Apple TV+ has revealed it’ll be premiering a documentary about the 100th Bombardment Group and its famous airmen. Titled The Bloody Hundredth and narrated by Tom Hanks, the feature aims to provide fans of Masters of the Air a behind-the-scenes look at the heroics that inspired the 2024 miniseries.
The Bloody Hundredth will premiere on the streaming service in recognition of the final episode of Masters of the Air, which had the first of nine episodes premiere on Apple TV+ on January 26. From the team behind Band of Brothers (2001) and The Pacific (2010), the miniseries was among the most anticipated releases of the year.
Along with serving as narrator, Tom Hanks also executively produced the documentary, along with Gary Goetzman and Steven Spielberg. It was directed by Mark Herzog and Laurent Bouzereau, the latter of whom frequently collaborates with Spielberg.
According to a press release from Apple TV+, the hour-long feature will delve into the real-life stories of the airmen portrayed in Masters of the Air, from the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor to the celebrations that occurred on VE Day. As the streaming service explains, “The Bloody Hundredth is a record of what was endured and achieved by a group of young Americans when their country and the world needed them most.”
Among those slated to be highlighted in the special include Gale Cleven (Austin Butler), John Egan (Callum Turner), Harry Crosby (Anthony Boyle), Frank Murphy (Jonas Moore), Robert Rosenthal (Nate Mann), Richard Macon (Josiah Cross) and Alexander Jefferson (Branden Cook).
Serving the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) as part of the Eighth Air Force, the 100th Bombardment Group has one of the most unique legacies of the Second World War. As the National WWII Museum explains, the unit “appeared to suffer disproportionately at the hands of the German Luftwaffe, with its members both respected and pitied by fellow bomber crews.”
Activated in June 1942 and taking to the skies over Europe the following year, the 100th was tasked with raids against German targets in the likes of France, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands. It was shortly after they began fighting the enemy that the unit earned its unfortunate moniker, as, during the summer and fall of 1943, it suffered heavy casualties and losses.
Throughout World War II, the 100th participated in several key engagements, such as the Allied advance through France in 1944 and the Battle of the Bulge. Its airmen also conducted attacks on the Siegfried Line.
Completing its last combat run on April 20, 1945, the 100th served in a support capacity in the months following the war. On December 21, the unit was declared inactive and remained that way until 1947.
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The Bloody Hundredth is slated to premiere on Apple TV+ on March 15, 2024.
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