Masters Of The Air – Part Seven

At Stalag Luft III, Buck (Austin Butler), Bucky (Callum Turner), and the men who survived from the 100th are interred along with any other captured soldiers. While the Germans provide the minimum level of lodging, food, and amenities, it becomes clear that the conditions are anything but pleasant. While Buck tries to inquire about any letters from his love Marge (Isabel May), the men are desperate for news from the warfront….and a meal that consists of more than potatoes. When one soldier discovers a stray cat underneath a building, it becomes an extra form of sustenance to the men that night. Unfortunately for one of the men, that news sends him straight to a bucket to throw up. After the meal though, the soldiers bring out their makeshift radio for news, as the Germans do not allow any comforts. But when the Germans order the men to line up as they search the rooms, the radio in Buck and Bucky’s barracks is found and confiscated.

Meanwhile, Thorpe Abbots continues to get new crops of airmen coming through their doors. While many of the men don’t get familiar with one another, Rosenthal (Nate Mann) takes it upon himself to make sure that those men are not ostracized and made to feel welcome. And even though morale is slightly down, it gets a much-needed boost with the return of Quinn (Kai Alexander) and Bailey (Bailey Brook) to the base. However, their return means that they will be sent home so that if they are caught again….they will not compromise the resistance that helped them.

Later at the Officer’s Club, Rosenthal and Crosby (Anthony Boyle) sit down and talk about Rosenthal’s upcoming 25th mission. If he makes it back, Rosenthal can return to the states and will be training other pilots to come over here…hopefully getting the chance to settle down in Florida for that training. On the other hand, Crosby feels stifled by being grounded as lead navigator. Along with Rosenthal, there are other pilots who are looking forward to also completing their 25th mission and being sent home.

Realizing that they need a new radio, Buck asks Bucky for help in procuring the necessary equipment to make a crystal radio. But their conversation is short-lived when the air raid sirens go off and all of the men are ushered into their barracks. As they hear the bombs going off in the distance, Buck is convinced that the 100th has begun to go after Berlin. But a nearby gunshot alerts the men and they go to investigate. Upon seeing one of their men doubled over and bleeding, Buck orders that they get a doctor for their friend. But it’s clear that the shot was intentional, especially since all the men had complied with returning to their barracks. Bucky knows the Germans are not looking to be hospitable.

On March 6, 1944, the men at Thorpe Abbots are awaiting the return of the plans from a mission to Berlin. When they begin to see the planes come back, they start counting….and notice that 15 of the planes did not return. The 100th has incurred some major casualties. But it gets worse as quite a few of the airmen also need to be taken to the infirmary, with varying injuries. The day becomes known as “Black Monday.” Unable to handle the stress and carnage of the job, Crosby finds himself reaching out to Sandra Wesgate (Bel Powley) for more than just a friendly ear.

After the barracks incident, Bucky gets to work on acquiring the pieces that Buck needs to build his radio. With pieces in hand, Buck gets immediately to work. At mail call later, Buck also receives a letter from Marge and shares with Bucky that he asked Marge to marry him and she said yes. Set to get out of there, Buck tells his friend that he wants him at the wedding as his best man….a task Bucky is more than happy to do. When Buck finally finishes working on his radio, it does not work….and now Bucky is set on getting them out despite Buck’s reluctance to take the risk.

March 8, 1944, Thorpe Abbots is abuzz as the men head into another briefing on another mission to Berlin…Rosenthal’s 25th mission. Headed by Lieutenant Colonel Bennett (Corin Silva) who is Harding’s (James Murray) next in command, the men are set this time to take out the Erkner ball bearing plant. Even though the men balk a little at the repeat mission, Bennett assures the men he will be flying this mission with them. This time, the men complete their mission and Rosenthal has completed his 25th and done the honorary buzzing of the tower. The men congratulate and celebrate Rosenthal at the Officer’s Club, but Major Jack Kidd (Edward Ashley) comes to give the men some bad news: the mission requirement has been upped from 25 to 30. While this does not affect Rosenthal, he ultimately decides to speak with Bennett and advises him he plans to now complete 30 missions. He cannot leave his men until the mission is done.

Noticing one of the men using sandpaper, Buck asks to borrow it as one of the pieces of his radio might still have residue on it. Luckily, using the sandpaper pays off and Buck gets his radio up and running. The men begin to share news and learn about what happened in Berlin, finally able to retain a link to the outside. But on March 24, 1944, another line-up of the imprisoned men brings even worse news: an attempted escape of some of the soldiers resulted in their capture and execution. Because of this, the Luftwaffe will be replaced by the SS. The chances to try and escape from Stalag Luft III have become even harder.