Book Review: Masters of the Air by Donald Miller
Master of the Air is a masterful work of historical nonfiction that combines riveting storytelling with scholarly research.
Masters of the Air is the deeply personal story of the American bomber boys in World War II who brought the war to Hitler’s doorstep. With the narrative power of fiction, Donald Miller takes readers on a harrowing ride through the fire-filled skies over Berlin, Hanover, and Dresden and describes the terrible cost of bombing for the German people.
Fighting at 25,000 feet in thin, freezing air that no warriors had ever encountered before, bomber crews battled new kinds of assaults on body and mind. Air combat was deadly but intermittent: periods of inactivity and anxiety were followed by short bursts of fire and fear.
Unlike infantrymen, bomber boys slept on clean sheets, drank beer in local pubs, and danced to the swing music of Glenn Miller’s Air Force band, which toured U.S. air bases in England. But they had a much greater chance of dying than ground soldiers.
In 1943, an American bomber crewman stood only a one-in-five chance of surviving his tour of duty, twenty-five missions. The Eighth Air Force lost more men in the war than the U.S. Marine Corps.
The bomber crews were an elite group of warriors who were a microcosm of America — white America, anyway. (African-Americans could not serve in the Eighth Air Force except in a support capacity.) The actor Jimmy Stewart was a bomber boy, and so was the “King of Hollywood,” Clark Gable. And the air war was filmed by Oscar-winning director William Wyler and covered by reporters like Andy Rooney and Walter Cronkite, all of whom flew combat missions with the men.
The Anglo-American bombing campaign against Nazi Germany was the longest military campaign of World War II, a war within a war. Until Allied soldiers crossed into Germany in the final months of the war, it was the only battle fought inside the German homeland.
Strategic bombing did not win the war, but the war could not have been won without it. American airpower destroyed the rail facilities and oil refineries that supplied the German war machine. The bombing campaign was a shared enterprise: the British flew under the cover of night while American bombers attacked by day, a technique that British commanders thought was suicidal.
Masters of the Air is a story, as well, of life in wartime England and in the German prison camps, where tens of thousands of airmen spent part of the war. It ends with a vivid description of the grisly hunger marches captured airmen were forced to make near the end of the war through the country their bombs destroyed.
Drawn from recent interviews, oral histories, and American, British, German, and other archives, Masters of the Air is an authoritative, deeply moving account of the world’s first and only bomber war.
How was it?
I wanted to finish this book before diving into the Apple TV+ series it inspired but the series caught up with me and premiered before I was barely halfway done. That said Donald L. Miller’s Masters of the Air is not a just history book, it’s more of a personal journey into the lives of the men who flew perilous missions over Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II. Through a meticulous combination of firsthand accounts, reports, letters, and historical documentation, Miller paints a vivid picture of the harrowing experiences of these bomber crews, providing quite a gripping narrative that educates and captivates at the same time.
At its core, the book is a testament to the courage and resilience of the soldiers who lived through the air raids, facing unimaginable dangers with each mission. Miller brings to life the camaraderie among the crews, as well as the stark realities of war, from the capture and parading of prisoners through bombed cities to the isolation and uncertainty faced by captured soldiers.
One of the things I appreciated the most was the book’s exploration of the challenges faced by the bomber crews once in the air. With no way to adjust plans mid-flight, each mission became a test of skill, courage, and adaptability. Miller nicely conveys the intensity and unpredictability of aerial combat, highlighting the bravery of the men who fought their way through enemy fire to complete their missions.
Moreover, Masters of the Air offers valuable insights into the evolution of air warfare during WWII. From technological advancements to the moral complexities of strategic bombing, the author delves into the shifting dynamics of modern warfare, demonstrating how these innovations forever altered the way wars are fought.
Yet amidst the tales of heroism and innovation, Miller doesn’t shy away from addressing the darker aspects of war. He explores the psychological toll of combat, revealing the stigma and mistreatment faced by soldiers with mental disorders due to their service — a sobering reminder that things still need to be done on that front even today.
It took me even longer to go through Miller’s narrative because I found myself pausing to take notes as if I were in a history class. I was engrossed in the intricate details of aerial warfare, from the significance of firing red flares* to the distinctions between strategic and tactical bombing**. His attention to detail enriches the reading experience, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of air combat.
However, what truly sets this book apart is its nuanced portrayal of the moral ambiguities inherent in wartime actions. Miller doesn’t shy away from confronting the errors and controversies surrounding some bombing missions, challenging readers to grapple with the ethical complexities of modern warfare.
Master of the Air is a masterful work of historical nonfiction that combines riveting storytelling with scholarly research. Just like any comprehensive “lesson” it feels a bit long at times, plus the subject matter gets heavy, but Donald L. Miller’s captivating narrative and insightful analysis make this book a great read for anyone interested in World War II history, aviation history, or the human experience of war.
Book Length — 671 pages.
Paperback Price — $20.70 (Amazon)
