In previous World War II movies, such as the well-known Band of Brothers, which were created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, we frequently saw the point of view quickly switch from the main characters to another group’s horrific experiences on the front lines.
While episode 6 of Band of Brothers followed the medic of Easy Company through a very hard winter, episode 4 of the show concentrated nearly entirely on the crew’s replacements. We retell some of that larger story with the Tuskegee Airmen in this week’s edition of Masters of the Air.
In relation to Band of Brothers, the Normandy invasion is now past on the World War II timeline in the Apple TV+ series. During the Battle of the Bulge, the 100th provided air support to the ground forces in Normandy by assaulting airfields and cutting off communication facilities.
The episode’s emphasis on Gale Cleven (Austin Butler) and John Egan (Callum Turner) in the Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp may have made this period of time seem shorter, however the 100th flew more than 300 missions during the war.
Recap
A major factor in that campaign’s success was Robert “Rosie” Rosenthal’s brave choice to continue fighting in the previous episode. Throughout World War II, he participated in 52 missions and even brought charges against Nazi officers at the Nuremberg tribunals.
In the penultimate episode of Masters of the Air, the U.S. Air Force makes an effort to assist our boy. This week, Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education) takes the wheel for the first time. Robert Daniels, a second lieutenant in the all-Black 301st Fighter Squadron, is the character he portrays, a Tuskegee pilot.
Josiah Cross from “A Thousand and One” plays pilot Richard D. Macon, and Branden Cook from “Industry” plays lieutenant Alexander Jefferson, who travel with him. Of the three, Macon is the smart one, while Jefferson seems to be the star pilot.
They are shot down and flown to Stalag Luft III on their subsequent flight over Marseilles, Saint-Tropez, and Toulon in France and beyond. Even when the S.S. questions them, none of them falter.
Even more, the Nazi leaders attempt to turn them against their fellow pilots by claiming that their nation is so bigoted that they would never even be given full credit for their service. “I am aware of the shortcomings in my nation,” Macon declares.
“I am aware that it is making a lot of effort to become what it claims to be. And I’m going to assist them in doing it much more quickly when I return.”
EEK! He goes on, “[Landra] was making my life much more enjoyable.” “I did not tell Jean about Landra.” rough. That must hurt, even though Crosby and his wife most likely had a lovely marriage till the end of their lives. We’ll go back to the jail escape strategy for the major Masters of the Air finale next week.