Previously on Apple TV’s series Masters of The Air, viewers were able to watch as Captain Rosenthal (Nate Mann) made it through his 25th mission, which meant he was able to go home. He decided not to and got promoted to the new commanding officer for the 340th. We also got to see John “Bucky” Egan (Callum Turner) and Gale “Buck” Cleven as they learn about the current events going on in the war between the Americans, Germans, and Britians. Lt. Crosby (Anthony Boyle) and his new friend Sandra Westgate (Bel Powley) start to spend much more time together when they can.
Now, it’s the second to last episode of the season. It’s now June 1, 1944. Viewers are introduced to a new group, The Tuskegee Airmen, who were flying through the outskirts of Rome, Italy. They were the 99th Pursuit Squadron. We are introduced to Lt. Alex Jefferson (Branden Cook). He seems to be smart but keeps to himself. Their home base is Ramitellii Air Base, Italy.
Next, we see Gale and John still at Stalag Luft III. Gale can sense that John might not be okay, as he’s now been in the camp for eight months and he’s been talking to himself, pretending a baseball game is going on as he recites plays and scores. Gale asks if he’s okay and he says that he is.
On June 3rd, Crosby wakes up by an alarm. He gets up and starts his day at work, preparing for something big. Their job is to bomb the German defenses in Normandy. After that, they’re to target German bridges to cut communication lines. The total amounts to around 200 total missions for the 100th, and the other bases that would be working alongside them for the next two or three days.
As the days go by, Crosby starts to fight his sleep. He chooses to not sleep again until the mission is over, equating to 72 hours of none. The doctor gives him more pills to keep him awake. He starts to become less focused and his mind begins to play tricks on him as he struggles to stay focused on making maps for the planes.
Then we see Sandra, who’s on a mission of her own in Paris, France. She goes to Nazi territory somewhere in town. She meets a group of men in a hidden room in an alleyway. It seems to be she’s spying on the Nazis.
It’s now June 6, which is known as D-Day. It was time for their big mission. The day before, Crosby passed out because of his sleep deprivation. Everyone gathers in the planning room as they inform their soldiers about the mission and what they have planned. Rosenthal informs them all that they are only a few hours away from invading Europe. Everyone cheers as they all know this is the big chance for the war to end. Once everyone is in their uniforms and lined up, Rosenthal shakes all of their hands as he wishes them a safe mission.
Going back to the Tuskegee Airmen, we meet Lt. Richard Macon (Josiah Cross) and Lt. Joseph Gordon (Kwame Agyei). Lt. Alex and Captain Lawrence (Tomisin Ajani) speak about a small casualty that they had. They flew their first mission over Germany.
Lawrence mentions that having a small number of soldiers die rather than a large group of them is a victory for them, but Alex disagrees.
The episode goes back to Rosenthal. He’s sitting next to Crosby, who suddenly wakes up. Rosenthal laughs at his friend as he scrambles to put on his clothes. He updates Crosby on what’s been happening as he’s been asleep for three days.
It’s now August. Back at camp, Gale is in a cabin with John, some of their crew, and the Colonel as he listens to the radio for the latest updates. They conclude that there’s a war going on from two sides, closing the Germans and their associates into the middle, making it easier for the Americans and those working alongside them. The Colonel says that they need to all start preparing to leave, becoming stronger and more calculated so they can all make it out of there alive.
The Tuskegee Airmen are informed to go to France. As the soldiers get informed of their next mission, Macon makes it known that their planes don’t carry enough gas for this mission. Their commanding officer agrees and tells him that if they can’t make it to base, land somewhere they’ll be safe and not in an enemy’s territory.
One of the pilots is having trouble with his tanks, as they aren’t dropping. Macon tries to coach him and it works. The four planes make it to France. One of their planes gets hit and immediately crashes into the ocean. Macon’s plane gets hit and he parachutes out of the plane. He gets taken into a barn by the Germans and there are two other Black soldiers there, who also crashed. It’s Alex and Lt. Robert Daniels (Nctui Gatwa).
They’re in Dulag Luft, which is a Prisoner of War Transit camp, similar to the one John and Gale are in. Alex gets pulled into an office, with presumably the commanding officer. The officer pulls in Macon as well, to get information on their mission. After not giving him any information, the three of them and some of their other soldiers make it to a different camp. Luckily for them, they will be able to get associated with Gale and his crew as they are all now in the same camp.
We then see Crosby as he is put on a month of leave, which he’s shocked by. He gets told that he needs to be put on a real vacation so that he can get rested up. He tries to get a hold of Sandra, but can’t as she’s on her mission.
Back at camp, Gale and Alex talk. Alex shows him a book he’s reading and Gale finds a map that he drew. It’s an escape plan. Gale tells him that they could use the three of them to help create their plan of escape. After their conversation, they continue to work on getting everyone strong and practicing their fighting skills with the Colonel as the days go by.
Next, we see Crosby back at base as he’s packing for his month-long vacation in New York City. Rosenthal tells him that it will be good for him, to go back to his hometown for the month.
John is listening to the radio and hears that the Russians made it to Germany. Before he can hear anything else, German soldiers come inside to look in their room. He tells them to turn the lights off and Gale tells the boys that the Russians are close.
Overall, this was a good episode. The guys at Stalag Luft III are closer to making their escape. It’s been enjoyable and nerve-wracking at the same time to see them planning and making sure to keep everything hidden from the guards. The season is now coming close to an end as there’s only one episode left. It’s safe to say that this last episode will have their viewers’ nerves at an all-time high as we watch things happening from both ends of the story, with the soldiers at the prisoner camp and those at the 100th base.
Rating: 8.5/10