‘Masters of the Air’ Recap: ‘Part Three’

2/2/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Austin Butler, Callum Turner, and James Frecheville as Major Gale Cleven, Major John Egan, and Major Bill Vale in ‘Part Three’ of ‘Masters of the Air’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Masters of the Air’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here.

One thing that we can all agree upon, is that the world-famous trilogy of World War II stories, consisting of Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and Masters of the Air, are indeed three unique stories. Thanks in large part to the fact that they chronicle different divisions of the Armed Forces that fought in the last, great noble war, alongside the fact that they feature vastly different stories and themes. Since Band of Brothers truly explored the spoils of war and how heroism is perceived after victory. Whereas The Pacific focused upon the psychological impact of the war and thus far, Masters of the Air is making it clear how the flyboys of the flying fortresses of the war did not have a glamorous time in the skies as sometimes portrayed.

Instead, their work was as dangerous as any other division in the war, and they too faced big odds. But while we have been indeed treated to three unique stories, one of which we are in the midst of on Apple TV+, there’s quite the surprise involving all three of these tales. In that, each of them shares one bit of connective tissue to truly make them a family of stories. In that, all three stories feature a battle where the heroes we are spending time with… went through utter hell. To the point where soldiers saw brothers fall badly, and where devastating losses fundamentally changed viewpoints on the war and psyches for those fighting on the frontlines. For Easy Company it was the Battle of the Bulge. For the Marines it was the Battle of Peleliu and for the Eighth Air Force’s 100th Bomber Group… it was one devastating run. Known as The Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission.

For ‘Part Three’ saw these intrepid flyboys, prepare for what appeared to be… one safe mission. For the plan, was to send the entire B-17 bomber group into the heart of Germany. Wherein the Luftwaffe would be overwhelmed and unable to stop the bombers from laying one key target and anything around it to utter ruin. A mission that would have sent a powerful message for certain, and truly left the German forces reeling from the attack. But more importantly, lives would be spared, critical bombers would be in one piece, and the first attack wave would be comfortably drinking beer in Africa, and the reality of how awesome this mission would be, left everyone in high spirits and they were ready to teach the Germans quite the lesson in humility.

Kai Alexander as Sergeant William Quinn in ‘Part Three’ of ‘Masters of the Air’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

But alas, orders from on high, prompted the plan to basically go to pot. For the first attack wave was sent in well before their compatriots. One complete with Majors Egan and Cleven and well… it didn’t take long for their wing to see horrors untold. Because the entirety of the Luftwaffe seemingly came after them and one by one, planes began to fall. Either through critical damage or outright destruction. But on this day, parachutes were seen often, for survival was the name of the game. But not everyone made it out of their plane. After all, Sergeant William Quinn bailed out with death on his hands when he couldn’t get Babyface out of his turret, and there were more shocking losses to be seen here. Since Lieutenant Curtis Biddick didn’t get out of his exploding bird in time, when he belly landed her to try and save a single life.

All of which brought forth, one dark mission, one that was successful by the grace of skill and will. Since the Majors kept their boys on point despite the fear and horror surrounding them. But even then, there was an understanding of the pyrrhic victory this mission to turned out to be. For as the wing made their way to Africa’s airfield, they were left with their thoughts, and had time to process the ugliness they had just seen. Not to mention, their planes were so badly damaged, there were more losses along the way. Since some birds were forced to ditch in the water and some… barely made it to their destination. A scary reality that taught Major Cleven, how close he came on this day… since his plane was one of those photo finishers.

Courtesy of some poor mismanagement from higher up, a theme we’ve seen often in this trilogy. Since the other two shows pointed out some poor choices from leadership that honestly… should have led to outright disaster. But somehow it didn’t, and the shocking losses in all of these stories didn’t bring about failure either. Simply because… these were heroic moments. Ones where men dug deep, found sterner stuff in the pits of their soul, and made wonders happen. Granted, that doesn’t make the losses any less important nor does it solve the idiocy of command, but this is the stuff that we find inspiration from, once we get past the sorrow that everyone experienced regarding brutal battles that cost so much. And now that we’ve reached the end of this mission… it will be interesting to see how the men of the 100th respond to their next one after flying through the very skies of Hell itself. Until next time.

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