National Geographic Honors WW2 Soldiers of Color With Two New Specials
17 Abril 2024 - 1:00PM
Business Wire
ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF COLOR, Executive
Produced and Narrated by Idris Elba (‘Hijack’), the Four-Part
Series Reveals the Unsung Stories of People of Color Who Served
During the War
THE REAL RED TAILS, Narrated by Sheryl Lee
Ralph (‘Abbott Elementary’), a One-Hour Special Exploring an
80-Year-Old Mystery Involving a Tuskegee Airman
Both Specials Premiere June 3 on National
Geographic and Stream Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu
Trailer Here:
https://youtu.be/InQMoBvzQeY
Continuing National Geographic’s 136-year record of giving
viewers access to pivotal historical moments with new breadth and
insight, the network will honor the contributions and sacrifices of
overlooked Allied soldiers of color with two new specials on
Monday, June 3. At 9/8c, ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF COLOR, a
four-part docuseries executive produced and narrated by Idris
Elba (“Hijack”), will premiere, and THE REAL RED TAILS,
a one-hour documentary narrated by Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott
Elementary”) will kick off the evening at 8/7c. Both specials will
stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Produced by October Films and Elba’s 22Summers,
ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF COLOR uncovers the long-lost
legacies of soldiers of color during World War II. This landmark
series sheds light on the immense contributions of over eight
million individuals who fought heroically for the Allied forces and
whose stories have largely gone untold.
The four-part series weaves a blend of historical dramatizations
with curated archival footage, bridging the past with the present
to highlight new perspectives on established histories. The series
showcases the personal narratives of soldiers through their
never-before-aired oral testimonies and journal writings, along
with powerful accounts from their descendants — stories passed down
through the generations. These gripping and emotional testimonies
transport viewers back in time to witness bravery unfold in WW2’s
iconic theatres of war.
Each episode focuses on at least three extraordinary heroes,
from a 16-year-old New Yorker to an aristocrat from India:
- “PEARL HARBOR” Premieres June 3 at 9/8c on Nat Geo,
Streams June 4 on Disney+ and Hulu This episode tells the story
of three Black sailors who not only miraculously survived the
attack on Pearl Harbor but also saved countless lives. Working as
messmen below deck on segregated ships, hundreds of Black sailors
fought for their lives as Japanese bombs hit, with some performing
incredible acts of heroism. It took years before many of these men
were properly honored after their return.
- “D-DAY” Premieres June 3 at 10/9c on Nat Geo, Streams
June 4 on Disney+ and Hulu In this episode, we unearth the
hidden heroes of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion who helped
liberate Europe. These American soldiers were the only all-Black
combat unit to fight on the D-Day beaches. After valiantly serving
their country, they returned home, hoping for the Civil Rights
Movement to secure change, only to find a country where their
heroics in France were quickly forgotten.
- “DUNKIRK” Premieres June 10 at 9/8c on Nat Geo,
Streams June 4 on Disney+ and Hulu This episode reveals the
gripping story of Force K6, a little-known Indian regiment of mule
handlers in WW2, with one unit destined to be pivotal in evacuating
Allied forces at Dunkirk. Other units who were stranded or captured
in Nazi-occupied France had to find ways to escape to safety.
Later, their wartime experiences fed the fight to end nearly 200
years of colonial rule in India.
- “BATTLE OF THE BULGE” Premieres June 10 at 10/9c on
Nat Geo, Streams June 4 on Disney+ and Hulu This episode
explores the untold story of the Black Panthers, an elite African
American tank battalion. Unseen diaries and rare interviews chart
the unit’s action through France, Belgium and Germany, including in
the bloodiest American battle of WW2: the Battle of the Bulge.
Their experiences inspired not just the fight for civil rights in
the U.S. but also battles for freedom worldwide.
Looking beyond the battlefield, ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF
COLOR reveals the profound link between the soldiers’ wartime
struggles and the rise of post-war-inspired movements for freedom
that swept the globe. Both shows are a poignant testament to the
soldiers’ courage, a tribute to their sacrifices, and a powerful
reminder that the fight for equality and recognition continues to
this day.
ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF COLOR is produced by October
Films and 22Summers. For October Films, Johanna Woolford Gibbon,
Jos Cushing, Matt Robins and Chris Muckle are executive producers.
Sam Pollard is consulting exec producer, Annabel Hobley is
co-executive producer. For 22Summers, Idris Elba, Jamilla Dumbuya
and Khaled Gad are executive producers. For National Geographic,
Sean D. Johnson and Simon Raikes are executive producers. Charlie
Parsons is senior vice president, Development, and Tom McDonald is
executive vice president, Global Factual and Unscripted
Content.
Preceding ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF COLOR, at 8/7c THE
REAL RED TAILS tells of the astonishing discovery of a P-39
airplane in Lake Huron, Michigan, reigniting a story lost to time
and triggering one of the most important WW2 archeological missions
in the Great Lakes. On the morning of April 11, 1944, Tuskegee
pilot 22-year-old Second Lieutenant Frank Moody perished in what
should have been a routine training mission when his plane
malfunctioned and took a nosedive into the chilly waters. With
unprecedented access, the one-hour special, narrated by
Ralph, will take viewers on a journey to uncover the
80-year-old mystery of how and why Moody’s plane ultimately went
down. The special enlists teams of underwater archeologists to
recover parts of the downed plane for the first time and weaves in
firsthand accounts from fellow airmen along with underwater footage
from the wreck to give a final answer to the mystery.
THE REAL RED TAILS is produced by National Geographic’s
Yellow Border Production Services with Erin M. Reuss as producer,
Jeanine I. Butler as executive producer, and Anna Derryberry as
director of production. Melanie Sams is vice president of
Production and Development for National Geographic.
About National Geographic Content
Award-winning and critically acclaimed National Geographic
Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company
and the National Geographic Society, creates and delivers riveting
stories and experiences in natural history, science, adventure and
exploration. The brand is the largest on social media with over
three quarters of a billion followers across all major platforms
that generate over one billion impressions each month. Inspiring a
deeper connection to the world, National Geographic Content reaches
300 million people worldwide in 180 countries and 33 languages as a
digital, social and print publisher and across the global National
Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat
Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and
direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Its diverse content
includes Emmy® Award-winning franchise Genius, series Life Below
Zero and Secrets of the Whales, and Oscar®- and BAFTA award-winning
film Free Solo. In 2022, National Geographic Content was awarded
eight News and Documentary Emmys, in addition to Life Below Zero’s
Emmy win for Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program, its
sixth Emmy overall. For more information, visit natgeotv.com or
nationalgeographic.com, or follow Nat Geo on Facebook, X,
Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240416069074/en/
Jennifer Driscoll Jennifer.Driscoll@natgeo.com
Melissa E. McKeon Melissa.E.Mckeon@natgeo.com