Hey guys, welcome back to the Why Wars Happened History Podcast, where you learn about the causes of wars and things like, why did it happen? Was it inevitable? Who was involved?

Sometimes I go back hundreds of years just so we can understand what happened in our narrative episodes covering the long course of a war and the background of the war.

And if you want to talk more about war, we also have authors, historians, war generals, royalty, actors, filmmakers, a whole bunch of people come on as guests and we talk about everything about before, during, and after war. So let's go!

The Why Wars Happened History Podcast covers The American Revolution, World War I, World War II, Medieval Wars in England, The Habsburg Empire, The War in Iraq, Scottish wars, The War of the Roses, The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Cold War, The Thirty Years War, The Hundred Years War, The American Civil War, and many others.

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Inside the 8th Air Force: WWII History and ‘Masters of the Air’

Welcome back to Why Wars Happened! This episode takes a deep dive into the incredible history of the 8th Air Force and the legendary 100th Bomb Group with historian Donald L. Miller and HBO producer Kirk Saduski. We explore the harrowing experiences of American bomber crews in WWII, the challenges they faced in the skies over Europe, and how these real-life stories were brought to the screen in Apple TV+’s Masters of the Air.

From the brutal realities of aerial combat to the painstaking research behind the show’s production, this conversation is packed with insights for history buffs and war film fans alike. Subscribe for more expert discussions on the wars that shaped our world!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Why Wars Happened

00:37 Meet the Guests: Donald L. Miller & Kirk Saduski

01:45 The 8th Air Force and the 100th Bomb Group

02:33 The Evolution of Bomber Warfare

03:56 Turning Real Stories into a TV Series

08:20 The Struggle for Authenticity in War Dramas

14:27 Personal Stories and Emotional Depth

26:15 WWII Veterans' Firsthand Accounts

27:05 Fear and Courage in the Air

27:29 What Exit Interviews Revealed About the Air Force

27:53 The Commander’s Perspective

28:53 How Actors Prepared for Their Roles

30:05 Behind the Scenes of the D-Day Filming

30:56 The Importance of Historical Accuracy

32:40 Connecting Emotionally to the Past

34:20 Realism in Masters of the Air’s Flight Scenes

35:32 What It’s Like to Fly in a B-17

36:49 The Brutal Reality of Frostbite and Combat

37:57 Comparing WWII Experiences Across Fronts

40:40 Upcoming History Projects and Podcasts

44:02 New Civil War Book Announcement

45:48 Closing Thoughts

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