logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
20m 36s

Masters of the Air: WW2's Bloody 100th B...

History Hit
About this episode

How did the 100th bomber group get a reputation for being unlucky? Who were they? And what was their role in the Second World War?


In this episode, Don has the pleasure of speaking to John Orloff. John has written the TV adaptation of Donald L. Miller's 'Masters of the Air', following the men of the 'Bloody Hundredth' 25,000 feet in the air as they conduct bombing raids despite freezing temperatures, lack of oxygen and opposition fire.


John previously worked on 'Band of Brothers' and 'The Pacific' from the same executive producers.


Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.


Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, James Holland, Mary Beard and more.


Don’t miss out on the best offer in history! Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 for 3 months with code AMERICANHISTORYHIT1 sign up now for your 14-day free trial https://historyhit/subscription/


You can take part in our listener survey here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
The People's Founding Father
Signatory of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, James Wilson was a sitting Supreme Court justice when he died. So why is he missing from popular history?From inspiring the phrase 'we the people' to starting the ball rolling on the Electoral College, Jesse ... Show More
40m 34s
Aug 31
The Truth About the Louisiana Purchase
We're all taught in school about the Louisiana Purchase, supposedly the greatest bargain in American history. Napoleon's deal with the Americans is widely remembered as a triumph for the United States… but is this history really as simple as we’re often taught?Our guest today is ... Show More
43m 16s
Aug 27
Did Lee's Surrender End the Civil War?
When and where did the Civil War end? Was it really over when Lee surrendered at Appomattox?Don is joined for this episode by Caroline E. Janney, Professor at the University of Virginia and author of 'Ends of War: The Unfinished Fight of Lee’s Army after Appomattox'.Listen to hea ... Show More
40m 30s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2024
Masters of the Air: WWII's Bloody 100th Bombers
<p>Screenwriter John Orloff joins Dan to talk about the new WWII mini-series 'Masters of the Air'. It tells the true story of the 'Bloody Hundredth', an American bomb group stationed in England that fought in the skies over Nazi-occupied Europe.</p><br><p>A decade in the making, ... Show More
39m 59s
Feb 2023
USA: We Have Ways - Bomber Crew
From flying in state fairs to planning strategic bombing missions over Europe, what was the experience of the young men that dedicated their war to serving with the 8th Airforce Bomber Command? Al Murray, James Holland and John McManus discuss in another thrilling WHW USA special ... Show More
54m 1s
Sep 2025
The Battle Of Britain: Attrition
What made a fighter pilot an ace in aerial combat? Why did Nazi Germany switch to bombing British cities? When did Polish and Czech pilots join the frontline in The Battle Of Britain? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 4 of this new series on The Battle Of Britain as they ... Show More
40m 52s
Jun 2024
The Dambusters
The top-secret Dambusters mission was one so crucial that British intelligence hoped it would hasten a triumph over Nazi Germany. But it was also highly dangerous, and required the 133 pilots to fly at high speed and exceptionally low altitudes, all in the dead of night. With onl ... Show More
1 h
May 2024
D-Day: Bloody Omaha? (Episode 6)
Do the facts of the 6th June really live up to the myth of ‘Bloody Omaha’? Al Murray and James Holland are joined by US historian John McManus to discuss the devastating details of the American beach landing. The team also explore the horror of the DD Tank, and who is to blame fo ... Show More
55m 19s
Oct 2022
247. Monty & Patton vs. the Nazis
Do commanders matter? Were the British generals effective or "foppish"? How did the Allies rebound from huge losses such as the Battle of Dunkirk to victories like Alamein and D-Day? Tom and Dominic are joined by Al Murray to discuss all this and more, following the release of Al ... Show More
57m 30s
Apr 2024
The Kamikaze Hunters
<p><strong>Please note, this episode contains discussion of suicide.</strong></p><br><p>In 1945, after lengthy delays, the Royal Navy sent a powerful fleet into the Pacific. After the disastrous Japanese invasions in Southeast Asia, Churchill was desperate to reassert British mil ... Show More
30m 21s
Nov 2024
The Blitz: everything you wanted to know
How did British civilians respond when they found themselves under aerial bombardment during the Second World War? Was normal life put on hold during air raids? And was 'Blitz Spirit' a real thing? Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne for our latest 'everything you wanted to know' episode ... Show More
45m 17s