Arkansan portrayed in new Apple TV+ WWII series ‘Masters of the Air’

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – “Masters of the Air” is a World War II drama following the men of the 100th Bomb Group, a tight-knit unit of aircrews and ground crews, known as the “Bloody 100th.”

The new Apple TV+ series follows a piece of history some have never heard of as it is a story centered on the men who served in the United States 100th Bomb Group during WWII who flew heavy bombers to defeat Nazi Germany.

New Apple TV+ series ‘Masters of the Air’ has Arkansas ties

One of the men portrayed in the series is Kenneth Lemmons, known to many as Ken who was born on a farm in Pocahontas, Arkansas. Lemmons’ son Dan Lemmons said when his father was 18 years old his life changed forever.

“His brother Cletus, who was like a year and a half older than Dad, was immediately drafted into the Army and Dad joined a year later,” Lemmons said. “These men put everything they had to save the world from a horrendous dictator in Hitler.”

Lemmons said although his father was still young at the time, he was brave. Ken Lemmons was a flight chief with the 100th Bomb Group and in that position, he worked with a group of men under him who fixed multiple planes that came back from a bombing mission that were severely damaged. Lemmons said their goal was to continue to put planes back in the air every day.

“The aircrew depended on the ground crew to be able to get those planes fixed and do another bomb run or else they would have never been able to do it,” Lemmons said.

He said everyone there built a bond that could never be broken despite all the tragedy they endured.

“The losses with the 100th Bomb Group, which was nicknamed the ‘Bloody 100th’ because of their horrendous losses, were staggering,” Lemmons explained.

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Lemons said the group of men were all heroes.

“One thing I learned from my dad was God, country and dedication,” Lemmons said.

Ken is being portrayed by Raff Law who is the son of actor Jude Law. Lemmons said he had the opportunity to meet Law and said he was very nice and humble.

“Raff does have a slight resemblance to him with his curly hair and everything,” Lemmons said.

Although Ken died in 2004, Lemmons said he loved getting to learn more about his father through the screen 20 years later.

“I would like for everyone to know that he was a very kind man who would give you the shirt off his back,” Lemmons said.

The “Masters of the Air” series also follows “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific”, by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks who are executive producers. The series is set to air on Apple TV+ on Friday.

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Pictures were provided by Dan Lemmons and the 100th Bomb Group Foundation, whose president is also from Arkansas.

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