Masters of the Air is a story about two best friends, Major Gale "Buck" Cleven and Major John "Bucky" Eagan, who serve in the US Air Force. They are part of the 100th Bomb Squad, which is sent to England to aid the 8th US Air Force in its aerial battle with Nazi Germany. Eagan, who has been promoted to General Air Executive, is not flying bomber planes in missions. However, he has a desire to contribute and has been hired as an Observation Pilot. The 100th Bomb Squad is part of four squadrons, led by Major Cleven, each with six to eight members. The unit, a highly trained and experienced group, landed in South Greenland base, facing a challenging real war scenario. The unit, consisting of US citizens, was led by Major Harry Crossby, a navigator. They had to fly from Greenland to Thorpe Abbotts Air Field to begin their missions. However, their plane, which was diverted towards France, and cloud cover hindered visibility. Despite the difficult landing, they managed to escape the dangerous situation. One of the flaps didn't open, and they had to crash land, which attracted the attention of CO Harold Huglin. The unit's bravery and character were tested in real war. Eagan, a unit commander, is summoned and warned about maintaining order. He pleads to be demoted to a Squadron Commander, but Huglin rejects his request. Huglin vomits blood on his table after Eagan leaves. On 25 June 1944, the unit's first mission is to hit German U-boat pens in Bremen, which are bunkers protecting them from air attacks. The 350th and 349th squads, led by Cleven and Major Wheeler, are tasked with neutralizing these boats, as nearly 70 Allies cargo ships have been downed in the sea. The importance of remaining together in a tight formation is emphasized, as German fighters could pick them off one by one. The unit must also brave ground artillery to prevent them from hitting the pens. The weather conditions are unfavorable, with dense cloud coverage making it difficult for planes to have visibility. Two planes nearly bump into each other before the mission starts. Artillery fire is started, and a few planes are hit, but they manage. Huglin, flying with the 349th, scrubs the mission due to poor visibility, unable to accurately bomb the pens from the open air. The unit is disappointed when the German counter in the air hits, causing significant damage and taking down three from the Air Force unit. Out of 19 planes, only 16 return. The alarm is sounded, and a full interrogation is undertaken. The excitement and build-up end with no bombs being dropped on the Germans, suggesting that this may be the new normal for the 100th bomb squad. In Episode 1, Masters of the Air is a companion piece to Band of Brothers, focusing on the camaraderie of unit members rather than the actual mission. The makers of the show share cinema essentials, making it difficult to remember characters initially. The storytelling focuses on the members of the unit rather than the mission itself. The technical proficiency behind the scenes is impressive, with impressive jargon in writing and performances. Visual effects set the standards, with cockpit sequences and air combat scenes being masterfully brought to life. If you were expecting something similar to Band of Brothers, Masters of the Air promises to be another stellar piece of content.
Review of Part One
