The Apple series Masters of the Air is set to become one of the best World War II drama series in recent times. Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, the series tells the true story of a group of soldiers called the 100th Bomb Group, fighting against German soldiers in a bomber named “The Flying Fortress”. It serves as a companion to their previous works Band of Brothers and The Pacific, both of which also offered insight into famous events during the war.
The series is based on the book, Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany by Donald L. Miller and gives viewers a tragic view of World War II from up in the air and the harrowing ordeals of the bomb group. Early reviews of the series have called Masters of the Air a captivating and emotional series that truly brings the group’s trials and tribulations to life.
John “Lucky” Luckadoo Is The Last Surviving 100th Bomb Group Member As Of January 2024
As of January 2024, there is only one member of the 100th Bomb Group still alive today. John Luckadoo, known by his nickname “Lucky”, joined the U.S. Army at nineteen and served as a pilot. During his time with the 100th Bomb Group, Luckadoo served in both the 350th and 351st Bomb Squadrons and flew 25 combat missions before he finished his service in 1944 at 22. He later received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in World War II.
After the war, Luckadoo married, had a daughter, and worked as a property developer. He kept his war experiences to himself until the 1980s when he began giving talks with students. Luckadoo later agreed to write a book with war correspondent, Kevin Maurer; the book, appropriately titled Damn Lucky, offers a full and detailed insight into his time with the 100th Bomb Group and the tragedies that everybody faced during the war. Luckadoo celebrated his 101st birthday in 2023, and as of January 2024, he resides in the Presbyterian Village North in Dallas, Texas.
All Air Force Ranks In Masters Of The Air Explained
Due to Masters of the Air’s big cast, it is no surprise that there are various, and sometimes confusing, military ranks included in the series.
Is John “Lucky” Luckadoo In Masters Of The Air?
Masters of the Air depicts the trials and tribulations of the 100th Bomb Group members during the war. There were 35 crews in the group, totaling 350 men. Many prominent members are depicted throughout the show, but with such a large group, it would have been impossible to include every member in the series. John Luckadoo is not among the cast and character list of Masters of the Air.
While he doesn’t appear in the series, John Luckadoo made a special appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of Masters of the Air. He was photographed alongside Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks and received a standing ovation from the audience. In an interview, Luckadoo spoke about viewing Masters of the Air and his reflections on his own experiences at war compared to its depictions in the series (via Radio Times).
10 Most Exciting Things To Expect From Masters Of The Air
The latest WWII drama from the creators of Band of Brothers, Masters of the Air, has plenty of reasons for viewers to get excited for its release.
What Happened To Masters Of The Air’s Main Characters
By the end of the war, the 100th Bomb Group lost 229 planes, 923 pilots were taken as prisoners of war and 757 were declared dead or MIA. The losses suffered earned the group the nickname, “The Bloody Hundredth.” The cast of Masters of the Air depicts real pilots whose lives faced different outcomes after their gruesome experiences during the war.
Lt. Curtis Biddick, played by Barry Keoghan, was among four pilots killed in a plane fire in Regensburg in 1943. Gale Cleven (Austin Butler) continued to serve in the army after the war, serving in Korea and Vietnam before retiring in 1955; he later earned degrees from Harvard and George Washington University and died in 2006. John Egan (Callum Turner) married and had two daughters before he died of a heart attack in 1961. Major Harry Crosby (Anthony Boyle) served as the lead navigator in the Bomb Group and flew 32 combat missions during his time with the Air Force. Returning to America after the war, he worked at Boston University, as a faculty person until 1984. Crosby died in 2010 at the age of 91; his autobiography, A Wing and a Prayer, later served as source material for the producers when creating and developing Masters of the Air.
Source: Radio Times
Masters of the Air
- Release Date
- January 26, 2024
- Cast
- Austin Butler , Callum Turner , Barry Keoghan , Nikolai Kinski , Stephen Campbell Moore , Sawyer Spielberg , Isabel May , Anthony Boyle
- Seasons
- 1
- Creator(s)
- John Shiban , John Orloff
- Writers
- John Shiban , John Orloff
- Directors
- Cary Joji Fukunaga , Dee Rees , Anna Boden , Ryan Fleck , Timothy Van Patten
- Where To Watch
- Apple TV+
