Page 27 - issue03.05.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, May 3, 2019 P19

Feature

Dambuster VR raid

goes down a bomb

A WWII Lancaster simulator is pulling

in the crowds at Hendon. RAF News

reporter Jay Myers joined them for

a memorable mission with 617 Sqn

I AM a humble observer on the Wireless Operator: ‘450 and to soak in every nuance of this
legendary Dambusters mission increasing, skipper’. authentic, interactive recreation.
of May 16, 1943, during the raid I feel the rumble of the Sadly, the 10-minute ‘ride’
on the Möhne Dam. Merlin engines (recorded from ends, but I must ‘fly’ again. I am
I sit in the Navigator’s chair, RCAF FM213, one of only two soon back on board and as I take
occupied that night by Plt Off Lancasters still flying today). up a new position, I find myself
Harlo Torger ‘Terry’ Taerum. The effect is reinforced by haptic standing outside the aircraft like
Amongst his other duties, he’s technology fitted to the floor in Spider-Man with an extraordinary
monitoring the aircraft’s altitude, addition to a haptic feedback vest birds-eye view of mission. The
observing the convergence of the I wear during my virtual reality sensation is surreal.
spotlights on the water at 60 feet. flight. Even the airspeed and I have a 360-degree, unhindered
I wait for the action to altitude of the aircraft view of the aircraft and detailed
engage my imagination has been simulated landscape exposing the Ruhr
through a virtual accurately. Valley and Möhne Reservoir.
reality headset. I keep I look to I gaze in all directions, taking
still, look straight my right – the in every detail around me: the full
ahead, my posture cockpit! Wg moon in the clear night sky; tracer
fixed, waiting. Cdr Gibson is fire from the dam’s defences and
Voices sing out over at the controls. Flt Lt John ‘Hoppy’ Hopgood’s
the intercom. The Beside him is aircraft as it gets hit by flak.
crew engages in full Flight Engineer, A jet of orange flame erupts
mission mode. Sgt John Pulford from the left wing. Hoppy’s
Navigator: ‘Time – crouching . . . aircraft explodes at 500ft; the left
at zero-zero-twenty-five swivelling . . . peering wing sheers off and the aircraft
hours. The dam should be just through the windows. One crashes on the far side of the dam.
over the ridge’. of the flak guns near the dam Pilot: Hello J-Johnnie –
I roll my head to the left and see opens fire, sending glowing ropes Maltby, go in for your attack now
Wireless Operator, Flt Lt Robert of light into the sky. I am in the . . . Well done, Maltby – bang on
‘Hutch’ Hutchison, stationed on thick of the action. target.’
the port side just ahead of the Pilot: ‘Stand up and let me Flight Engineer: ‘We’ve done
wing spar. know what you can see from your it, lads.’
I’m sitting inside ED932/G dome, would you?’ Pilot: ‘No doubt about it – a or perhaps move further into the by All Seeing Eye, with input from
AJ-G ‘George’, the Avro Lancaster Wireless Operator: ‘Quite a bit breach 100 yards across.’ cockpit to catch sight of Bomb No. 617 Sqn’s official historian,
B Mk III Special Bomber piloted of flack, I’d say’. Bomb Aimer: ‘Incredible. I Aimer, Plt Off Frederic ‘Spam’ Robert Owen: transcript.
by Wg Cdr Guy Gibson, No. 617 There is no let up, as the Flight knew it would work. I knew it!’ Spafford as well as Front Gunner,
Sqn. It is an accurate 1:1 recreation Engineer mans the throttle to Pilot: ‘What a tremendous Plt Off George Deering firing lFor more details about
of the aircraft’s interior –each ensure a constant speed of 232 sight. We did it. All crews, top job. back at the dam’s defences. the Dambusters Immersive
detail, painstakingly recreated. miles per hour. I edge my way to Well done!’ There is so much more to see Experience, viewing times
Pilot: ‘Check on Upkeep – how the rear of the pilot’s chair for a Next time I will step into the than first meets the eye during and admissionz, please visit:
fast is it spinning?’ closer look at all the action, trying shoes of the Wireless Operator, this extraordinary ‘ride’ created rafmuseum.org.uk.