Eighth Air Force mini-series in development at HBO

[Jarink1]

While I'm really interested in this, I'm wondering how the script will play out. The biggest weakness of "The Pacific" was that it followed 3 characters from different units fighting in different battles, which created some amount of discontinuity. Will this be set in 1943? 1944? 1945? The earlier the time frame, the more intriguing the story could be, since losses were much heavier earlier on (before the Redtails saved everyone).

It's also interesting that the article says "the untitled miniseries will explore the aerial wars through the eyes of enlisted men of the Eighth Air Force". Hopefully that's just a reporter's mistake. But again, since this is a Hollywood production, there will have to be some sort of central set of characters. Surely it won't follow a single crew?

I'm sure CGI will play a central role in many action scenes. Hopefully, it won't be done by the Redtails crew.

[Jesse C.]

It is about the Pfc. Jimmy, AKA, Mess Cook, and his daily struggles to perfect powdered eggs, which by the way, will be CGI, and his overbearing commander, played by Ben Affleck, who demands perfect toast for the boys in bomber command, because he will be darned if they do not deserve better toast!

Hi love interest will be Lindsey Lohan, playing Berlin Betty, who takes his midnight dedications on the radio while he works on the toast. Also CGI.

There will be a C-47 playing the part of the hack B-17 and Rosie O'Donnel as the bright yellow tug that pulls it around, not CGI sadly.

So tune in true believers, because this is going to be good!

[Tony]

I was really hoping he was finally going to do Goodbye Mickey Mouse.

[b29flteng]

It is about the Pfc. Jimmy, AKA, Mess Cook, and his daily struggles to perfect powdered eggs, which by the way, will be CGI, and his overbearing commander, played by Ben Affleck, who demands perfect toast for the boys in bomber command, because he will be darned if they do not deserve better toast!

Hi love interest will be Lindsey Lohan, playing Berlin Betty, who takes his midnight dedications on the radio while he works on the toast. Also CGI.

There will be a C-47 playing the part of the hack B-17 and Rosie O'Donnel as the bright yellow tug that pulls it around, not CGI sadly.

So tune in true believers, because this is going to be good!

[hang the expense]

I was really hoping he was finally going to do Goodbye Mickey Mouse.

D a m n good book.You have excellent taste sir.

[leo]

Or Len Deighton's (sp) "Bomber".

While I'm really interested in this, I'm wondering how the script will play out. The biggest weakness of "The Pacific" was that it followed 3 characters from different units fighting in different battles, which created some amount of discontinuity. Will this be set in 1943? 1944? 1945? The earlier the time frame, the more intriguing the story could be, since losses were much heavier earlier on (before the Redtails saved everyone).

It's also interesting that the article says "the untitled miniseries will explore the aerial wars through the eyes of enlisted men of the Eighth Air Force". Hopefully that's just a reporter's mistake. But again, since this is a Hollywood production, there will have to be some sort of central set of characters. Surely it won't follow a single crew?

I'm sure CGI will play a central role in many action scenes. Hopefully, it won't be done by the Redtails crew.

The book that apparently is going to be a basis of this story covers the 8th Air Force from 1942-45, so the most difficult years are included.

http://www.amazon.com/Masters-Air-Ameri ... 0743235452

I am sure that 1943 and the first part of 1944 will feature prominently. And I am not sure that a single crew will not be a major part of the story. If this is a 10 part miniseries like the last one perhaps it will cover different segments of the air war in Europe that the 8th fought from late 1942 through early 1945.

I thought "The Pacific" did well with the 3 major characters based on separate great books because it allowed a more comprehensive picture of the Marines' involvement in the Pacific War from August 1942 to the summer of 1945 that might have been difficult to do focusing on one individual.

I am looking forward to seeing how this works out.

Last edited by jwc50 on Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Dan Johnson II]

You gents do realize that no matter what they do, the majority of folks here are going to tear it to shreds and hate everything about it right? Look at the posts so far here and as far as I know they haven't shot a second of film.

[Dan Jones]

I wonder if any of the new FW-190's will be up and at the Forts?

I wonder if any of the new FW-190's will be up and at the Forts?

We can hope.

[JohnB]

The Tuskegee airmen weren't even a part of the 8th AF, they were stationed in Italy, not England, so if this will be about the 8th AF, then they don't need to be a part of it.

If you listen carefully, you can hear Steven Speilberg cutting TDY orders for them to go to England.

I wonder if any of the new FW-190's will be up and at the Forts?

Depends on the budget. Don't get your hopes up. CGI will be cheaper and it is a TV series.

[Dan Johnson II]

Seems to me that following the pattern of Band of Brothers would work.

Pick a Bomb Group that is part of the wave that got their in late 43-early 44 like the 447th instead pf doing the Memphis Belle Time frame and the 91st. Follow 2-3 crews and their ground crews from training as a crew in the states, then the flight across. Then get used to England, the weather, the people, operational training and a first mission. Bigweek, Berlin, D-Day etc. Have one of the crews be one that doesn't make it, one that does, and one that goes down to POW. Allows for tracking the POW experience, the strain of combat and the war at home as well as how it all impacts on the crews. Trips to London and the Flak Shack. Finish up with the crew that finishes their tour and goes home, and follow the POWs til the end of the war and V-E Day from the home, England and the POWs.

I suppose you do the Bert Stiles bit by having one of the tour expired pilots up for a tour in fighters to get a taste of that too, or maybe have a buddy or two of the bomber crews be fighter drivers.

[Richard W.]

Steven Spielberg has a history of fetishizing elements of the air war in his movies.

I hope at his age he's grown past thinking it was all about colorful nose art, gorgeous flight jackets, and sexy, shiny fast airplanes.

[wendovertom]

If they need to do a episode about training I know where they can find an original WWII heavy bomber training base complete with original hangars, squadron admin buildings, barracks, mess hall and control tower!

Nothing wrong with shameless promotion right?! Wendover is the place! http://www.wendoverairbase.com

Tom P.

[lmritger]

That's a good idea, Tom, particularly for the training elements of the story (not sure if they'll be included, but if they do, that would be an ideal place for it). I wonder if they'd actually pay to refurb one of the old abandoned airfields over in England and fly a couple Forts over, a la Memphis Belle? Would be awfully expensive though... my guess is, they'll likely pick somewhere over here which has similar topography and climate to England for the operational scenes. That's just pure unfounded speculation, though.

Wherever it is, I will do my level best to get there and be part of this, and I've reached out to other guys in the Aircrew Preservation Society to let them know as well... why not use extras who actually know the background story intimately and can accurately portray the crews? We'll see what happens.

Lynn