Masters of the Air
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Is there a dramaturg in the house?
Ill tell you which two days they were, but I shouldnt have to!
The Bloody Hundredth, indeed.
He also tells us he saw Bucks fort go down.
Buck Cleven was our leader, Crosby broods in voice-over.
We thought he was invincible.
If Gale Cleven couldnt make it, who could?
Adding to the sense of gloom, the trio finds a replacement crew already occupying their bunks.
An orderly apologizes for his efficiency, sheepishly pointing out the three had been reported missing.
Douglass asks the orderly if hes already shipped his trunk back to the States.
These three guys wont be buying their own drinks this evening.
As Crosby, Anthony Boyle plays this moment beautifully.
Fortunately, he hadnt mailed it yet.
When Bucky turns up at the bar, everyone understands the party will be short-lived.
His early return from his weekend pass to London can only mean another mission is imminent.
Were flying every day now, one airman laments.
After the opening titles, we join the men of the 100th in the briefing room.
Bombing churchgoers is a tough sell.
Bucky doesnt want to hear it.
Finally, Rosies crew is assigned to a ship calledRoyal Flush.
Their usual aircraft,Rosies Riveters,is out of action for repairs.
Before taking the copilot seat aboard Bradys fort, Bucky trades coats with another officer.
Juvenile, but the closest thing to levity well be getting for the remainder of this episode.
Bucky shouts as the second of the command ships four engines sputters out.
Theyre a minute away from their target, the bombardier says.
Two of their other gunners suffer grievous wounds, and a third engine explodes.
Bucky orders Brady to salvo the ships full bomb load and hit the bailout alarm.
(Nowwe get a title card.)
The bombs are now dropped, but the fighters have no intention of letting the Yanks get away.
Firing 250-pound air-to-air missiles, German Junkers 88s immolateShes Gonna,Bubbless ship, and another.
Rosie asks his gunners if any of them can see any other aircraft from the 100th.
Rosie pulls some fancy maneuvers to give his gunners a better angle on their pursuers.
Boden and Fleck have other ideas.
Harding radios the pilot.
Later, Ken, he tells the 19-year-old sergeant.Allof them?
a disbelieving Lemmons asks.
A handful are confirmed dead, but no record and no chutes are the most common responses.
Bubbles reads in voice-over as Crosby sits on his bunk scanning the letter.
Its a maudlin scene, and it got me, nevertheless.
I wish more than anything it was him sitting here instead of me, the dead Bubbles reflects.
Then no one would have to write this letter.
Crosby gives himself a moment to absorb his grief, then gets up and gets back to work.
If the Bubbles letter reporting Crosbys death is a dramatic invention, its a good one.
The weight of all those deaths is accumulating, and its about to grow heavier still.
