Masters of the Air – Part Two

Taking place from where the last episode ended, the men from the 100th make it to interrogation. Bucky (Callum Turner) takes the loss of men hardest and proceeds to get drunk. With men like Bosser (Fionn O’Shea) needing to leave the fight to get treated for frostbite and his commanding officer Colonel Huglin (Nikolai Kinski) having a perforated ulcer, Bucky feels numb and wants to feel anything other than the numbness towards the situation. Fortunately for Bucky, his goal of being a squadron commander comes to fruition as Huglin’s replacement demotes him down to squadron commander of the 418th. Bucky goes to tell Buck (Austin Butler) the good news and learns that it was his friend who recommended him for the position.

Three weeks after their disastrous first mission, the 100th has dwindled from 350 people down to 66. While they scramble to fill all positions on the planes, the men pass the time at a local pub to drink and unwind. There, the men of the Royal Air Force (RAF) heckle the American pilots for their approach at fighting. Their insults bring about a scuffle that Biddick (Barry Keoghan) wins on behalf of the 100th, but the English fighting tactics give Buck pause. While the Americans choose to fight in broad daylight, the RAF has taken to bombing at night.

But the next mission is now underway: bombing the submarine pen in Trondheim, Norway. The men prepare to head out and hit their target. For Crosby (Anthony Boyle), he has been assigned a lead navigator position as his friend Lieutenant “Bubbles” Payne (Louis Greatorex) has fallen ill. Before taking his place on Bucky’s plane, Bubbles gives Crosby his lucky snow globe and hopes it will bring him luck. The mission to Trondheim is underway.

Although Crosby is still battling a weak stomach for the air, he perseveres. As the men make their way to the target, they are under fire from ground artillery. On the way, Biddick’s plane is hit, and one engine begins to malfunction. Luckily, the mission is a success as the bombs finally reach their intended target. But because Biddick’s plane has taken such a hit, the engines begin to malfunction one by one.

Ready to bow out, Biddick tells the other pilots to go on without him. However, Bucky makes the decision to have everyone slow down and stay with Biddick until he could bring his plane down safely. Asking Crosby for a new route, the queasy navigator advises to have the fighter planes head toward Scotland so that Biddick and his crew can have a crash landing over actual land. Liking this plan, Bucky has the men head toward Scotland as they flank Biddick’s plane and protect him and his crew. Finally, the men reach Scotland and Biddick makes a rough landing…ultimately taking out some property on a farm in Fraserburgh, Scotland.

With their mission complete, the 100th heads back to Thorpe Abbotts to unwind and have fun. Crosby goes to visit Bubbles in the infirmary, where Bucky finds him. Because of Crosby’s airsickness, he avoided making chatter and spoke directly to the pilots…which was a life-saver on the plane. For this, Bucky promotes Crosby to become part of Captain Blakely’s (David Shields) crew. In order to return the favor, Crosby later recommends Bubbles as a lead navigator.

Later at the bar, Buck and Bucky receive a phone call from Biddick….who has made friends with the farm owners in Scotland. Biddick thanks them for not leaving him and his men behind before going to enjoy his time with the Scots. Glad to hear that he is safe and sound, the boys unwind and end up having a bike race for fun. However, the race is interrupted by sirens in the distance and the men are forced to take shelter as the Germans bomb a local town. From a safe distance, Buck and Bucky talk about their mission. Buck admits that the English have a great method of attack, but their behavior towards them made him reluctant to listen. While their missions are dangerous, Buck and Bucky are ready to lead them through it.