A definitive edition for a defining story
Donald L. Miller’s Masters of the Air: How the Bomber Boys Broke Down the Nazi War Machine — the book that inspired Apple TV’s recent WWII miniseries — is being reissued in a deluxe hardcover from the Folio Society. Scheduled for release on March 3, this new collector’s edition expands the original with more visual material and a new introduction by Tom Hanks, who co-produced the television adaptation with Steven Spielberg.
What’s new in this Folio Society release
Key features of the edition include:
- An introduction by Tom Hanks.
- More than 60 photographs and new illustrations, many appearing in print for the first time.
- Specially commissioned artwork, high-quality paper and print, and a protective sleeve designed for collectors.
Author Donald L. Miller praised the edition, noting his pleasure at being included in the Folio Society’s roster and expressing satisfaction with the production values. He highlighted the addition of “striking new artwork” and “magnificent new photographs and illustrations” as enhancements that make the book a “collector’s delight.”
The book within the Folio Society’s Wartime Tombs series
This Masters of the Air release is part of the Folio Society’s Wartime Tombs collection, a curated set that pairs Miller’s book with other notable works: Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose, Dispatches by Michael Herr, and Shōgun by James Clavell. The grouping underscores the publisher’s focus on richly produced editions of influential wartime and historical narratives.
Film and television legacy: Hanks, Spielberg and faithful adaptations
Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg have played a major role in bringing mid-20th-century wartime stories to screens both large and small. Their involvement in adaptations — informed by prior work such as Saving Private Ryan and the mini-epic projects that followed — has emphasized historical fidelity and cinematic scale. The Apple TV series adapted from Miller’s book benefited from that same creative attention, helping to renew interest in the source material and make this deluxe edition timely for readers and viewers alike.
Who will want this edition
- Collectors of finely produced books and military history enthusiasts who appreciate primary photography and archival images.
- Fans of the Apple TV series seeking a deeper, more tactile connection to the real events and people behind the drama.
- Readers drawn to accounts of air power and the strategic role of bomber units in World War II.
Price and availability
The Folio Society’s collector’s edition of Masters of the Air will be available beginning March 3. The edition is priced at £100 in the U.K. and US $145 in the United States.
Where to go next
To mark the release, readers can pair the book with a viewing of the Apple TV miniseries adaptation. For collectors interested in similar releases, exploring the Folio Society’s Wartime Tombs set offers additional richly produced volumes that complement Miller’s account.
Final note
This edition brings new visual and editorial context to a landmark work about the bomber crews who shaped aerial warfare in World War II. With an introduction from one of the series’ producers and archival photographs that illuminate the human dimension of the story, the Folio Society release aims to be both a handsome object and a fuller portal into the history that inspired the recent television adaptation.