History Professor Breaks Down "Masters of the Air" - Part Seven

Join Reel History for part seven of our nine-part historical breakdown of Apple TV's WWII epic "Masters of the Air." Be aware of spoilers as we proceed through the series.
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Reel History delves into historical films to separate fact from fiction. These engaging episodes explore, contextualize, and clarify stories related to the most famous historical movies. In contrast to the more prevalent "reaction" videos, these installments seek not only to entertain but to educate and inform. For host Jared Frederick and producer Andrew Collins, these episodes are a labor of love and a means of expressing passion for the past as well as cinema. Courteous viewer feedback is always welcome. The views expressed are our own and do not necessarily represent our employers or organizations with which we are involved.
The intro music is "Salute to a New Beginning" by the United States Army Herald Trumpets.
*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. All rights belong to their respective owners. All original commentary and materials produced by this channel are the intellectual property of Reel History, LLC. To reach the Reel History team, email [e-mail].

[@tcbagpipes]

Hambone was my father. He definitely was *not* at Stalag Luft 3. Rather, he spent several months in a hospital in Munster, and wasn't sent to POW camp until January 1944. The facility was Stalag Luft 1, in Barth on the Baltic coast.

[@ReelHistory]

Thank you! Both for your input and your Father's service.

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

After every episode airs, I really look forward to your historical breakdown. Another fantastic one today!

[@Concetta20]

Yeah, every time I finish an episode I wonder what “Reel History” is going to say about certain parts. “Was that true? Is that what happened?”

[@alexamerling79]

"There arer only Americans in Saul Luft." Loved that line.

[@ReelHistory]

It represents the best of who we are.

[@captaintoyota3171]

"There ae only Americans in Saul Luft. ONLY Americans" yes the best of us

[@alexamerling79]

Thanks for the correction but the point is the same.@@captaintoyota3171

[@jasonford7826]

@@ReelHistoryit reminds me of the story of Roddie Edmonds. He was a POW from the 106th and saved the lives of 100s of Jews who were in his camp. Great story in the book No Surrender

[@evancrum6811]

A lot of Americans and Allies felt that way.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Absolutely loving these breakdowns of the show. Aside from the context and the history, it’s also helping to debunk a lot of criticisms that I am seeing about the show.

[@ReelHistory]

We like your stuff too!

[@Concetta20]

Yes, I appreciate this series so much more after realizing the very true history behind it.

[@tommyanderson-filmmaker3976]

Watching the episode brought back a memory from my military service. Back in 1973, I had 3 years in the ARMY and was a Specialist 4. In order to be promoted to Buck Sergeant, we needed to attend the NCO academy. We had a SFC who was teaching us about what to expect if we would become a POW, along with escape and evasion. He had a German accent. It turned out in WW2 that he was an infantryman in the German Warmach. He had been a POW of the US Army and had several successful escapes and recaptures. After the war, he stayed in the US and joined the US Army. It was one of the most interesting classes I've ever had.

[@Concetta20]

Whoah!

[@matthewjordan7297]

I'd like to formally request a video on The Great Escape! This seems like an opportune time to revisit that classic!

[@ReelHistory]

Great idea!

[@derekweiland1857]

​@@ReelHistoryAnd the Memphis Belle.

[@ReelHistory]

@@derekweiland1857, it is coming this spring!

[@derekweiland1857]

@@ReelHistory 😍😍😍😍

[@evancrum6811]

Battle Of Britain (unless I missed it)?

[@mcgarrett91]

My wife's grandfather (Knute Knudson) was a tail gunner in the 100th Bomb Gp, 350th Bomb Sq, and his 24th mission was the 3/6/44 one over Berlin (aircraft 239934, My Achin' Back). They were among the B-17s to make it back safely to Thorpe Abbots. But for their 25th mission on 3/15/44, he was swapped out for an officer to serve as observer for the command pilot, and the aircraft was shot down over Brunswick. Only three crew made it out, and they became POWs. I can't imagine how he must have felt about losing his friends on that 25th mission, and unfortunately, he passed away many years ago at the young age of 52.

[@paulweston2267]

This is the one series that breaks my brain. Even in the Vietnam hell, I never quite realized how depraved humans could be. What the Japanese did to their prisoners, and the russians and the Germans. You know what was different? What the Amis did. We put them in a place where they were not leaving without a 1,000 mile train ride, but they were not hurt. A couple of them even escaped New Mexico. The thing about Vietnam, was it was all true. I saw kids with bomb vests. I saw SVA wake up the GIs and throw a live grenade in the hooch. It all happened, for real. You never knew you would wake up in the morning.

[@TrenchSniper21]

Jared - I once had the pleasure in 2022 of having a burger with John A. Clark, 1LT and copilot from the 100th BG(H). He teared up talking about how helpful and protective his “Little Friends” were. We were in a loud, crowded restaurant and he was choking up telling me about how quickly P-51s came to help him one time when he was having engine trouble and fell behind in “jet country.” Very touching indeed.

[@martensjd]

The changing mission quotas made me think of Catch-22 (book, movie, mini-series).

[@ReelHistory]

What a great series that was.

[@AlexSDU]

There's a mini series? I only watched the movie.

[@PrimarchX]

I'm glad they brought the 'secret' of the bombing campaign, that the 8th AF was being used as bait to destroy the Luftwaffe prior to Overlord, into the show. I knew a lead navigator from the 8th AF who only learned this well after the war. It shows the calculated effort and sacrifice the Allies took to prep for the liberation of Europe.

[@user-dv5nx3wu8q]

And it worked.

[@evancrum6811]

It's true...but they also were trying to soften German defenses and also not really let the Germans know where they were landing.

[@JayBaddAssCutler]

My wife and I look forward to watching these after each episode. Outstanding as per usual

[@lowellwhite1603]

Chuck Yeager was shot down and managed to escape and evade and, with the help of the underground, made his way to Spain and then to England. He managed to talk his way out of the policy of being returned home (and probably redeployed to the Pacific). He rejoined his unit and became a famous ace along with his friend “Bud” Anderson. By the time he got back to his unit, the Normandy Invasion had taken place. France was soon overrun and the need to protect the underground was moot.

[@ToddSauve]

I believe it was Eisenhower himself who finally signed off on Yeager's return to flying in combat. Yeager also stated that he shot enemy pilots hanging in their parachutes. Those were his orders he said. 🤔

[@Atpost334]

Yes, Yeager was able to rejoin his the 357th FG once France was taken. Eisenhower reasoned that it was moot at that point since the area where the underground operated was in allied hands. Yeager was also an explosives man for the underground while with them. He, for sure would have been shot if captured.

[@LadyTylerBioRodriguez]

I know it'll probably never happen, but I'd love it if the US Navy in the Pacific got a BOB/Masters of the Air like series. Something like USS Enterprise 1941 to 1945 or even something smaller like USS Samuel Roberts. PS, I loved the detail that a gunner tied a Ragady Ann doll to the M2. My grandma used to make those things and I can imagine some bored crew member doing that.

[@DD-vc7fq]

Not really US Navy, but The Pacific covers the story of Marines and it is made by the BoB/MotA creators as well. But I am pretty sure you already heard about that TV show.

[@XxBloggs]

The producers say the Navy movie is Greyhound. There are no released plans after that.

[@geekstradamus1548]

Greyhound was great, but we really need a series called, “Big E”

[@davidk7324]

I endorse a wholly Navy focused series (with island invasions only for framing). One thread on a carrier, one on a destroyer, and another in a submarine. I trust these folks to do it.

[@jackmcgonegal8728]

@@XxBloggs Kirk Saduski, co-producer of MOTA, said a sequel to Greyhound is in the works.

[@QuicknStraight]

The spring weather in England would probably be milder. It's not uncommon for England to be lush and green, with spring flowers all blooming.

[@SimonHeartfield]

Yes. Weather data for eastern England for March 1944 shows it was mild and dry.

[@ToddSauve]

@@SimonHeartfield It hardly ever goes below the freezing mark in England. I have a friend in Oxford that I compare temperatures with, as I live in Calgary, Alberta. We will be freezing our brass you-know-whats off with -30 C weather and he'll be yawning and informing me that it is +5 C in merry old England that January. Grr! They really know how to get a guy, LOL! 🥶

[@bretcantwell4921]

​@@ToddSauveIf the Atlantic Conveyor current ever breaks down, mild olde England will start seeing more like Upstate New York.

[@ToddSauve]

@@bretcantwell4921 Maybe. I've lived on the northern plains all my life and while Calgary is a LOT milder than Regina and Winnipeg it still gets very cold every winter.

[@awesomedayz3465]

I would love to see a limited series on the evasion and escape of a crew or member of a crew from occupied Europe.

[@jackmcgonegal8728]

Just as an aside, the character of Virgil HIlts (Steve McQueen) in the Great Escape was based upon Colonel (later Major General) David M. Jones, USAAF. He's worthy of a film all by himself, and yes, he was an expert motorcyclist. He was a Doolittle raider, escaped from China, and was sent to North Africa to command the 319th Bombardment Group. Shot down in December 1942, he ended up at Stalag Luft III in the South Compound, where his disregard of the rules and constant harassment of the guards prompted Roger Bushell to ask him to join the escape committee. Jones became the lead tunneler on Harry, the tunnel that was eventually used on the escape. He and the other American POWs in that compound were moved to the West compound shortly before the escape took place. By the way, those who say no Americans escaped during the Great Escape are not correct. Major Johnnie Dodge was a British Army officer but he was an American citizen. He was one of the first men through the tunnel. Because Dodge had been captured by a Luftwaffe officer in France in May 1940, he became the responsibility of the Luftwaffe and remained so despite numerous escape attempts and recaptures. He and four other participants in the Great Escape were sent to the infamous Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp after being recaptured after the Great Escape. The fact that he was a cousin of Winston Churchill is thought by some to be the reason he wasn't executed. After the war, Dodge was a key figure in the investigation of the murders of the Great Escape prisoners and instrumental in tracking down the Gestapo members responsible. Dodge was portrayed by Christopher Reeve in the 1988 film: Great Escape II: The Untold Story.

[@davemac1197]

Excellent post! I actually caught the Christopher Reeve film very recently on TV here in the UK and thought it quite well done.

[@jackmcgonegal8728]

@@davemac1197 Thanks

[@theflan045]

The question of snow in Germany and not UK. I am from Ireland. The general answer is Britain and Ireland don't get as much snow as Continental Europe. Most of our weather and wind comes from the south west and most of the snow comes from the north and east which is less common is Britain or Ireland. It rains alot too, so any snow that does fall don't last too long on the ground

[@martinford4553]

Yeah the weather here is pretty consistent, doesn't get too cold, doesn't get too warm but rains alot. Places further south of us are more likely to see snow then we are.

[@richardvernon317]

@@martinford4553 Warm water from the Gulf Stream across the Atlantic keeps the British Isle around 10 degrees warmer than it would be otherwise.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

It's been a terribly mild winter this year. At least in southern England. Little frost and zero snow. Im a snow lover so I've not enjoyed the mild rainy "winter" and as an avid hiker I've had to battle mud for the last 4 months 😢

[@juvandy]

Ok... but Thorpe Abbotts has fully leaved trees and plenty of greenery in this episode in contrast to Germany's snow. Will you have that in early March? The Gulf Stream effect isn't THAT strong.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@@juvandy Correct. We wouldn't have that in early March.

[@chrisvoulgaridis8385]

Α shoutout to Lt. Sotiris "Nick" Skantzikas , POW nr 1822, of the 336 Sq. of the Royal Hellenic Air Force, shot down over Crete July 29/1943, the 28th man and the only Greek to escape Stalag Luft III through "Harry" during the Great Escape, executed by the Gestapo at 30/3/1944.

[@peterireland4344]

Vale Lt. Skantzikas.

[@ReelHistory]

RIP.

[@davidbriggs7365]

You talked about how long airmen were missing in World War Two. On December 7th, 1944 (also the day that the USS WARD, which fired the first shot during the attack on Pearl Harbor was sunk), my uncle, First Lieutenant Chuck Krueger (Flight Engineer) was on a B-29 by the name of Humpin Honey when it went down. Only the Tail Gunner survived, and my uncle is STILL, to this day, Missing in Action. Hopefully his remains might be found soon.

[@ReelHistory]

How tragic, but not entirely uncommon.

[@frankm2588]

There would be a lot of argument about the narration towards the end about the P51 being clearly the best fighter of the war. It was definitely the best long range escort. The P47 pilots always said they faced the Luftwaffe when they were at full strength and the Mustangs came in when they had gotten rid of the best pilots and the Luftwaffe had fewer planes. Both were great planes but the '47 had greater durability, payload and was a better ground attack plane. It was very accurate when the show stated that prior to D-Day missions were increased to bring more German fighters up to be destroyed.

[@jackmcgonegal8728]

Our good friend, Harold Carver, who flew both the P-47 and P-51, with the 355th from RAF Steeple Morden, far preferred the Jug because it was much more rugged and had 8 .50 cals as opposed to 6. A later version of the P-47 did have the range to fly to Berlin and back but they were sent to the Pacific. One huge factor in favor of the P-51 is the fact that it only cost half of what it cost to produce a P-47. Unlike how the POWs have been shown being transported in this series, Harold said he was sent to Stalag Luft I on a regular German passenger train. In his car where several young Luftwaffe officers who asked his guard if they could talk to him. just like all us pilots, they just wanted to talk about flying. When Harold mentioned that he'd flown the P-47, the German pilots blanched and one told him that was the one Allied fighter they feared above all others because of its firepower.

[@ToddSauve]

Here is something most American history buffs don't know. The Spitfire, specifically the Spitfire VII, could also fly all the way to Berlin and back. Both the RAF/RCAF/RAAF/RNZAF and the USAAF used it for recon flights to assess bomb damage all over Germany! This only makes sense because both the Spitfire and Mustang used the Rolls Royce Merlin engine and were about the same weight. So why didn't the Allies use the Spitfire as a long range escort fighter? Because, in all likelihood, only the USAAF wanted to do daylight bombing and thus it was their responsibility to come up with a solution to this problem. Moreover, there was no doubt both a supply problem that only the US could solve, and a national pride issue.

[@jackmcgonegal8728]

@@ToddSauve Another bit of Spitfire trivia. The U.S. Navy flew some Spits during the Normandy campaign. The U.S. battleships and cruisers off-loaded their Kingfisher and Seagull float planes that they used for gunfire spotting. It was deemed they'd be too vulnerable in a high threat environment. The Navy tried to borrow some fighters from the AAF, but in the spirit of interservice cooperation, they were turned down. The RAF had some surplus Spitfire VBs that they offered to the U.S. Navy, and the RN provided some Seafires to the mix. The USN pilots trained at RAF Middle Wallop and then operated from RNAS Lee-on-the-Solent for the duration of the campaign. The Americans lost one Spit to enemy anti-aircraft fire, LT Richard Barclay, He was flying his third sortie of the day on 6 June 1944 in support of USS Tuscaloosa. He crashed right where the present day U.S. cemetery is located. When his body was later recovered, it was thought he was an RAF pilot and his body was interred at the British cemetery in Bayeux. When his body was finally identified, he was buried in the American cemetery above Omaha Beach, where he rests to this today. LT Barclay was only supposed to fly two missions that day but volunteered for a third because of a pilot shortage.

[@Atpost334]

The vast majority of P-51 pilots were also P-47 pilots before they were in P-51s. Many pilots had preference for one over the other. The Mustang generally gets the nod because it had RANGE. Bomber pilots preferred the aircraft that could be with them all the way because it helped them survive. Later, the 47s range was lengthened. 51 had the range advantage during a very crucial time.

[@RafaelSilva-wx1rc]

"Babe, wake up. New Reel History video just dropped."

[@ReelHistory]

Glad to be (digitally) cuddling with you. 😉

[@bernardsalvatore1929]

​@@ReelHistoryI'm curious about when Rosenthal was talking to the Commanding Officer and he was telling Rosie about the new missions and how the bombers were going to be bait!! My question is, and I don't know if they're going to show it in the next episode or not, but are the bombers going to be bombing anything??? It doesn't sound like the bombers will be bombing anything and I have to wonder, if that's the case, WHY didn't they locate and bomb airfields of the luftwaffe??? Was it because they could not locate the airfields or were they too small of a Target?? BECAUSE it seems a waste to just put bombers up in the air as bait and not have them drop any bombs on anything!🤔

[@davidbriggs7365]

@@bernardsalvatore1929 Not long after the events in the episode, the 8th Air Force was subordinated to Eisenhower and the Normandy Invasion. Based on weather over Germany, they either went after Oil or Transportation (especially railway centers) Targets for most of the rest of the war.

[@peterireland4344]

@@bernardsalvatore1929 Yes. Both 8th Air Force and RAF Bomber Command concentrated on transport, in preparation for D-Day. Targeting the Luftwaffe was also part of that. Two birds with one stone.

[@gravitypronepart2201]

Aww, that first cup-a-joe and the latest from Jared on "Masters of the Air"!

[@chibbyranjo]

I’ll preface this with that my grandfather was too young to fight in WW2, but he did receive some cuts by a live grenade while training with the Home Guard. He used his only issued bandage on his wound, and was never issued another in the entire war 😂 On the subject of this video though, as people will be aware, the real “Great Escape” featured three tunnels, Tom, Dick and Harry. Of the three, only Harry was used in the escape attempt, as the others were either discovered or repurposed for storing material dug out of the others. I mentioned my grandfather because he was known in the family as Harry. He passed away in 2009 in Spain having just arrived on his first foreign holiday, his own great escape if you will. 65 years to the day after the real Great Escape. What a bizarre set of coincidences.

[@hellasalvy]

I wish they wouldve shown the escape of Quinn and Bailey. I know they showed the beginning of it, but they never showed anything else just oh they made it, heres them on a bike.

[@tobytaylor2154]

Regarding monte casino and the gurkhas, we (British) use to call across the lines to the Germans to shit them up telling them our gurkhas were taking over in the line that night. God bless the gurkhas! ✌️🇬🇧

[@ReelHistory]

Amen.

[@digitalbegley]

I loved serving with the Gurkhas, was really completely stoked when they presented me with a kukri when our squadrons went our separate ways.

[@Nerd_of_Anarchy]

Funny story (I may have already commented). Old neighbor, Casey a gunner on Stymie, told the story that conditions were so bad at the Stalag (Can't remember which one atm) that the POWs went on strike. Guard came in and told them to get to work. Casey told the guard they were on strike. The guard pulled out his gun and put it to Casey's head. He looked at the guard and said, "Guess I'm not on strike."

[@joshh8245]

Another great break down of Masters of The Air. Definitely worth staying up late to watch!

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks, friend.

[@bertcopeland]

A side note - Chuck Yeager shot down at least 1 ME262 jet.

[@ZBLDS]

One thing I never fully appreciated until the reveal at the end of the last episode and this one is the sheer size and scale of these German POW camps. Movies like The Great Escape and shows like Hogan's Heroes never showed them quite like this.

[@ed-straker]

I just thought of something amusing. My dad fought the Germans, but he drove Volkswagens the rest of his life. I learned to drive on a Volkswagen. He was not an Aviator, he was a 22 year old LT (j.g.) in charge of an LCT (Landing Craft, Tank) on Utah Beach. Had an Army engineer company with bulldozers and TNT. He was XO on an LST (Landing Ship, Tank), somewhere around the Panama Canal, heading to the Pacific when the war ended.

[@janicebrowningaquino792]

I’m grateful for the existence of your channel for all the young people who know nothing about WWII. Those men and women were my parents, aunts and uncles. I wanted to learn their stories. Since they often did not want to talk about their experiences I began watching everything I could to learn as much as I could. Documentaries, WWII movies ANYTHING. My step father served in the Pacific, as did his fighter pilot brother. My birth father had been ill with scarlet fever as a child that damaged his heart. He couldn’t be accepted into the military so he served in the merchant marine. I feel what you teach and provide here helps young people understand not only the cost but also the responsibility of the freedoms they experience. Don’t “ mess (actual word was an expletive) it up! “the veteran said to a young person he was speaking to at the time. Wise words people.

[@snook279]

Another great review! I enjoy your choice of information to talk about...does not ruin any of the scenes.

[@Warszawski_Modernizm]

Watching closely once again from Warsaw, Poland. Great stuff ! And as I wondered before- Sandra is in SOE :) Ps. Did you see the Polish Cementery under Monte Cassino?

[@ReelHistory]

Greetings, friend! And yes, I paid my respects at the Polish Cemetery. The deeds of your countrymen are not forgotten!

[@Warszawski_Modernizm]

Thank you for your respect! @@ReelHistory

[@renegadeleader1]

Last April I visted the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tuscon Arizona. The museum has a special hangar dedicated to the 8th Airforce's 390th bomb group, and one of the docents there that I had the privilege to meet and chat with was Walter Ram. He's a veteran and radio crewman on a B-17 from the 94th bomb group that was shot down during the raid on Kiel in June of 1943. Listening to him talk about his experiences as POW was harrowing especially as he talked about how being liberated almost killed him as almost everyone was malnourished and sent on a forced march from Austria to the western allied occupation zone to avoid having the camp guards surrender to the Soviets. One thing he said that stuck with me about his experiences as a POW, was never losing your sense of humor, and finding amusement in the most surreal or morbid moments was the only way you could survive, that the only way it wouldn't let the situation break you.

[@BCO44]

Official request for Memphis Belle at the end of MOTA please

[@ReelHistory]

It is coming!

[@Nghilifa]

Per Bergsland, Jens Müller and Bram van der Stok were the three pilots who managed to escape Stalag Luft III. van der Stok was dutch, Bergsland & Müller were Norwegian. Bergsland "lied" about his name, because Norway was occupied at that time, so he gave his name as "Peter Rockland" which is almost a direct translation of his Norwegian name. Both Norwegians were shot down June 19th 1942 during the infamous raid on Dieppe.

[@ncwoodworker]

Very interesting fact about Chuck Yeager. Thanks for sharing that.

[@corrincrellin]

We are here after we watch the latest episode of Masters of the Air, hello everyone I salute you

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks!

[@davemac1197]

Winters can often be milder in England when there's snow on the ground on the continent. I dimly remember something called "continentality" in geography classes. It can also vary within the UK. We've had snow here this Winter in the usual places like Scotland and Wales, but also in London and parts of the south and north of England, but touch wood I've not seen any snow here in the Midlands despite Birmingham being on a plateau. Just lots of rain!

[@pem7107]

LTGEN Albert P. Clark (AAF at the time, later USAF) was the chief logistics officer for the Great Escape. He was the Superintendent for my senior, First Class, year, 1971, at the USAF Academy. The library there holds his Luft Stalag artifacts, like the rubber heel of a shoe worked into a travel document stamp for escapees. If you want an idea of what the bomber 'brain trust' thought would be possible after WW I, read Malcolm Gladwell's 'Bomber Mafia.' The idea of having truly 'precision bombing.' like with current JDAMs, etc., would lead to 'combatants only' conflcts without civilian casulties. Another good book is Robert O. Harder's 'The Three Musketeers of the Army Air Corps,' chronicling BG Tibbets when he, under LTGEN Armstrong, commanded the 97th BG at Polebrook. The movie 'Twelve O'Clock High' is a very near history of the 97th. Tibbets was the pilot for the 'Dog Pound,' with Tom Ferebee as bombardier and Ted van Kirk as navigator. Tom and Ted flew on the 'Enola Gay' also. Ferebee was the Wing Bombardier at Bob Harder's first B-52 assignment. Among other developments after WW II, the Search and Rescue, SAR, was greatly overhauled. In WW II, it seems to be survive the landing and hope that the resistance finds you! During Viet Nam and Desert Storm/Shield, we had detailed SAR procedures. We also had the 'benefit' of Survival, Escape, Resistance and Evasion training, i.e., POW training. If you want an idea of what it was like at the 'Hanoi Hilton' read MGEN John Borling's 'Taps on the Wall.' John 'wrote,' (he actually memorized all the text) the book during his 6 plus years of captivity.

[@pjny21]

Came right here for some of the fact checking on the escort timing. This was a great episode. Love how it's pivoting from the early episodes that just reminded me of Memphis Belle (1990) to the stories of the men on the ground - which is fine, I've just seen that film 100 times so the plane-in-the-air aspect is familiar. But the pivot to the personal stories on the ground - whichever ground - has been pretty awesome the past 2 weeks.

[@evancrum6811]

I want to focused on late 44-45 when my grandfather flew all his missions include the over 1k mission against Berlin (where there were minimal casualties due to it being so late in the war),

[@vaudevillian7]

I’m surprised they didn’t seem to make more of Big Week Gurkhas would be considered British troops as they are part of the British Army, albeit the British Indian army at this point I believe. Now they are part of the British Army proper

[@eugenedewet1157]

Another great summary of Masters of the air. It is now becoming my highlight of the week equal to the mini-series. Thank you, Jared, for the background facts especially on Quinn and Bailey and showing us the Red Cross memorabilia.

[@richardmardis2492]

Which Bucky jumps the motorcycle over the barb wire? 😏

[@ReelHistory]

The Cooler King.

[@richardmardis2492]

@@ReelHistory 🤣😏❤️🫡

[@dexterswoodshop8810]

I love Franks Murphy’s book. I’m glad his character got some camera time. Even tho he was in a separate compound during his stay at SL3. In the book, he had a chance to move to be with the Bucks but chose to stay so he wouldn’t leave his band without a clarinet player.

[@geekstradamus1548]

Excellent, excellent, excellent! You are adding greatly to my enjoyment of this amazing series.

[@ReelHistory]

Thank you.

[@f1matt]

Thank you for only increasing my enjoyment and appreciation for this amazing series.

[@SGTDuckButter]

After living in the UK and Germany, both for two years. Yes the weather in Germany is snow and England with grass in the winter, for the most part. Accurate

[@jonathanplott7651]

Jared- First off, amazing series and I love your coverage of all the episodes. Secondly, in Episode 7, at about the 29:30 mark where the P-51s engage the German interceptors, I noticed about 3-4 instances of black smoke/explosions occurring within some of the contrails. Is this a representation of weapons firing or damaged aircraft? Every other time an aircraft is depicted as being damaged, it leaves a smoke trail. These smoke marks are depicted as more puffs of smoke/explosions. I have not seen this particular effect in previous episodes. I figured if anyone would know, you would! Miss our times going to the Gettysburg musters with MHO.

[@ReelHistory]

If I understand your questions correctly, puffs of smoke would remain lingering where a plane had blown up and remained there for a bit after the plane spiraled down.

[@jonathanplott7651]

No. The black puffs show up within the contrails, roughly equidistant, and seem to be in sets of 3-4, kinda bam-bam-bam. Thought it might be the gasses from a weapons discharge (Mk 108 30mm on some German aircraft) but I don’t know for sure.

[@milo_V123]

Love this series

[@bangboats3557]

They caught the grimness of the POW situation well, it sure wasn't Hogan's heroes. But POWs were amazingly resourceful and I love POW stories of ingenuity and secrecy, how they planned escapes and other hijinks. I looked it up, yes you can build a working radio like as shown in the show, there's a KZbin video. Returning servicemen that escaped capture through the underground, were not aloud to go back on active duty so that's a detail they got right. Going at the capital Berlin was always going to draw a stiff response, and while fighter escort was getting better the air battles stretched for miles and the German radar operators got good at directing fighters to where coverage was thin. The battles were huge and as one survivor recalled "the sky was never still". The B-17s ability to take damage and make it back, what was always more remarkable was that ground crews actually managed to get them repaired. The P-51 was what won the air war for the US, originally a plane the USAAF wasn't interest in, and one that didn't fill its potential until some English boffins removed the alison engine and out in a Merlin... and then, holy cow. Best fighter of the war; speed, manoeuvrability, range, firepower... it had it all. In all a good episode, very well done with the story focussing to be more about the characters rather than just the fighting.

[@robertblack7610]

liked the accuracy about the war crime execution of 50 of the escapees

[@jvanek8512]

War crime was eating that cat

[@seldonplanB-24]

My grandfather was interred at Stalag Luft IV during the war. Stalag Luft III was a country club compared to that place, by all accounts. Of course, NONE of the prisoners were treated "well", by any definition.

[@jackmcgonegal8728]

Stalag Luft III was a camp for officers while Stalag Luft IV was for NCOs. Officer POWs generally received better treatment by the Luftwaffe, which was very rank conscious.

[@ReelHistory]

Much respect to your grandfather.

[@seldonplanB-24]

@@jackmcgonegal8728 One thing is certain, when all the airmen were forced to go on the Black March, rank didn't matter. If the prisoners/airmen dropped behind or attempted escape, the German captors shot them. My grandfather witnessed that firsthand.

[@steveminla]

I look forward to hearing your stories and knowledge of the history of this series...as much as the episodes themselves!! Continued success!!

[@ReelHistory]

Thank you.

[@justinschrank4806]

Been waiting for this!

[@donaldvelez9258]

Excellent job! I enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work amigo.

[@Concetta20]

Or he was expressing that a future girl won’t know the “old him” the one that was more carefree without all the war trauma and baggage. I loved Gale’s line about who the guy Buck is now is the one worth knowing. 😭

[@Zippezip]

Thank you, Professor. I have a First Edition Hard Cover copy of Masters of the Air and another of ON a Wing and a Payer and also the soft cover FE of Luck of the Draw, all are equally important and harrowing versions of history!

[@Patrick-xv6qv]

Why didn't you mention them catching and eating the cat? There is a small national POW museum in Andsrsonville GA at the Fort Sumter Civil War historical site. They show a film documentary with interviews with former POWs. One American WW2 German POW camp survivor mentioned how hungry they were and there were stray cats the German guards would feed and they would on rare occasions when they could catch and eat them.

[@marcusg2703]

Thankyou. I didn't catch that it was the cat they were eating. I thought it must have been rat in the soup but now I can understand the extreme reaction.

[@ReelHistory]

We didn't make that connection at first. Thanks.

[@peterherman3867]

Thanks for pointing out it was winter in Germany and summer in England. Yes, I know the weather might have been mild in Eastern Great Britain, but I doubt the trees would have been so full of leaves.

[@brucewallace3860]

Outstanding as always. Thanks for the reading list!

[@pads-zr9ln]

I'm loving the series and I know why they show the Germans like they do but it would be nice if they highlighted some of the more humane moments of the war Franz stigler and ye olde pub

[@strechinpick]

Great show but one thing that annoys me is the speed of the fighters both Luftwaffe and the US planes.

[@ToddSauve]

I remember seeing an interview here on KZbin with Chuck Yeager. He stated very clearly that he was under orders to shoot enemy pilots hanging in their parachutes during his time as a fighter pilot in the European Theater of Operations. And he apparently did!

[@evancrum6811]

Thank you as always.....also...I keep thinking of Stalag 17 when seeing Stalag Luft 3. Except no Sgt Schulz.

[@rexb9661]

I thought it was Stalag 13. :)

[@jared-johnwedderburn5837]

I observed during that episode in the scene mentioning the P-51 Mustangs like some aspect of Red Tails symbolizing the 332nd Fighter Group. Just wanted you to provide any light on that or if you noticed the same.

[@SSGTStryker]

As a fairly recently retired Airman and someone who’s very briefly worked on major film productions. I get the need for compressing stories for time. However, I would’ve really liked to have seen the full story of Sgt. William Quinn’s escape.

[@ReelHistory]

We all would have....the feeling that the production room floor is covered in good stuff for cost reasons is frustrating.

[@SSGTStryker]

@@ReelHistory I had that very same thought. I felt it was a bit of a strange jump. They initially played it as though it was going to be a perilous journey “B” plot. But then it suddenly jumps and “oh hey, there they are!” Riding two bikes, chuckling like two schoolboys. Everything else is going spot on though. Btw, have you been to the National Museum of the US Air Force, here at WPAFB?

[@ReelHistory]

@@SSGTStryker, Jared and his brother did living history there in 2018 for the 75th anniversary of the Memphis Belle's last mission. Jared would love to talk about his new book there this summer. Any connections?

[@thomasroutson3046]

Love this channel!❤

[@jackmcgonegal8728]

Hambone was in a German hospital for several months and then went to Stalag Luft I in Barth after recovery. Donald Miller references it in his book.

[@ReelHistory]

Couldn't remember where I read that. Thanks!

[@tomvalpo9361]

Something that always strikes me is, these POWs didn't know when the war would be over. We know with the perspective of history, but they didn't.

[@TheSocratesian]

I watched a Q and A with John Luckadoo the other day. According to him, Doolittle cut the fighters loose from escorting bombers telling them to hit the Luftwaffe fighter arm while still on the ground and that was what broke their backs once and for all. I'm wondering how accurate that statement was and when these operations started.

[@nigeh5326]

Re Chuck Norris When he got back to the UK if memory serves he wrote to Ike asking to fly again and unusually permission was granted. He then went back to flying P51s in Europe. I’m going on reading his autobiography about 30 years ago so apologies if I’m incorrect.

[@1rwjwith]

I kind of felt the stories got very compressed in this episode. We see the two back from escaping to Gibraltar riding bicycles but we get nothing of their story..I guess it’s because of necessity but it kind of loses drama for me. Great air combat sequences, overall its a very good series. Not on the level of Band of Brothers maybe it will get better after DDay.

[@hellasalvy]

Seeing them riding on bikes after all that set up was a total let down. I thought for sure they would've followed their escape. A big let down but still a pretty good show. No band of brothers or pacific but still good imo

[@DrTarrandProfessorFether]

They have not talked about the 20 gold Sovereign issued to each airman before takeoff. Pre-War, each gold coin (size of a US Nickel) is $4.85 US or 218 Dec 1939 franks each. So 2000 early French Franks is 9 gold sovereigns. If you look at an Early Bond Film, he was issued a brief case with gold sovereign hidden inside.

[@jameswg13]

One for Reel History if you want to read a really good book on the real story of the British Great Escape , the build up, effort of construction, during and the aftermath from the perspective of one the escapees. See if you can get a copy of Moonless Night by B.A. "Jimmy" James. Absolutely fascinating story and one i think anyone wanting to know more would enjoy.

[@gibson617ajg]

I recently read "Colditz - The Full Story by Major P.R. Reid. It was a good read and I highly recommend it. The story of the glider they built in the attic is an example of 'The devil makes work for idle hands to do'.

[@jameswg13]

@@gibson617ajg already have and read that book as well

[@stephaniehendricks3537]

This is the 3rd video this week, yay!

[@ReelHistory]

We have two editors now instead of one!

[@globetrekkerfromCA]

Thanks!

[@carle8608]

Excellent summation, interpretation.

[@justinschrank4806]

I wish we would have gotten a little more of the dogfighting in this series but I undersramd why they didn't, as it could have been seen as repetitive. Since each battle would be almost identical

[@ReelHistory]

Quite true.

[@waynec3563]

It looks like we will get the story of some fighter pilots next episode. Just not the ones from Eighth Air Force Fighter Command.

[@jackmcgonegal8728]

It makes for great cinematography to show waves of fighter escorts in tight formation with the bomb groups but that's generally not very accurate. The 8th and 15th AF wanted to keep their escorts in sight at all times but for a fighter to do that wastes an inordinate amount of fuel, for one. They also worried about friendly fire from the Big Friends because more than a few Little Friends were fired upon by jumpy gunners. The fighter groups argued that they need to have free rein to roam ahead the bomber streams to engage the enemy aircraft before they could reach the bombers. When Jimmy Doolittle finally gave the fighters permission to do that, Luftwaffe losses skyrocketed. Also, you'd never see fighters tucked into tight formation in enemy territory. To fly that close requires a pilot's constant attention on the lead aircraft, and a pilot doing that isn't looking for the enemy. The planes would be in a combat spread, which enables them to keep an eye on their formation but, more importantly, keep a constant lookout for the enemy. The reason fighter pilots wore silk scarves wasn't too look cool (though you do look amazing at the O Club afterwards) but it keeps your neck from getting blisters, because any fighter pilot who isn't moving his head constantly to look for the enemy is a dead fighter pilot.

[@myurgil]

I just want to know where you got that 8th Air Force pillow

[@vaudevillian7]

Weather is accurate

[@kaelposavatz9504]

The identification tags used by the whermacht had training company/regiment/issue number, as well as a blood group marker; which often had little relevance to where that individual ended up. It made for great efficiency in issuing them, but it complicates using that information later on, such as to identify unknown soldiers. Were the PoW tags set up similarly? If not, how did they differ?

[@7bootzy]

9:00 Just a microscopic FYI. Wynnewood is pronounced WIN-ee-wood, like the name "Winnie." Place names in Oklahoma are all over the place, pronunciation-wise. EDIT - Forgot the mention, the Wynnewood Gazette still exists today. They even have a (no longer updated) KZbin channel!

[@vincentbergman4451]

Love your content, a video of your artifacts would be pretty neat. You seem to have something in every video Keep up the great content, Doc

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks!

[@Westmoreland348]

Another excellent examination, however I would perhaps refer you to World War II American bombers KZbin channel in reference to attacks on parachutists by the Luftwaffe. The figures were surprisingly high (between 17 and 28% I believe ) and this was only the testimony of survivors so it may be higher. Although there are occasional instances of Polish and other raf pilots shooting at enemy parachutes this was I believe extremely rare and would be considered un sporting, something which most British pilots would find distasteful.

[@Paratus7]

The Brit bashing that started in episode 6 spills over to episode 7. After the RAF being criticised for ‘finally hitting something’ and for their tactics of morally corrupt general bombing as opposed to ‘precision bombing’ by Americans (is 5-10 mile radius precision?) in episode 6 along with attacks against the British Monarchy; we get in episode 7 on the radio in a prisoner of war camp that the ‘Brits attacked Monte Cassino but it didn’t go well’. Just why? A Lancaster carried twice the payload of a B-17 and RAF losses were greater, but this series can’t just glorify the US role in the war, that it seeks to belittle the British Empire efforts. Oh, and the P-51 being ‘hands down the best fighter of the war’ is open to much debate. Hollywood strikes again! US 21 century Woke arrives in episode 8. Joy.

[@catfeeder5306]

It amused me that they only mentioned the RAF’s Great Escape in order to infer that it just made conditions for the American POWs worse. The makers of MotA seem to really hate the British.

[@timparker2985]

On the subject of the return of damaged aircraft. There were three emergency landing strips created with extra wide and long runways. These were at Manston in Kent, Woodbridge in Suffolk and Carnaby in Yorkshire. Woodbridge was later used by the USAF of course, and is close by Bentwaters and Rendlesham Forest. The size of these runways may still be traced on Google Earth. Also, I thought I noticed 'Benny' at Stalag Luft III, but how would he have escaped the Egyptian tomb he was trapped in at the end of 'The Mummy'? As that was made in 1999, I must be mistaken.🤔 That film doesn't fit this excellent channel, but I second the idea of an episode on 'The Great Escape' (1963). TBP.

[@juansolis4796]

I watch every episode.. in fact.. I watched the last 4 episodes.... on friday ... at 3 AM...... ( I´m from argentina.... I really can´t afford any kind of streaming, and I´m 43 years old.. so.. I´m from the pirate generation... yeah.. I know.. it sucks... but...... after watching every episode... I wait for your video to be online. to REALLY know things. I´m a WWII geek. so to speak... Always wanted to be a combat pilot... influenced by, both.. top gun, and our pilot fighters on the "falklands" war ( we call it differently.. ) Never got the chance.. but. still being amazed by planes.

[@dsl32]

I would request you to do a video about The movie Midway(2019) Flag of Our Father’s, and Letters from Iwo Jima

[@SPQRTempus]

There is a very good well researched hour long video on KZbin outlining the fact that US fighters were capable of conducting escort of daylight bomber raids deep into Germany in mid 1943 but were held back purely for political reasons.

[@mortarconn]

Do you have the title of the video or the URL?

[@SPQRTempus]

@@mortarconn Google "P-47 drop tanks youtube"

[@tonykeith76]

If you invite a beautiful girl to dinner, one wrong word is enough to ruin everything.. So it was with episode seven, with that ridiculous air battle Star Wars style

[@ReelHistory]

Please feel free to elaborate!

[@kayak2hell]

Great review! However, I assume neglecting to mention the significant Polish and French contribution to winning the battle of Monte Cassino is an unintentional oversight. Monte Cassino is to Poland as Iwo Jima is to the United States.

[@davidbriggs7365]

Mentioned in the episode was the THIRD Battle of Monte Cassino. The Poles and French fought in the FOURTH (and final) Battle of Monte Cassino.

[@stephenjones1198]

But the Polish and French troops although had their own commanders came under larger British & commonwealth campaign control … Unfortunately if most modern ww2 Hollywood films and series forget what the British have done , you haven’t got a chance being mentioned?’🤣 Also it insulting when “The English” is used in reference to the war instead of saying “British “ because Scottish, Welsh, northern Irish come under that umbrella.

[@ReelHistory]

@@davidbriggs7365, this was indeed our perspective.

[@parkeydavid]

I believe you should do a review of "Memphis Belle" the movie and "The Memphis Belle" documentary. Then maybe "Twelve O'clock High" as companions to this miniseries.

[@ReelHistory]

Coming this spring!

[@Seafariireland]

Excellent!

[@jackson857]

Just an incredible episode. Absolutely incredible.

[@armaWestWood]

Please watch and maybe break down panfilov's 28 men.

[@NickLight28]

I wish you were my history teacher

[@captaintoyota3171]

The eras of popular mechanics and do it yourself started in ww2 or at least gained huge traction. America literally pushed "d.i.y." at this time. Sad ppl cant fix or build radios etc today. I built one as a child and i feel kiwico these educational engineering kits for kids are a MUST

[@JClark2600]

@0:55 While watching the show I was wondering how the bomber crews still had their crush caps after bailing out of an airframe that was most likely going relatively fast and at high altitude. Any1 knows please reply cuz I'm honestly interested in why Apple made this call.

[@ReelHistory]

The crewmembers frequently shoved them in their coats or uniforms when taking them off. There was little to no storage on the plane and they also wanted to not lose them.

[@jannarkiewicz633]

I’ll be back after my binge

[@ReelHistory]

Cheers!