Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesApple TV+ released The Bloody Hundredth on March 15, 2024—the same day the nine-episode limited series Masters of the Air reached its finale. The roughly hour-long documentary is not a sequel or a conventional behind-the-scenes featurette. It is a historical companion about the real 100th Bomb Group airmen portrayed by actors in the drama.
Narrated by Tom Hanks, the film combines archival material with interviews involving members of the 100th Bomb Group. It offers viewers a direct bridge from the series’ dramatized account to the people and experiences that inspired it.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Masters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Masters of Melody: Hugo Winterhalter | $11.51 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Ein stahlharter Mann | $20.51 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
After the Sunset | Buy on Amazon | |
| 5 |
|
Heat | Buy on Amazon |
What is The Bloody Hundredth?
The Bloody Hundredth is an Apple TV+ documentary about the 100th Bomb Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces, the World War II heavy-bomber unit known by the nickname “the Bloody Hundredth.” Apple describes the film as a record of what the group’s young American airmen endured and accomplished, spanning the period from the attack on Pearl Harbor through Victory in Europe Day.
The documentary premiered globally on March 15, 2024. Apple lists its running time as approximately one hour and its U.S. rating as TV-14. Its focus is historical testimony and remembrance—not a continuation of the fictionalized series.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
Apple says the film includes rarely seen archival footage and exclusive interviews with 100th Bomb Group airmen. That makes it best understood as a companion piece: a way to encounter the real people behind the characters after experiencing their stories through scripted drama.
Apple’s official documentary page provides the film’s synopsis and release details.
Why was it released with the Masters of the Air finale?
Masters of the Air premiered on January 26, 2024, with two episodes, followed by weekly releases through March 15. The series tells the story of the 100th Bomb Group’s bombing missions over Nazi Germany and the physical and psychological toll of high-altitude combat. It is based on Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name.
Releasing The Bloody Hundredth on the finale date created a clear transition from dramatic remembrance to historical testimony. Viewers could finish the actors’ portrayal of the airmen and then meet surviving veterans, see archival evidence, and consider the real human experiences behind the adaptation.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #2
- 25 of his best from 1949-1956.
That timing does not mean the documentary is a tenth episode. It is a separate production with a different method and purpose. The series reconstructs events with actors; the documentary uses interviews, historical footage, and documentary narration.
Which real people does it cover?
Apple identifies documentary coverage connected with several real people portrayed in the series:
| Real airman | Actor in Masters of the Air |
|---|---|
| John Egan | Callum Turner |
| Gale Cleven | Austin Butler |
| Harry Crosby | Anthony Boyle |
| Robert “Rosie” Rosenthal | Nate Mann |
| Frank Murphy | Jonas Moore |
| Alexander Jefferson | Branden Cook |
| Richard Macon | Josiah Cross |
The documentary also features veterans John “Lucky” Luckadoo and Robert Wolff, among others. These names should not be read as a promise that every person receives equal screen time or a complete biography. Apple’s announcement identifies the people connected to the film, but does not present it as an exhaustive history of every member of the group.
What will viewers see?
The documentary’s broad chronology runs from Pearl Harbor, through the European air war, to the joy of VE Day. Its emphasis is the lived experience of the airmen: endurance, fear, loss, duty, and achievement under extraordinary conditions.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Rank #3
Expect overlap with the series’ characters and wartime setting, but not a scene-by-scene fact-check of Masters of the Air. Apple’s official material establishes the use of archival footage and interviews, but does not claim that the documentary verifies every event or dramatic choice in the scripted production.
Nor is it designed as a complete operational history of the 100th Bomb Group. Viewers looking for detailed mission records, aircraft specifications, casualty statistics, or a full organizational history will need specialist historical sources in addition to the film.
Who made the documentary?
- Narrator: Tom Hanks
- Directors: Mark Herzog and Laurent Bouzereau
- Executive producers: Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman
- Production: Playtone-Amblin
The production comes from the same Spielberg–Hanks–Goetzman creative orbit associated with Masters of the Air, but it is not simply an extra episode of that series. Its structure is documentary rather than scripted drama.
Credits are listed on Apple TV Press’s cast and crew page.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #4
How is it different from Masters of the Air?
| Masters of the Air | The Bloody Hundredth |
|---|---|
| Scripted limited series | Historical documentary |
| Actors portray the airmen | Veterans, interviews, and archival material provide direct testimony |
| Reconstructed combat and dramatic storytelling | Documentary narration and historical framing |
| Based on Donald L. Miller’s book | Explicitly positioned as a companion to the dramatized stories |
The documentary’s main contribution is presence. The series asks actors to embody the men of the 100th Bomb Group; the documentary shifts attention toward the actual airmen and the historical record. It can deepen the emotional and historical context of the drama without replacing a detailed military history.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where can you watch The Bloody Hundredth?
The documentary premiered on Apple TV+ on March 15, 2024. It is available through the Apple TV app and Apple’s television service, subject to current catalog access and regional availability.
Subscription prices, trial terms, supported devices, and availability can change by country. Check the Apple TV service in your territory for current access information rather than relying on pricing announced in 2024. Apple hardware is not presented as a requirement, although the supported-device range can change.
Should you watch it after the series?
Yes, if you want historical testimony and a closer connection to the real airmen behind the characters. It is particularly useful for viewers who want to move beyond the series’ performances and reconstructed missions to archival images and the memories of members of the unit.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Best Value
It is less suitable if you are looking for a comprehensive survey of the U.S. Army Air Forces or a technical account of every 100th Bomb Group operation. In that case, treat the documentary as an accessible companion, then turn to specialist books, archives, or unit records for deeper research.
Spoiler warning: Because the documentary identifies the real people portrayed in Masters of the Air, it may reveal historical outcomes connected with the series, including the fates of figures viewers have followed in the drama.
The verdict
The Bloody Hundredth is valuable precisely because it is not another fictional episode. Released alongside the Masters of the Air finale, it gives the 100th Bomb Group’s story a documentary frame: real voices, archival material, and a direct reminder that the drama’s characters were based on men who lived through the air war. Watch it as a historical coda—not as a sequel or a complete fact-check—and it adds meaningful context to Apple’s World War II series.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
