‘The Bloody Hundredth’ documentary puts real faces to TV show’s heroes

The World War II story of the Eighth Air Force’s 100th Bomb Group, which came to be known as the “Bloody Hundredth,” made its way to TV screens this year with the release of the Steven Spielberg-Tom Hanks series “Masters of the Air.”

For viewers looking to learn more about the larger-than-life troops depicted on the show, a companion documentary titled “The Bloody Hundredth” is just the ticket.

Directed by Mark Herzog and Laurent Bouzereau, the 62-minute film features interviews with living B-17 bomber pilots who flew some of the war’s most dangerous missions. And while many of the conflict’s air crew members have since passed away, Herzog was able to source previously recorded footage that fit seamlessly within the story.