Military and Veteran Services

Masters of the Air

The University of Idaho was one of ten universities chosen to have a special screening of the first episode of the Apple TV original series, “Masters of the Air.” Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, the U of I Military and Veterans Services Office and Air Force ROTC (Detachment 905) teamed up to host the event in the U of I Administration Building Auditorium.

Joe Vandal attended the event and socialized with the audience as they enjoyed popcorn, soft pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, candy, coffee, and hot chocolate. Air Force cadet Thomas Buxton gave a presentation about the context of the time of “Masters of the Air” and the Air Force bomb group the series is about prior to the screening of the first episode.

“Masters of the Air” is a war drama that serves as a companion series to the popular 2001 series “Band of Brothers.” While “Band of Brothers” is the dramatization of the true story of the Easy Company paratrooper unit, “Masters of the Air” is the dramatization of the true story of the 100th Bomb Group during the same time and staged in the European theatre during World War II.

Joe Vandal holds a "Masters of the Air" poster.

Joe Vandal poses with members of the military on the northern steps of the Administration Building.

Someone in uniform speaks on stage in the Administration Auditorium.

Joe Vandal and two fans point to a "Masters of the Air" poster hanging on the door of the Administration Auditorium.

The 100th Bomb Group depicted in “Masters of the Air” was nicknamed the Bloody Hundredth because of the amount of action and death their group faced. The group was stationed at RAF Thorpe Abbotts in the United Kingdom and flew over 300 combat missions, suffering tremendous losses in combat.

The events in the “Masters of the Air” take place between 1943 and 1945. The show begins with the young service members arriving without any experience of war. Throughout the program, they quickly learn what war is like, experience loss, tragedy, and the realities of what can happen 25,000 feet in the air over enemy territory.

Joe Vandal and the audience seated in the Administration Auditorium.

“Masters of the Air” stars the upcoming actors Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, and Barry Keoghan, among other names. The series is still airing with the last episodes, “Part Eight” and “Part Nine” set to air Friday, March 8 and 15, 2024, respectively.

The Military and Veterans Services Office was honored to be part of sharing part of the story of the Bloody Hundredth. Our office has extra official TV posters for students who visit our office.