How Historically Accurate Is Masters of the Air?

masters of the air historical accuracy
Credit: Apple TV

masters of the air historical accuracy
Credit: Apple TV

Fans of historical shows are excited about Apple TV's new series, but some might have questions about Masters of the Air and its historical accuracy. Let's explore it together.

Is Masters of the Air Based on True Events?

Masters of the Air draws inspiration from the real story of the 100th Bomb Group, a US Air Force unit during World War II.

In particular, the Apple TV war drama focuses on ten American soldiers in a bomber plane known as "Flying Fortress," against large numbers of German fighters in a battle with few chances of survival.

But Masters of the Air isn't simply a fictionalized account of a WWII event. It's based on a non-fiction book titled Masters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany.

Its author, Dr. Donald L. Miller, is a History Professor at Lafayette College and a WWII expert, who has also penned other History books such as City of the Century: The Epic of Chicago and the Making of America.

Masters of the Air: Historical Accuracy Explored

How Historically Accurate Is Masters of the Air?
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Credit: Apple TV

With the credentials above, we would expect Masters of the Air to be historically accurate, or at least to adapt historical events in a worthwhile way.

Not only is the Apple TV series based on a well-researched resource written by a WWII expert but its characters are based on real people from the 100th Bomb Group.

The series will feature Major Gale "Buck" Cleven (Austin Butler), Major John Egan (Callum Turner), and Major Harry Crosby (Anthony Boyle) among many other real figures.

That being said, the teaser trailer of Masters of the Air was found to contain a few technical elements that aren't entirely true to the historical period.

WWII US Bombers, an educational YouTube channel run by a retired Boeing airframe structures engineer, released a November 2023 video checking the accuracy of Masters of the Air based on its teaser trailer.

Overall, the trailer was deemed to be historically accurate, but the copilot and pilot's oxygen mask usage, and the gunners' use of their equipment before a combat engagement were among the elements that were found inaccurate.

While a few minor divergences from the exact WWII equipment and fighting techniques are to be expected, the show is expected to be historically accurate overall.

That being said, Masters of the Air is a war drama rather than a documentary, so some fictionalization is bound to take place, without this meaning that the imagined scenes won't be true to the period.

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