3SvkmNtbdtpb80

[@sethparidon8654]

I'm sorry to say but this whole P-47 conspiracy just isn't so. The P-47 *did not* have the range to escort the bombers to the target and back. Period. There was no issue with drop tanks being withheld or some other nonsense. There was no "bomber mafia" conspiracy either. In regards to the P-51, there was a reason it was under development and production. It HAD the range needed to fly the great distances. In so far as fighter escort for bombers is concerned, in 1944 and 45 when there were AAF fighters aplenty, the fighters escorted the bombers in a relay system. Generally, Spits or P-38s would pick up the bombers first, then turn them over to the Jugs, and then the Jugs would turn them over to the 51s. This is due to the lack of range of American fighters, with the exception of the 51, not some conspiracy against Jug drivers. Also, the 47 did not have the extended range capability until the later D models and actual, proper drop tanks, not the ferry tanks that are usually referred to, were supplied.

[@dans.5745]

Pepsiblik, I would agree that the P-47D does not get enough credit for the work it did against the Luftwaffe fighter groups in NW Europe. However, the 200 gallon tank was a paper ferry tank. Not suitable for high altitude work and barely cleared the ground on take-off's. It was used as an interim measure in late July to August 1943. How far the P-47D could escort depended on many factors besides the aircraft, but the P-47D-11 could only carry one belly tank, The P-47D-15 could carry the belly plus the two wing tanks, but that was not in production until October 1943. The P-47D-25 in summer of 1944 got more internal fuel. Here are some things to consider that affect escort range that are not a function of the fighter characteristics or its drop tanks: Location of the fighter airfield? Where is the bombing mission penetrating German fighter coverage? Netherlands? North Sea? Where are the fighter escorts rendezvousing with the bombers? On the outbound leg or the return leg or over the target? What is the weather like at the fighter airfield, at the rendezvous point, at the target, along the bomber track/ etc. How will the fighter escorts find the bombers? Which specific bombers will be escorted? What kind of escort coverage will be provided? What altitudes? Are the escorts going to be weaving nearby to the bombers over an extended period of time? What power settings & altitude do the escorts need to fly before the rendezvous and then after the rendezvous? Do these settings allow the escorts to quickly react to enemy fighters? Are there enough fighter escorts to provide continuous coverage or just for certain places along the bomber’s track? At what location along the bomber’s track will the German fighters attempt to attack? From which altitude & heading? Do we plan to have the escorts meet the enemy fighters at a specific place or distance or do we have the escorts loiter near the bombers? Remember, the Germans have real-time radar detection of the bombers & fighters & real time command & control of their fighters for accurate interception. The Allies do not have anything like the modern day AWACs capability, or even accurate plotting of all Allied aircraft locations during the course of the daily air battles. Allied actions have to be mainly pre-scripted, whereas the Luftwaffe can react to the evolving situation much easier.

[@pepsiblik874]

@@dans.5745 Thank you for taking the time to reply. You actually solved an issue for me. For those who have not seen the video I linked, the video shows 2 things. 1) Drop tanks were available as of at least January 1943. 2) As of the P-47D, there are hardpoints under the belly and the wings to carry drop tanks. Moreover, the video shows documents from Republic that conversion sets were available for planes already in the field, although it was quite conversion. In other words, it was possible to escort bombers all the way to the target, according to the video. But you actually mention the dates that the drop-tank version of the P-47 started being produced (believe me, I looked and I could not find them). And that is much later than what I assumed on what the video showed. Based on the video I was left with the impression that the drop-tank version started becoming available in the spring/summer of 1943. But with your information it is clear that the drop tank version could not be available in Europe in quantity until 1944. So, thank you for clearing that up. So, no conspiracy, no negligence, just people doing their utmost with what they have.

[@pepsiblik874]

@@sethparidon8654 Dear Seth. First of all, thank you for taking the time to reply. @dans.5745 reply cleared it up. I mistakingly was left with the impression that the drop-tank version of the P-47 was available in quantity by the summer of 1943. That assumption is wholy wrong on my part. Keep up your good work. I hope one day to visit your museum. p.s.: Do you think there will be an opportunity to discuss Operation Mana? It would mean a great deal to me. Thank you.

[@CutGlassMan-CTI]

There is a sequence of a shattered Zero with just a wing and some fuselage helicoptering down in smooth manner

[@brushhogg1]

Eternal Zero had some cool Kamikaze footage with some wild physics

[@jamesa702]

Top turret engineer armed the bombs on 17's and 24's. Tough job for someone afraid of heights.

[@williampage622]

The top turret gunner is also the flight engineer.

[@brushhogg1]

I had posted this on the announcement of this topic, I don't know if anyone noticed it. Anyway, when the bombers were getting mashed in mid '43, serious consideration was taken on sending all F4u production to Europe as a practical escort due to performance and range... I thought this was a neat tie in with the Pacific nature of the main podcast....

[@crazylegssw]

How and why did they call the planes/fortresses ships? Where did that come from?

[@vladimirpecherskiy1910]

I am very much agreed with Tommy - scene with a flying planes parts does not look real. That is an issue with those scenes - those in fact real "staff like did happen" but not real because of tempo, intensity, small issues like this.

[@XxBloggs]

They’re trying to give the scene an etched in your mind forever quality. Almost slow motion. Much like the slow mo of the 109.

[@vladimirpecherskiy1910]

@@XxBloggs I know. But to me it looks more stupid then impressive - especially because I KNOW they are trying to impress me. And because that CGA models, good models I guess, bit that 109 looks brand new in a sky.

[@WNrHuot]

You can do the hard maneuver flying a bomber. but threpoint is that the gunner's aiming is also ruined.

[@vaudevillian7]

And that’s primarily what British heavy bombers relied on defensively, the gunners were more lookouts than gunners, especially the tail gunner

[@rappdr1]

From what I have seen in documentary form, the entire bomb group had preset evasion maneuvers that were activated when flak was encountered, if this is true, I'd like to see this enacted. I know the stoic bravery of the pilots has to be recognized, I don't see a problem showing the counter measures to the flak. Also, my opinion, while waiting for the lead bomber to drop the bombs on the "cathedral steps", perhaps it was the intent to acknowledge the unwillingness to bomb civilians?

[@MrTScolaro]

For a show that is so accurate, the Engligh countryside did not seem appropriate for mid October.

[@gregp9227]

Question - is there an infantry equivalent to a “bomb group?” Like is a bomb group the size of a company? Regiment?

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Not a clean analogy, but if a squadron is a company, a bomb group would be a battalion.

[@dans.5745]

Another way to come to a comparison is to review the ranks that command or lead these units. In the US Army, platoons are lead by 2LT or 1LT's. Companies by Captains. Battalions commanded by LtCol. Regiments by Colonels. Brigades by Colonels or Brigadier Generals. Divisions by Major Generals. etc. Bomber Groups have more personnel than Fighter Groups with respect to the flight crews and ground crews.

[@john_smithchiropractor3931]

why don’t we hear more of individual commanders of the European campaign? And Marine commanders like Chesty Puller from the Pacific campaign seemingly are more publicized? It’s a debate if 1st Marine division was indeed the best US fighting unit in 1944 when there were plenty to choose from.

[@mattds45]

...and a question for the knowledgeable people out there. When I was an RTO, 'Roger Wilco' was never used- it was either, but never both. Was that a thing back then, or with the USAAF (8th AF)?

[@paulthewall4764]

I thought Wilco was “Will comply”, with instructions I assume. Roger was I read your transmission. So I guess “ Roger, Wilco “ was “ I heard you and I will comply with your instructions”

[@mattds45]

Please forgive me, but I know what the pro words mean. In my time, one used roger when- order or transmission is understood, will attempt to carry the orders out, require a reply- keep in mind that the initiating station must close, the respondant can not close (say "out"). Wilco means will comply, no response needed. As I stated earlier, one never used both of the pro words together, but movies have people doing that all the time. My question has to do with if the procedure changed between the 1940's and the 1980's. @@paulthewall4764

[@dans.5745]

I think "Roger Wilco" would be used by the crews regardless of proper Radio procedures. It was used during my days in US Army ground units, even if it was not exactly procedure. But I do appreciate when movies try to get these important things correctly. I hate when they say "Over & Out" for example.

[@stevelupton56]

Here is an interesting interview with the real "Rosie" Rosenthal that confirms many of the scenes in Masters of the Air- kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5LLkIKkYtp1ZqMsi=ykZGg2195TOhxIT2

[@Bobbydawriter]

Didn’t give me enough time to hit the button after you said spoiler alert. Oh well Egan survives in the war.

[@stymiedagain]

I disagree that it was a disservice to have Bubbles killed off on the Munster raid, rather than when he later died. The loss of the other crew members would not have made an impact for the viewers because they didn’t know them individually. Whatever mission six months later that Bubbles was killed on would not have been covered in the series, so there would not have been any depiction of Crosby’s grief. The show does not cover every mission and every death. It can’t. It is not a dry documentary. If I were family of Bubbles, I would appreciate the fact that his death was mourned in the show as opposed to him just never being mentioned at a point 6 months later.

[@harrybuedel2112]

Disappointed to hear the truth about Bubbles. I know if that were my grandfather I'd be pissed. I've been loving this series SO much, why did they have to do that. Kind of like the episode of the Pacific with the the fictional Armenian woman and her family

[@williamyalen6167]

Wut??!! Bonus!! Yay!!

[@williamwallin8035]

My call sign was Uncle Wally

[@alexkalish8288]

Battlefield promotions for infantry officers were not uncommon but you are not to pin on the rank until it's confirmed in writing with a letter of promotion or senate confirmation for flag officers. In Viet Nam we took off all rank anyhow as officers we were cat nip for snipers. I did two tours and never wore a helmet or body Armour in combat. It was a different world - come on gents - the music is good. The flight computer is called an E-6

[@CorePathway]

Not sure how I’d react to another guy wearing my stuff. First impulse not good; but I wasn’t there at the time.

[@oceanhome2023]

I thought this show was about the Pacific and nothing about the ETO . Kind of hard focus on the topic !

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Are you kidding? We only have about 80 episodes on the Pacific theater.

[@Legendary_UA]

The music from "The Pacific" is much more impactful and moving.

[@XxBloggs]

I don’t remember the music from the Pacific but I remember this music.

[@trianglemountainmotors1210]

Being a self proclaimed pacific war nut and all things ww2. I really want to like masters of the air. Don’t get me I don’t hate it. But just not loving it like I thought Iwould

[@johnnyhunter4345]

Sweet Tea, southern thing...

[@ewathoughts8476]

12 O'clock was great and based on basic facts, but it was fictitious. This series like Band of Brothers and The Pacific use real peoples names, and should not warp the facts. If you are going to warp the facts then use fictitious names so history does not get bent all to hell. However, "Hollywood has no scruples, never has had any, and will never have any. Hollywood always has a excuse just like politicians. Sorry to say the film makers from years ago at least did not use actual names, but now that the real participants of WW2 are almost all dead, Hollywood feels they do not need to show any respect if there is a dollar to be made.

[@paulg-sg]

please keep hammering the historical accuracy aspect. I have no sympathy for the "but writers .. hollywood..." argument. Since most people learn history from movies/series like this, it is paramount to be accurate. And the kicker is (as you mentioned) it is unnecessary to gild the lily! There is more than enough drama and emotion to go around in just relaying the actual events. Not sure of the facts? Your podcast and others prove that there are many experts would could help set things right in moments...

[@billyshakespeare17]

Attention on deck! Avast ye swabbies! Thank you gentlemen. Greetings from Rumor Control out of Mess Deck Central, COMCARTRAY, COMSRVBTR.