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Dam Busters Re-Enactment -
04-08-2003, 02:01 PM
I doubt its been shown in countries other than the UK, it might be shown on some sky channel sometime though.
7 young RAF personel have been put in a lancaster simulation to see if they can handle what RAF lads the same age did during the war.
Its a brilliant programme. They were having a great laugh in the simulator, and it is interesting to learn the roles of each man (and woman - the girl is the pilot)
I didnt realise the tail gunner played such a big part in navigation - as he would be reporting back on landmarks they have past, so the navigator could verify where they are.
They got lost just 10 seconds after take off, because the pilot had decided to fly low, but the navigator couldnt find any landmarks at the low altitude to get a bearing.
Then they got taken up in real lancaster, and the pilot of the sim got handed the controls and she was amazed at how well it handled. and they could fly really slow at low altitudes. the lancaster they were in never saw combat but was used a sea search and rescue plane because of its low flying abilities.
There were also interviews with veterans. One of them was talking about how they flew about in their bombers as if they were fighter planes. doing low level stunts and flying wing tip to wing tip. and since noone ever got hurt with their antics, they could do it all they wanted.
on a low level training exercise, on lancaster got cocky and went down to 30 feet above the sea......and another lancster flew underneath them!! ed:
They went on to say how much they loved it.
Anyway - back to the simulator, they got some more flying training in and this time under fire. it was just a lot of bright flashes, and shaking. but it messed them up and they couldnt fly very well.
next week they get some bomb training, and i think they go for the dam. im not sure how long the programme will last but even if it ends next wek it is brilliant stuff.
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Dam Busters Re-Enactment
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