{"id":1411,"date":"2023-08-31T14:54:11","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T14:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=1411"},"modified":"2023-08-31T14:54:11","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T14:54:11","slug":"collectible-firearms-for-serious-gun-collectors-118","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=1411","title":{"rendered":"Collectible Firearms for Serious Gun Collectors"},"content":{"rendered":"


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If you\u2019re into the firearms or military history communities, chances are you have viewed and thoroughly enjoyed the HBO hit series \u201cBand of Brothers\u201d and \u201cThe Pacific.\u201d Both of the multi-episode miniseries were superbly done, from the acting and storyline to the excitement and period correct elements, and each earned significant acclaim even outside military and firearms communities. With the behind-the-scenes involvement of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, who also paired in 1998\u2019s Saving Private Ryan, each series began life with a Hollywood pedigree few can match.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, those were released some time ago. Band of Brothers aired in 2001 and The Pacific followed in 2010, and while there have been some great war movies<\/u> <\/strong>released since then (Dunkirk, Darkest Hour, Hacksaw Ridge, and 1917 immediately come to mind), audiences have not had the pleasure of another miniseries, which inherently brings the ability to tell a story several times longer than a single 2-3 hour feature film.<\/p>\n

“Masters of the Air” looks to break that hiatus. Heralded as a \u201ccompanion piece\u201d to “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific” (with some sources calling it an outright sequel), the upcoming miniseries is finally scheduled to premiere Sept 20, 2023 on Apple TV. This is a relief to those anticipating the series, which has suffered a seemingly endless supply of setbacks and delays dating back to 2013.<\/p>\n

It pulls its inspiration from Donald L. Miller\u2019s book \u201cMasters of the Air: America\u2019s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany,\u201d which tells the story of the American 8th<\/sup> Air Force as they fly their daylight bombing missions against a determined Nazi foe in the freezing battlefield miles above the earth.<\/p>\n

Miller\u2019s book is non-fiction with its events \u201cdrawn from recent interviews, oral histories, and American British, German, and other archives.\u201d Not a surprise given his chops as a historian, and it comes heralded by numerous fellow historians and authors. Will the series live up to the acclaim of the book? Will it live up to the almost legendary status of Band of Brothers and The Pacific? Unfortunately, with exclusive initial distribution on AppleTV, it looks like many of us will have to wait to find out.<\/p>\n

The $250 million, nine-episode miniseries debut isn\u2019t until September 20th<\/sup>, but let\u2019s take a look at what we know so far.<\/p>\n

Masters of the Air Returns All-Star Staff<\/h3>\n

Anything setting itself up as a companion piece\/sequel\/next installment to two of the most beloved military \u201cmovies\u201d of all time is an environment potentially ripe for disappointment. Thankfully \u201cMasters of the Air\u201d has started off on the right foot, and one that should have fans of the previous two series breathing a sigh of relief if not hyperventilating with excitement. In addition to both Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks returning to the project, so will the instrumental but lesser-known Gary Goetzman.<\/p>\n

It should also be pleasing to fans that \u201cMasters of the Air\u201d is being written by John Orloff, who also penned Band of Brothers (the show, not the book on which it is based, which was written by Stephen Ambrose). Blake Neely is returning to his score writing duties after \u201cThe Pacific,\u201d but no word on his co-composers Geoff Zanelli and soundtrack superstar Hans Zimmer.<\/p>\n

Neely confirms his involvement in Masters of the Air at the 29:00 mark of this video.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

MotA is Going to Be INTENSE<\/h3>\n

As mentioned earlier, the project originally began in 2013, but it was under the working title \u201cThe Mighty Eighth\u201d and was earmarked for HBO. In the decade that fans have been waiting, there has only been ONE trailer released for the series, and that was NINE years ago. Not even publicity stills. Less than a month from the scheduled release date, and fans are still stymied at the lack of publicity for this project (though Apple TV did include it among a dozen other shows in a promotion for the streaming service as a whole).<\/p>\n

Incredulity aside, the one trailer that does exist, shows that this is not going to be some relaxing period drama. The clip, at just over 3 minutes long, becomes a simultaneous exercise for holding one\u2019s breath and gaining an immediate clarity regarding the high attrition rates of World War 2 airmen.<\/p>\n

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This kind of realism serves as a grim reminder for what period servicemen endured, and should not be a disappointment to fans of the previous series, who rightfully treat those sacrifices with reverence.<\/p>\n

What is Masters of the Air about?<\/h3>\n

Much how AppleTV is tight-lipped regarding any sort of promotional images, they also have yet to unveil any sort of plot synopsis. That said, since the series will be based on the book which is about real events in World War 2, audiences should be able to make a few safe assumptions.<\/p>\n

As the title of the book indicates, this series will revolve around the incomprehensibly brave airmen of the U.S. Army\u2019s 8th<\/sup> Air Force, specifically the 100th<\/sup> Bomber Group of B-17 Flying Fortress planes, and an airman named Major Gale \u201cBucky\u201d Winston Cleven. Cleven\u2019s service is well documented<\/a>. As the 100th<\/sup> BG was stationed in Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk, it\u2019s safe to assume that a good portion of the series will be set in England. This is also confirmed by numerous reports of a $5 million dollar set being built to replicate a World War 2 era U.S. airbase in Buckinghamshire. Before-and-after photos shown in the Daily Mail<\/a> are impressive to say the least, and reveal plenty of Nissen huts, period vehicles, and no shortage of filming studio buildings.<\/p>\n

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SPOILER ALERT: No one has any idea of what parts of Cleven\u2019s life are going to be covered in this miniseries. What follows next are some guesses based on some of the documented death-defying missions from Cleven\u2019s military career in combination with some behind-the-scenes photos. If you want to be 100% surprised when you watch the series, skip ahead to the next section.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the midst of this pastoral farmland of east England, was the roar of engines as the bomber group departed on their many missions. If the show follows Major Cleven\u2019s personal history, it will likely include his first mission to Bremen on June 25, 1943, actions for which he earned the Distinguished Service Cross. One could also safely assume the series will include the raid on Regensburg of August 17 the same year, when the 100th<\/sup> Bomber Group lost nine B-17 planes in a single day.<\/p>\n

A return raid to Bremen on October 8th<\/sup> and 10th<\/sup> saw another 7 planes lost, and was dubbed \u201cBlack Week\u201d by the group. Sometime between the ill-fated Regensburg raid and Black Week, the group took up the nickname, \u201cThe Bloody 100th<\/sup>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cleven is also known to have spent some time in Germany as a POW, and with behind-the-scenes photos showing a set of the Stalag Luft Sagan III prison camp, it\u2019s a safe assumption that part of his life is going to be part of the series. There are also several fantastic anecdotes about who Bucky was as a man. After reading several, written in the wonderfully understated language of a bygone era, one can only think that the series would be doing his memory a disservice with their omission. This site has a lot of behind-the-scenes photos as shared by cast and crew members.<\/a><\/p>\n