Glenn Flickinger: Masters of the Air

In conjunction with the Apple TV+ series, Masters of the Air, VBC historian host Glenn Flickinger will discuss the history of the air war over Europe from the perspective of the US Army Air Force. In addition to the 8th Air Force he discusses the role of fighters and the tactical air forces supporting the ground forces, the role fo the 15th Air Force based in Italy. He also reviews the strategies involved, their initial flaws, the turnaround achieved to gain air superiority before the Normandy invasion and finally effectiveness of the overall air war strategy in winning the war.

Masters of the Air is a streaming television miniseries by Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks based on the 2007 book Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany by Donald L. Miller about the 100th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force.

Glenn Flickinger is historian, speaker, and host of the Veterans Breakfast Club's Greatest Generation Live, a livestreamed talk show about all things WWII. Retired from a long career as banker, business owner, and executive coach, Glenn now devotes himself full-time to his lifelong history obsession, lecturing widely and interviewing experts, authors, and veterans with stories to tell. In 2024, he launches a new weekly program, Masters of the Air Live, covering the history behind the Apple TV+ series. He will also lead a "Masters of the Air Tour" of Great Britain visiting museums, airfields, and other sites associated with the Air War over Europe. He is currently working on a biography of WWII Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox.