Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Masters of the Air
- How the Bomber Boys Broke Down the Nazi War Machine
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 25 hrs and 16 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Masters of the Air
Buy Now for £16.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
‘Seconds after Brady’s plane was hit, the Hundredth’s entire formation was broken up and scattered by swarms of single-engine planes, and by rockets launched by twin-engine planes that flew parallel.'
Meet the Flying Fortresses of the American Eighth Air Force, Britain’s Lancaster comrades, who helped to bring down the Nazis.
Historian and World War II expert Donald Miller brings us the story of the bomber boys who brought the war to Hitler's doorstep. Unlike ground soldiers, they slept on clean beds, drank beer in local pubs and danced to the swing music of the travelling Air Force bands. But they were also an elite group of fighters who put their lives on the line in the most dangerous role of all.
Miller takes listeners from the adrenaline-filled battles in the sky, to the airbases across England, the German prison camps and onto the ground to understand the devastation faced by civilians.
Drawn from interviews, oral histories and American, British and German archives, Masters of the Air is the authoritative, deeply moving and important account of the world's first and only bomber war.
More from the same
What listeners say about Masters of the Air
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robert Hood
- 29-08-20
Excellent
Dinitively the best coverage of the Americans european bombing war, well balanced and fair. The author has gone to great lengths to include bona fide inclusion from the highest rank to the lowest, first hand experiences in just about every circumstances during the war. The narrator reads flawlessly and in a highly listenable tone. From a British perspective I found this an excellent and informative audio book in high lighting the crucial contributions both countries played in defeating Germany from the air.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sandy Martin
- 19-02-24
Excellent book
Great story, highly recommended book which gives a good account of the American bomber boys.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- J Briggs
- 19-05-23
Great informative book
Decided to read this before the Apple TV series of the same name is released.
While, being British, I have a few issues around the characterisation of Bomber Commands war, it’s a really good informative book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Chris I
- 25-09-23
Excellent coverage and great narration
This book covers all aspects of the USAAF air war in WW2. It has a huge amount of detail and many personal stories to enliven the statistics and historical timeline. Well balanced in its discussion of the moral and political aspects of strategic bombing, Excellent narration.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 24-10-23
Best book ever. Heard it 3 times.
Never have I listen to such a detailed and great book full of intriguing stories form heroes of the world war 2.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kevin Nagurski
- 22-05-23
Heartbreaking
Amazing detail and very well read. But be prepared for an extremely heartbreaking story, made all the worse by being real. I thought I understood the air war over Europe, but this book is crammed full of things I never understood and many that I wish I could forget.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Cumbrian Boy
- 23-04-22
A comprehensive guide
A comprehensive guide to the incredible story that is the American air war in Europe between 1942 and 45. Well researched and comprehensive. I enjoyed the work on the downed airmen and their particular story. I would thoroughly recommend this major work.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- JAH
- 27-03-24
Scope and balance
Thought the book for the most part avoided heinous jingoism, and sees with brutal honesty a 360 degree picture of the bomber campaign. Some of the best chapters are actually more sociology than history. The recent television series really is only the tip of an iceberg of a book. Fabulous, sobering and moving
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Natalie
- 20-01-24
Amazing book
Really great and engaging account of the ‘bomber boys’ and the sheer scale and impact they made during such a tragic period of our history during WWII. The level of detail the author goes into along with the narrator make this such a good listen. Highly recommend.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mike A
- 26-01-24
Never a dull moment!
It informs you like a documentary but reads like a story.
This book is a triumph in trying to cover a group of American Bombers and their journey and evolution through ww2. This book has taken this simple heading and dissected it into many layers each with their own incredible and fascinating stories that contribute to the bigger picture. Things like the technological capabilities of the plane, or love lives and PTSD all the way to the Goverment policies and politics that would dictate the types of missions they flew and right down to personal accounts through the war.
While each topic is superb in isolation, the transition between them will mean the story is always changing and never becomes monotonous. I thought I knew my history but left this feeling wowed at every chapter.
Most importantly, I never felt this book had any bias or that it was trying to defend any sides for their respective flaws and was very brave with just sticking to the facts, especially with ugly truths like going out of their way to acknowledge Blacks were not allowed to fly in the bomber command while all other races were and explained how segregation was the cause. It also touches on the precarious relationship between blacks and the whites that served. Again it wasn’t trying to defend anyone or blame anyone it just stuck to the facts so people can make up their minds and didn’t try to brush it under the carpet.
I read this before the TV series came out and recommend this to anyone that likes any form of history, it may be a big book but it’s worth it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!