What an extraordinary gift. My great uncle, S/Sgt John McDonough of the 100th Bomb Group, 349th Bomb Squadron, was a flight engineer and top turret gunner on a B-17 called the Pasadena Nena. On October 10, 1943, his plane was shot down on the infamous Münster raid during Black Week (episode 5 - it was the last one of the 100th to go down and is mentioned in the interrogation scene). John survived after bailing out and spent the rest of the war as a POW in Stalag 17-B. The Pasadena Nena’s bombardier, Lt William Brothers, was sent to Stalag Luft III, but they all were processed in the same Atlantic City hotel when they returned home. I just got this in the mail, sent by William’s son. It’s a letter my great uncle wrote to his buddy Willie while awaiting the discharge process. Here’s what the letter says:

“Dear Willie,

How the hell are you? I am now down at Atlantic City. Stopa [ball turret gunner S/Sgt Stanley Stopa] just left here so we had a good time drinking the last couple of days. The fat he lost at prison is right back where it belongs. That son of a bitch certainly can drink beer and eat. All he did here was first primarily f*ck off appointments, lay on the beach out and sleep. Stopa told me Pete [Navigator Lt. Peter Battisti] and he got drunk at Stopa’s home a few times. Pete reports here Sept 1 as he got an extention.

Stopa left today for Dover Delaware. He will be stationed there. The poor bastard only has 79 points and they won’t let him out. I have 86 pts and expect to be out soon. Bergendhal [left waist gunner S/Sgt Robert Bergendahl] just got here so I guess we will get a couple of drinks on. Stopa and Bergendhal said that they will write soon.

This place is not too bad but the prices around town are high so you have to watch out. The girls are after that dough, the civilians are just the same.

Well Willie write and let me know what lies in the future for you. I do hope you enjoyed your fishing trip. Are you sure you went after fish? So long

Mack”

As seen in ep5, wondering if it's a goof

I’ve been reading Donald Millers book - following my intense watching of the TV series. Incredible read. Just got through the section of Swiss camps and Dan Culler’s story (incredibly sad and harrowing to be blunt) and the part of Frederick Castle’s death.
I’ve realised that (as far as I could tell) the book didn’t really explain the different subdivisions of the AAF. Maybe I’m entirely wrong and missed it early on - but I don’t understand how the combat wing/100th airforce/squadrons/bomb group are all split from the 8th airforce?

For example, I understand how a battalion is split into various companies, then platoons and then squads. But I don’t understand splitting of the 8th airforce into different groupings.
Is anyone able to explain this for me please?

I recall hearing a rumor that some of the groups that operate flyable B-17s were offended when they weren’t asked by Apple Studios to use their aircraft in the production of Masters of the Air. I don’t know if there is any truth to it or not. One of the alleged reasons was that Apple wanted to showcase their “cutting edge CGI.” Another was safety and maintenance concerns, which I find hard to believe as Sally B, Sentimental Journey, and Ye Old Pub are still flying regularly. I’m sure there are regulations for use of aircraft in film productions, which may have been another factor. I know Sentimental Journey provided the engine sound effects for the series.

I think the series could have benefited from a startup and takeoff sequence like the one in the Memphis Belle. That film has its issues, but there is no replacement for the real thing.

Watching this show gave me a renewed interest in finding my grandfathers service record.

All I know if that as a Latin American citizen he wasn’t able to enlist in the US and he went to Canada and joined the Royal Air Force. He was stationed somewhere in England.
As the story goes his plane was shot down but was able to perform a crash landing near Dover, England.

I’ve tried contacting Canadian Departments with no success. Any suggestions?

Driving from Charleston to Savannah today, I had the opportunity to pay respects to the Tuskegee Airmen. I thought you folks would enjoy.

I've recently discovered Band of Brothers and, through Reddit, The Pacific. Just finished my first viewing of both.

As per Reddit cannon I should also watch Masters of the Air, but it is not available on HBO Max nor on Prime.

Is there any chance I can access it from Portugal without an additional subscription?

TY!

My ride in the P-51 followed by some history on that specific aircraft.

I am led to believe that a B17 nose section built for the filming of Masters of the Air resides somewhere in the UK. Does anyone know where?

I shared this in WW2Planes, but thought I’d share it here, as well, given his plane was named in Masters of the Air (end of the 5th episode, Münster mission). I have posted a few times on here before about my great uncle’s B-17, the Pasadena Nena, from the 100th Bomb Group, 349th Bomb Squadron, and my attempt to find the crash site. I am finally putting it down in words, and thought I would share. I am heading back over to the Netherlands in April for more research and to meet relatives of those who helped the pilot escape. Anyway, let me know your thoughts.

I will preface this by saying how long I looked forward to Playtone's version of The Mighty 8th. When it finally aired I was so disappointed. By the fourth episode the schmaltz and overt sentimentality just killed it for me. Sure there were some gruesome scenes, but there was so much wrong with it I have a hard time watching the last three episodes.

I did a lot of research for my novel about a bombardier in the 8th Air Force, The Ruining Heaven. I have to say that as much as the realism was hyped in Masters, there was so so much wrong with the depictions of combat. The closeness of the fighter escorts, the amount of Messerschmitts and 190s, the lack of G-types after 1943, and the wholly inaccurate way Stalag Luft III was shown all pale in comparison to the bomb run. A bombardier did not drop the bombs with the Norden by saying "bombs away." The bombardier configured the Norden's calibration to steer the plane along a trajectory and angle until they spotted the target and locked onto it. The Norden then flew the plane until it was time to drop the bombs. It might be twenty seconds, it might be sixty. Straight line, no deviation. The bombsight dropped the bombs.

But one TV show got it right. Catch-22 on Hulu, which on the whole is a much better show. More engaging, way less schmalzy, and far more accurate in almost every way. Yes, the flak scenes are a little wonky, but they show EXACTLY how a Norden worked, and also how shitty it really was.

Not strictly on topic as he was an infantryman but Roddie Edmonds' family will receive the Medal of Honor today on his behalf. Not a story I was familiar with but it's very cinematic - invoking the "I Am Spartacus" method in protecting Jewish-American PoWs. Interesting to see he was the senior ranking officer in the camp despite being "only" a Master Sergeant. I can certainly see the 100th boys running similar interference for Rosie and others had they been captured. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roddie_Edmonds