Masters Of The Air – Part Three

As the war rages on, Colonel Harding (James Murray) brings the men together for a new mission: to destroy ball-bearing production sites in three cities. But the mission itself comes with a larger mission: for the 8th to break into three task forces and tackle at least two out of the three factories in Schweinfurt and Frankfurt. If the ball-bearing factories are destroyed, this will hinder the Germans greatly. Furthermore, the 100th will confuse the Germans by heading to Africa while the other factions flying with them can bomb the factories. But with this comes a price: the 100th will be “Tail-End Charlie”…the most vulnerable to enemy fire during their flight to Africa.

But before the mission can head underway, fog hits Thorpes Abbott and keeps the men grounded until they are able to join the others. While Buck (Austin Butler), Bucky (Callum Turner), and Curt (Barry Keoghan) all contemplate what their mission will bring, Harding gets orders to send the 100th into the air without the other two task forces to back them. It is placing them directly in the line of fire for the Germans, but Harding is left with no choice and the men are sent up in the air.

As the men are over Belgium, they begin to realize that they are alone and that the other task forces are nowhere to be seen. But left with no choice, the men are prepared to fight with no protection and take on the Germans. Buck’s plane takes a major hit and soon enough the entire second element is taken out….leaving Buck and the men on his plane exposed.

When another one of the planes is hit and starts to go down, the decision is made for everyone to eject and parachute. Unfortunately, Babyface (Oaklee Pendergast) is stuck in the nose and pleads with Quinn (Kai Alexander) to bail him out. While trying yet unable to get him out, Quinn makes a choice and apologizes to his friend before jumping out of the plane. As he parachutes down, the plane explodes and Babyface becomes a casualty.

With Buck dealing with casualties on his plane, he watches as Curt’s plane takes a major hit as well….especially when the pilot is shot and begins to lean onto the controls. Curt pulls the pilot back into his seat but the damage has been done. The men need to abandon the plane and parachute to safety. While one of the other men tries to convince Curt to leave, he promises he will depart the plane as soon as everyone else is off. However, Curt decides to stay with his co-pilot and land the plane as best he can. Unfortunately, the landing does not go smoothly and the plane explodes upon impact to the ground.

Back with Colonel Harding, he finally receives word that the other two task forces are finally in the air. But finally being in the air means that they are five hours away from helping the other men. And now, all Harding can do is hope that the 100th can make it through the hell they have been placed in.

Exposed and taking on loads of damage, Buck’s co-pilot attempts to get them to abandon the mission….but Buck is not having it. Instead, he assesses the damage and tells the pilot that they are going to sit there in the crossfire and take it as the mission depends on them right now. Luckily, the remaining planes have finally reached one of the ball-bearing factories and are prepared to drop bombs. Releasing the bombs, mission has been accomplished and everyone is one their way to Africa.

Behind enemy lines, Quinn finds himself at the home of a French family. He identifies himself as an American and they take him in. They contact the Résistance belge and he is given a choice: surrender and become a prisoner of war or make his way back to England.

Over the water, Buck finally learns the severity of the damage that their plane has taken but is still determined to make it to Africa. While the remaining planes are practically running on fumes, they finally arrive. But for Buck and his men, they have lost a lot of fuel and taken a lot of damage to their B-17. When they finally see the other planes, they make a rather risky landing and join their fellow airmen. As the men deboard, Buck and Bucky talk about the casualties that they faced. While they don’t see Curt, they’re sure he is safe. But for now, they have made it to Africa.