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[Retrocide]

Good to see this is gonna be focused on adapting one book instead of 3 or more like with The Pacific. Going to have to read this book asap

That was the main problem with the Pacific.
I look forward to a complete miniseries from training to war.
Startling WWII Fact
According to the AAF Statistical Digest, in less than four years (December 1941-August 1945), the US Army Air Forces lost 14,903 pilots, aircrew and assorted personnel plus 13,873 airplanes --- inside the continental United States . They were the result of 52,651 aircraft accidents (6,039 involving fatalities) in 45 months.
Think about those numbers. They average 1,170 aircraft accidents per month---- nearly 40 a day.

 

[DXPett1]

I was one of the ones who loved BoB but stopped watching the pacific.

Add my name to that list. I still rewatch bob to this day. The Pacific was such a let down. Please no more Tom Hanks voice over

 

[antonz]

Really hope that like the Pacific they will do a Pacific version of the Airmen stuff. Pacific Theater was a hell of a lot different then the European Sorties.

Enterprise still provides the best opportunity for Pacific Air stuff too.

Was present at 20 of 22 engagements in the War. Was the ship that began the practice of Night time Carrier operations, Sank Half of the Japanese Carriers at Midway with her planes. For a period of the war she was the only US Carrier in active service defending the entire pacific while being hunted by the Japanese to finish off the US carrier fleet. Japanese on 3 separate occasions tried to report the Enterprise as sunk.

Ship and crew saw so much action and the demands on her were so high they were forced to leave port after having a bomb destroy an elevator with half the repair crew of another ship and ground repair battalions working on the ship just so they could get her battle ready while underway to a battle.

Finally was taken out of the war in May 45 when a Kamikaze inflicted enough damage she had to return home for repairs and was in the process of repairs when the war ended.
Enterprise crew shot down over 900 planes Sank anywhere from 70-200 ships.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

Does HBO have a standing policy whereby only WW2 shows focused on Americans will get approved? It's not that they aren't good, but people would like to see stuff from the British, Russian or even German perspective. If you really want to throw a curveball, do some partisan action in France or Czechoslovakia.

I think it's a case of how much these miniseries cost to make (The Pacific cost $200m before marketing) and the fact that the campaigns outside of the US' wouldn't garner nearly as much interest from mainstream American audiences.

 

[Wubby]

Exciting news! Memphis Belle was one of my favorite movies as a kid growing up. I had it on VHS and used to watch it a ton. I even found the making of VHS which was hard to find back in the day.

I will love this new series but I can't help but feel a bit disappointed that it isn't going to be about the air war in the Pacific as was previously rumored. A mini series that followed the Enterprise would be interested but you guys have to realize that while the carrier was involved in a lot of battles the same pilots/squadrons were not. Air squadrons rotated in and out over the course of the war so you would have the same problem as you had in the Pacific. Unless they just covered one squadron which is a possibility.

The Pacific (show) had it's moments. The battle of Peleliu was intense and my favorite part of the show. The Australian episode and the moments dealing with Basilone at home were rather dull and I skip these on rewatches.

I too would love more perspectives of from the war other than US. But it's a US made show for a US audience so they have to make what will get them the biggest returns.

 

[Jimothy]

Does HBO have a standing policy whereby only WW2 shows focused on Americans will get approved? It's not that they aren't good, but people would like to see stuff from the British, Russian or even German perspective. If you really want to throw a curveball, do some partisan action in France or Czechoslovakia.

Spielberg and Hanks are true believers in the myth of the Greatest Generation. And since they're the only people with enough clout in Hollywood to get stuff like this made, obviously it's going to promote their worldview of American Exceptionalism.

 

[PinkCrayon]

Would be much more interested in a story on the eastern front, but the air force is alright too. Just don't suck balls like the pacific and I'll be happy.

 

[PhoenixDark]

The only show HBO used to make that was better than Boardwalk is The Sopranos.

just stop it

 

[legend166]

Does HBO have a standing policy whereby only WW2 shows focused on Americans will get approved? It's not that they aren't good, but people would like to see stuff from the British, Russian or even German perspective. If you really want to throw a curveball, do some partisan action in France or Czechoslovakia.

How many television shows in general have come out of Hollywood that have focused on non-American stories/characters/situations? People always complain about it but it's a bit weird. These are American studios making entertainment for American audiences. I mean I'd love an HBO series about the Australian soldiers fighting at Tobruk or the Kokoda Track, but it's not realistic or even reasonable to expect that.

 

[Starfish_Oxide]

Band of Brahs.

You mean Generation Kill?

 

[PS3GamerKyle]

Band of Brothers was the best miniseries of all time. The Pacific sucked.

I'm not sure how to feel about this.

 

[SteveWD40]

Since my Granddad was a decorated Flight Engineer in the Lancaster Bombers Pathfinder squadron (who saved his plane from going down once with a bootlace) I will wait with baited breath to see his memory tarnished by Spielbergs Anglo-phobic approach to WW2, I imagine some off hand remark about "them Brits not being able to hit shit" or something.

Great.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

They are going to make the RAF look bad aren't they.

Though hopefull, if it's based in UK again we would get a the next batch of English actors as we did with BoB.

I'd like to see them try, RAF kicked all kinds of ass in the war. Wish it was about the RAF actually, or I wish the english would take a crack at a similar idea. my great uncle was a bomber pilot. wrote a book and everything. stories were crazy.

Since my Granddad was a decorated Flight Engineer in the Lancaster Bombers Pathfinder squadron (who saved his plane from going down once with a bootlace) I will wait with baited breath to see his memory tarnished by Spielbergs Anglo-phobic approach to WW2, I imagine some off hand remark about "them Brits not being able to hit shit" or something.

Great.

My great uncle flew lancaster bombers as well. He wrote this book,

http://www.loot.co.za/product/douglas-hawker-with-luck-to-spare/mkfv-251-g530

apparently the guy who is credited for bombing those dams in Germany
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqx6wwhKazw

was a bit of a douche and not very competent. he told story of a negative mission involving that guy.

I hope they address dresden as well. My great uncle felt bad about that.

 

[Dmax3901]

The only show HBO used to make that was better than Boardwalk is The Sopranos.

Holy shit this gif response made me lol.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

My paternal grandfather was in the RAAF and was... somehow involved with a plane. At some stage. I think it was some sort of light bomber, and he was a navigator? I sort of wish I quizzed him about it more when I had direct contact with him. Found recent porn bookmarks on his PC a few years back (at age 92) when I was troubleshooting for him, so they definitely trained up some tough hombres in the commonwealth air forces.

 

[Dead Man]

Spielberg and Hanks are true believers in the myth of the Greatest Generation. And since they're the only people with enough clout in Hollywood to get stuff like this made, obviously it's going to promote their worldview of American Exceptionalism.

Pretty much.

My paternal grandfather was in the RAAF and was... somehow involved with a plane. At some stage. I think it was some sort of light bomber, and he was a navigator? I sort of wish I quizzed him about it more when I had direct contact with him. Found recent porn bookmarks on his PC a few years back (at age 92) when I was troubleshooting for him, so they definitely trained up some tough hombres in the commonwealth air forces.

I used to work with a gent who was a pilot on Lancasters for the RAF during WW2, and one who was a navigator on... Havocs I think. Some amazing stories they had, and lovely fellows. No idea about their porn habits though.

 

[Dead Man]

Damn it, double post.

 

[Sleepy]

My paternal grandfather was in the RAAF and was... somehow involved with a plane. At some stage. I think it was some sort of light bomber, and he was a navigator? I sort of wish I quizzed him about it more

My grandfather flew P-38s and some of the stories he told me were incredible. Almost running out of fuel, what it was like in a dogfight, flying back with a bullet-riddled plane, and landing with malfunctioning/damaged gear. I have some old pics of him in his flight suit and in the plane-- after he died I even got in contact with some of his old-flying buddies and shot the shit about my grandfather and the war. Those guys were in their late 70s- late 80s, but when they talked about the war, it was like they were young men all over again. There was even a book written about them-- The Long Road Home, or some shit (I cannot believe I have forgotten the name). Gave me a new perspective on my grandfather. I will be all over this show.

 

[Timbuktu]

I'd like to see them try, RAF kicked all kinds of ass in the war. Wish it was about the RAF actually, or I wish the english would take a crack at a similar idea. my great uncle was a bomber pilot. wrote a book and everything. stories were crazy..

I will wait with baited breath to see his memory tarnished by Spielbergs Anglo-phobic approach to WW2, I imagine some off hand remark about "them Brits not being able to hit shit" or something.

Just looking at the book summary, you can already see how this is gonna happen. Yes. The Brits are a bunch of pussies and Americans have to come in show them how it's done. Awesome. Plus jokes about English weather.

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.

 

[Beautifully Shaped Monsters]

The Pacific got a lot better when it started to focus Eugene Sledge (Sledgehammer).

I even tracked down the book afterwards (with the old breed at Peleliu and Okinawa), highly recommended.

 

[Zod the Bear]

I'd been hoping for the air campaign in the Pacific, but anything aerial'll keep me happy, really.

(Though following the Eastern Front would be my top choice, I love planes.)

 

[Windu]

I hope it's better than The Pacific. I didn't even finish watching The Pacific, while BoB is one of my favorite shows.

You missed out on the best episodes of the pacific then.

 

[PoweredBySoy]

I hope it's better than The Pacific. I didn't even finish watching The Pacific, while BoB is one of my favorite shows.

Agree. I did finish Pacific, but I didn't particularly care for it. Everything seemed so claustrophobic in that series - every (jungle) scene looked like a movie set. I never really connected with the characters either, often getting them mixed up.

 

[Hari Seldon]

The strategic bombing campaign will make for a great miniseries. The fact that the majority of it is going to take place in a B-17 hull, should limit the CGI. They will get to focus on one crew and their interpersonal relationships to develop the characters a lot better than the disjointed Pacific.

Also, the strategic air war in WWII is fascinating from a Dr. Strangelove perspective. Check out a fairly recent Dan Carlin Hardcore History about it.

Also, I love WWII airplanes. So that is awesome. Want to see some sweet FW-190 CGI lol. Tom Hanks is a stickler for details.

 

[Atrophis]

Is this going to be like Pearl Harbour where Ben Affleck single handedly wins the Battle of Britain? :/