Nows and Forevers

I watched with interest the promo for “Masters of the Air,” the new miniseries from Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg on Apple TV+. What it depicts is part of my family history.

My grandfather was a B-24 and B-29 aircraft commander and instructor pilot. He didn’t fly in Europe, but still “Masters of the Air” tells a familiar story. I also read the book on the subway and nearly missed my stop a couple times, it was that engrossing. I also gave him a copy before he died.

I have to say that I doubt this miniseries will come close to the power of two of the best WWII movies, “Twelve O’Clock High,” and “The Best Years of Our Lives.” The former is all about the air war over Europe, and comes closer than anything about the psychological as well as full bodily cost of the bomber war. It’s a hard watch even 65 years later, because it’s unsentimental and unsparing and it wasn’t too long after the war. It isn’t telling a feel-good story. Many of those men died in the early days.

“The Best Years” also takes on PTSD and you cannot help but be crushed by Fred’s memories of bombing runs and what it meant to him. Again, this was just after the war and it wasn’t just a movie but real life. I