A bomber crew of the 100th Bomb Group under the engines of their B-17 Flying Fortress, 23 August 1943. ©IWM (FRE 906)

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Promotional still from Apple TV's Masters of the Air: Austin Butler as Gale Gleven standing in front of B-17 Flying Fortress ©Apple TV+

Masters of the Air

Masters of the Air

Dive deeper into the stories depicted in the hit Apple TV+ series Masters of the Air with the American Air Museum. 

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American Air Museum

The American Air Museum explores Anglo-American collaboration in conflict and its impact on people’s lives since the First World War

A young couple looking at the nose of the B-17 Flying Fortress in the American Air Museum at IWM Duxford ©IWM

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Meet the men and women whose lives were shaped by American aviation throughout a century of war at IWM Duxford.
Sergeant L.F. Teetman, of the 379th Bomb Group enjoys a sandwich and coffee before interrogation Kimbolton, 1 January 1944. ©IWM (FRE 4796)

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Our archive records the experience of the US Army Air Forces in Britain and Europe during the Second World War.
Visitor looking at aircraft in AAM ©IWM

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Stories

Explore our latest stories about the ways American air power affected peoples lives and played a key part in conflict in the 20th and 21st centuries.

YouTube teaser image with B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 100th Bomb Group and a portrait of Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal
STORY

The true story of the 100th Bomb Group

The 100th Bomb Group is one of the most famous of the Second World War - earning the nickname 'The Bloody Hundredth'. Their experiences are featured in the war drama Masters of the Air. But where did their legend come from?
Newly arrived American prisoners of war with their luggage at Stalag Luft III, Sagan, amongst them Alexander Jefferson a Black airman of the 332nd Fighter Group. ©IWM
STORY

Life behind the wire at Stalag Luft III

On 12 August, 1944, Alexander Jefferson was flying his P-51 Mustang over the French Riviera, when he noticed a string of blinking red lights – anti-aircraft fire. His aircraft critically hit, Jefferson bailed out, and was soon captured by the Germans, beginning a nine-month ordeal as a Prisoner of War.

B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-100360) nicknamed "Luck and Stuff" flies in formation with other Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group during a mission ©IWM (FRE 1753)
STORY

Big Week: How Operation Argument changed the tide of the air war in Europe

It was 20 February 1944 and ground crews on flight lines across East Anglia readied their aircraft for a mission. This mission, the first of Operation Argument, would constitute an all-out effort to wrestle air superiority from the Luftwaffe. The success of Overlord rested on the outcome of “Big Week”.

A young couple looking at a display in the American Air Museum with the B-17 Flying Fortress in the backgroun ©IWM

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