If you’ve been hunting for the 100th Bomb Group online, you’ve probably noticed something frustrating. You search for the show, and a dozen different sites try to point you toward various platforms. It's a mess. Most people assume that because Band of Brothers and The Pacific are historical staples of HBO (and now Max), their spiritual successor would be there too.
It isn't.
Honestly, the story of how this show ended up where it did is almost as dramatic as the aerial dogfights. Originally, HBO was the planned home for this massive $250 million production. But budgets changed, leadership shifted, and eventually, the project was "put into turnaround." That’s industry speak for "we aren't making it, someone else can." Apple stepped in with a massive checkbook, making this the first series produced by Apple Studios.
Where to stream Masters of the Air right now
There is exactly one place to watch this: Apple TV+.
You won't find it on Netflix. It isn't hidden in the Hulu library. Even if you have a Max subscription specifically to watch the first two parts of the trilogy, you're out of luck there. Apple owns the global distribution rights, which basically means they have it on lock in every country where their service operates.
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The series premiered on January 26, 2024. All nine episodes are now fully available. This is a "limited series," so don't go looking for a Season 2. The story of Gale "Buck" Cleven and John "Bucky" Egan is told from start to finish across that single nine-episode arc.
Does it cost anything?
Well, yeah. Apple TV+ isn't free, but it's cheaper than a lot of its rivals. In 2026, the standard monthly rate sits around $9.99, depending on where you live.
If you're a new subscriber, you can usually snag a 7-day free trial. That’s more than enough time to binge the whole thing if you've got a free weekend. Also, if you’ve recently bought a new iPhone, iPad, or Mac, check your settings. Apple often bundles three months of the service for free with new hardware.
One thing people often get wrong: You do not need an Apple device to watch it. You can stream through a web browser, on a Roku, an Amazon Fire Stick, or most modern smart TVs. Just download the Apple TV app and you're good.
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Why this show is actually different from Band of Brothers
A lot of fans go in expecting a ground-war vibe. They want the dirt of Easy Company. Masters of the Air is a different beast entirely. It focuses on the "Bloody Hundredth," the bomber boys who flew B-17 Flying Fortresses over Nazi Germany.
It was a different kind of war.
In the infantry, you might be in the line for weeks. In the Air Force, you flew a mission, and if you survived, you were back in a relatively comfortable base in England by dinner time. But the casualty rates were horrifying. We are talking about 77% casualty rates for some groups. You were basically flying in a freezing metal box at 25,000 feet while people shot flak at you.
The production value shows every cent of that $250 million. The CGI used to recreate the massive formations of bombers—sometimes hundreds of planes at once—is something you just haven't seen on TV before.
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Who is in the cast?
The casting is actually pretty incredible. They caught several actors right as they were becoming massive stars.
- Austin Butler plays Major Gale "Buck" Cleven.
- Callum Turner is Major John "Bucky" Egan.
- Barry Keoghan shows up as Lt. Curtis Biddick.
- Ncuti Gatwa (the current Doctor Who) appears as 2nd Lt. Robert Daniels.
Streaming it abroad or while traveling
If you are traveling in 2026 and find yourself in a country where Apple TV+ isn't supported, things get slightly more complicated. This happens in a few regions where licensing or local regulations are tricky.
In those cases, people typically use a VPN to hop back to their home region. It's a standard move for frequent travelers. You just set your location to the U.S. or U.K., log into your account, and the "Bloody Hundredth" will be right there waiting.
What to watch after you finish
Once you've wrapped up the finale, you might feel a bit of a void. This kind of high-budget historical drama doesn't come around often.
- The Bloody Hundredth: This is a documentary also on Apple TV+. It's narrated by Tom Hanks and features real footage and interviews with the actual veterans portrayed in the show. It’s a must-watch to see the faces behind the actors.
- Band of Brothers & The Pacific: If you haven't seen these, they are currently on Max (and sometimes Netflix through licensing deals). They are the essential companion pieces.
- Greyhound: A movie starring Tom Hanks, also on Apple TV+, focusing on the naval war in the Atlantic. It fits the vibe perfectly.
If you are ready to start, the first step is to check your Apple ID for any dormant free trials. Many people have them sitting there unused. Once you're signed in, look for the "Masters of the Air" banner on the home screen—it's usually front and center given it’s one of their flagship originals. Start with "Part One" and keep the tissues handy for the later episodes; it gets heavy.