Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg team up for a 10 part tv series about WW2 bombers

the series is based on the 2006 novel by Donald L. Miller "Masters Of The Air" the story of the US Eighth Air Force’s crews, as well as the story from the ground or those being bombed in Britain, Germany and throughout Europe. fhttp://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/new-tv-series-masters-air-tell-story-world-war-two-bombers.html

The TV series, they say, will avoid using composite characters, focusing instead on the real stories of the actual figures who flew with Eighth Air Force, and in particular the "Bloody Hundredth" bomb group, one of the hardest hitting — and hardest hit.

 With a purported budget of $500 million (more than seven times that of Saving Private Ryan) the 10-part HBO miniseries Masters of the Air is poised to become the most expensive production in television history as Spielberg and Hanks endeavor to produce a visually stunning and at times viscerally heart-rending tribute to the brave aircrews. http://www.flyingmag.com/pilots-places/pilots-adventures-more/masters-air-tribute-mighty-eighth

Joining an oeuvre that already includes 2001's Band of Brothers and 2010's The Pacific, the miniseries will explore the aerial wars through the eyes of enlisted men of the Eighth Air Force. The miniseries are a significant financial commitment for HBO requiring the construction of large-scale sets, significant special effects and pyrotechnics and, because of the nature of the stories, big ensemble casts. Brothers cost $125 million to produce, and The Pacific was budgeted at $200 million; millions more were spent on promotion for both series. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbo-developing-third-wwii-miniseries-413632

Spielberg has directed with Hanks in a leading role, in Saving Private Ryan, The Terminal, and Catch Me If You Can... and they have recently worked on the Cold War true story of the CIA attorney that was trying to get the release of the U2 spyplane Russia captured http://www.ew.com/article/2014/12/18/steven-spielberg-tom-hanks-cold-war-spy-mission

Jimmy Stewart served in the 8th

https://www.facebook.com/mighty8thmuseum is the source of the below images of crews from the 8th, and the image of Jimmy Stewart above

As you probably know already, World War II could not have been won without the Eighth Air Force's fearsome B-17 Flying Fortresses (the "Boeings," the Luftwaffe called them), which pounded Germany by day while the British bombed at night. As America's main strategic bomber command, the Mighty Eighth brought Nazi Germany to its knees with an unrelenting aerial assault from bases in eastern England involving tens of thousands of airplanes and hundreds of thousands of men. Never before in the history of warfare has such a fearsome force been unleashed on an enemy — nor is it likely in the post-nuclear era that the world will ever again witness such an awesome aerial display.

That's not to say that the young American men inside the bombers flew without fear. The Eighth Air Force's B-17s and B-24s launched on audaciously daring missions over heavily defended Europe to strike at the heart of Adolf Hitler's industrial war-­making capacity. Daylight strategic bombing on such a massive scale was an untested idea at the start of World War II, but military commanders including legendary American generals like Ira Eaker and Jimmy Doolittle knew that, while the plan was risky, it was also the surest way to inflict crippling damage on Hitler's ability to wage war.

The Mighty Eighth would eventually achieve its objectives through relentless bombing of German airplane factories, submarine pens, oil refineries, railway yards, ball bearing production facilities and other industrial targets deemed central to the Nazi war effort. In the beginning it would do it alone, without fighter escorts, another untested approach. But against the dug-in Nazis there seemed no other way. As President Franklin Roosevelt put it in 1943, "Hitler built walls around his ‘Fortress Europe' but he forgot to put a roof on it." http://www.flyingmag.com/pilots-places/pilots-adventures-more/masters-air-tribute-mighty-eighth

the tv series even has a Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Masters-of-the-Air/142322062593374

NHRA is rattled and pissy, because the TV show "Street Outlaws" is getting better ratings than NHRA broadcasts on ESPN

Would the NHRA send similar letters to all Street Outlaws sponsors who advertise in National Dragster or sponsor their events or broadcasts? If the NHRA feels that this is unbecoming to the sport as they state, do they also feel it would be unbecoming to the sport if a certain driver posed naked for ESPN magazine in 2013? Where does the NHRA draw the morality line?

written by Hot Rod editor Thom Taylor: http://www.hotrod.com/news/nhra-warns-participate-in-street-outlaws-cable-show-lose-your-competition-license/

among the comments was this wisdom: NHRA: we don't condone street racing. Therefore you cannot run on our track.

The NHRA responds to Hot Rod Magazine's post, and commentary from readers: http://www.hotrod.com/news/nhra-responds-to-the-hate-over-their-street-outlaws-letter/

My commentary to their bag of hot air response to Hot Rod .com

this demonstrates, that they effectively said nothing, and shifted focus from their PR problem to the kids... like politicians (But look what we do for the kids!)

Well, thanks for nothing PR spokeman.

 Thom, can you try hard case journalism? I know that HRM has a historical tie in, what with Wally Parks, but you represent the journalist reporting magazine now, and the NHRA can soft sell its pablum on it's own paper or magazine. Hit them with the "And?" follow up until they see that blowing smoke up your skirt ain't cutting it. 

Specifically the ratings question. You are letting that fall this way? He didn't answer the question, and you didn't follow up with, "So, answer the question." Are the ESPN ratings of NHRA races higher or lower. When they broadcast is irrelevant, no one asked about your ratings trending higher or lower. ATFQ

Thom, retract all the BS about Jr Street and jr Dragster. Why are you advertising BS for them? They didn't answer the questions, and you let Hot Rod.com get used for their advertising instead of your interview. 

I'm disappointed Thom. I know you're a hall of fame designer, award winner, and professor, and not a journalist, but serious time to tighten the belt and take no prisoners when you interview a slick PR bloated bag of crap. Get answers, don't give advertising for unrelated child programs.

For the stats comparison between NHRA (400k watchers) and Street Outlaws (2 million viewers) http://www.dragzine.com/news/tv-ratings-follow-up-street-outlaws-widens-the-gap-on-nhra/