AppleTV+’s new miniseries “masters of the airtells the story of the Army Air Forces' 100th Bomb Group, known as the Bloody Hundreds, during World War II.

Throughout the battle, the Bloody Hundreds counted airmen from Alabama among their ranks. This series touches on some of the young Alabamians who served in the 100th Bomb Group's European operations.

Bob Furst of Huntsville, Secretary of State The story behind the stars The project investigated some of the Alabamians in the group and uncovered some details about their combat missions and deaths.

Lieutenant Richard C. KingLayton (Colbert County)

King was born on March 22, 1917 in Layton. He enlisted in his 1941 year. He was part of a group sent to bomb the Caudron-Renault factory in Paris. On September 3, 1943, Dr. King was killed when his plane was hit by enemy fire in southern France. Some of King's crew were successfully rescued. He was originally buried in a local cemetery in France and reburied in 1949 at King Cemetery in Colbert County.

2nd Lieutenant William M. Bedeau, Jr.Ensley (Jefferson County)

Beddoe Jr. was born on February 8, 1921 in Ensley, Jefferson County. He enlisted in Tuscaloosa in his 1942 year. Beddoe was killed on October 10, 1943, when his bomber was hit during a fierce air battle in which his 350 Nazi fighters took to the skies to defend Germany. Beddoe was originally buried in a local cemetery in Germany, and after the war he was reburied at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham.

Lieutenant Stewart A. McClain, Gadsden (Etowah County)

McClain was born on January 26, 1921 in Ringgold, Catoosa County, Georgia, but moved with his family to Alabama as a child. Stewart enlisted or was transferred to the Army Air Force in 1942. McClain was killed on February 25, 1944, during a bombing mission over Germany when his plane was hit multiple times by anti-aircraft fire and artillery fire from Luftwaffe pilots. MacLaine is buried at the Normandy-American Cemetery and Memorial in Colville-sur-Mer, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France.

Furst is continuing his research to learn more about the Alabama hero who died wearing the costume.If you would like to learn more, please visit here The story behind the stars.org

During World War II, nearly 800 members of the Army Air Forces' 100th Bomb Group died in combat.

Austin Shipley is a staff writer at Yellowhammer News.