Most people might not have predicted that Rosenthal would turn out to be one of the series’ hidden heroes, but for those unfamiliar with the character’s backstory, it comes as quite the shock. As the series progresses, learning more about Rosenthal becomes one of the most exciting aspects.
As we reach the finale, which delivers on this front. Though Rosenthal is shot down over Berlin early in the final episode, he soon finds himself amongst Russian allies. It’s worth noting that Rosenthal was shot down twice during his 52 missions with the 100th Bomb Group, yet managed to return to the London base both times.
Even in the harshest conditions, hope still burns for the prisonersMeanwhile, our captured heroes back at Stalag Luft III are also awaiting help from Russian allies. The winter conditions at the prison are described by Egan as a literal “icebox.” Escaping in the snow is practically impossible—you would likely freeze before making it out alive.
So, the prisoners wait, holding onto the hope that a miracle will come their way. One night, they wake up to be told that it’s time to leave the camp. “The Russians must be nearby,” Cleven guesses. It seems that their long-awaited chance has finally arrived.
The prisoners eventually make their way to Stalag XIII in Nuremberg, Germany
The prisoners eventually make their way to Stalag XIII in Nuremberg, Germany, where Cleven has a reunion with an old friend from back home. “Only guy I’ve ever met who knows more about baseball than you do,” he says to Egan. A possible rival for the bromance? “Cubs,” Cleven’s friend replies.
Not quite. “There’s always next year,” Egan tells him. Unfortunately, he’ll have to wait for another 70 years before that happens. As for Rosenthal, his journey takes him through Poland, where he stops at the abandoned Zabikowo forced labor camp.
According to the Holocaust Historical Society, approximately 21,624 prisoners passed through this camp before being sent on death marches to concentration camps like Auschwitz and Ravensbruck. Russian troops, who were part of the force that brought Rosenthal to safety, liberated the camp on January 26, 1945.
Much like what we saw in Band of Brothers’ haunting concentration camp episode, German forces abandoned these camps upon hearing that enemy troops were nearing, often killing the prisoners in the process. At Zabikowo in Masters of the Air, we witness what seems to be one such brutal retreat.
“Everyone was already burned before we arrived,” a Russian officer tells a shocked Rosenthal. “Our comrades found even bigger camps than this.” Rosenthal then encounters a Jewish survivor who shares a harrowing story of being forced to bury his own family.
His faith shattered, Rosenthal resumes his journey to find a way back home.
As Rosenthal heads home, he witnesses an appalling sight
Meanwhile, Cleven and Egan find themselves in complete chaos when they march into a town deep within Germany. A fight breaks out between the German troops, the prisoners, and the local townspeople, providing an opportunity for them to escape.
The icebox of Stalag Luft III holds more than just prisonersCleven manages to leap over a wall and survive, even as he comes under enemy fire. Unfortunately, his escape is made possible only by Egan’s selfless decision to let him go. Separated, it will take the end of the war for the two to reunite.
Rosenthal eventually makes it back to London and enjoys a drink with Harry H. Crosby, who informs him that he’s going to be a father. This is a clear sign that it’s time for Rosenthal to stop his reckless behavior and return home to his wife.
“You know, Rosie,” Crosby says, “sometimes I wake up and I don’t even recognize myself in the mirror.” Then, quoting Nietzsche, he adds, “Whoever fights monsters, should take care not to become a monster himself.”
Having just witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust, Rosenthal sharply responds, “No, they got it coming.” When Cleven and Egan finally return home at the close of the war, Cleven quickly marries his girlfriend, Marjorie Spencer, with Egan proudly standing as his best man.
The two remain close friends for the next two decades, with Egan eventually rising to become the Director of Air Force Operations in the Pacific. As co-producer Kirk Saduski of Masters of the Air told Smithsonian, “These guys [kept] getting back into the planes for each other.”
That sentiment captures the importance of their bond.
