There's a lot for World War II history buffs to be excited about in the upcoming nine-episode limited series, "Masters of the Air." Like its Emmy-winning companion series "Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific" before it, "Masters of the Air" is based on a thoroughly researched source, honors the courage and sacrifices of real U.S. service members and will likely depict World War II combat with astounding realism. This time, it'll be the Army Air Forces in the spotlight.

When Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks teamed to adapt Stephen E. Ambrose's bestselling book "Band of Brothers" for HBO, it was the most expensive show ever produced, with 10 episodes costing $125 million. When "Masters of the Air' debuts on Apple TV+ on Jan. 26, 2024, it won't necessarily break any records, but its budget will more than double that of "Band of Brothers." With a budget like that, viewers should expect some incredible air combat sequences. With the WWII-era Army Air Forces, there's plenty to show -- and it's not pretty.