The new virtual reality recreation will give viewers the chance to imagine they were taking part in the bombing raid in Berlin
THE horrors of the World War Two Lancaster bombing raid have been brought to life in an incredible virtual reality recreation.
Viewers will be taken inside the cockpit of the famous bomber as it flies over Berlin – and listen to the original BBC live report from a journalist who was on the mission.
War correspondent Wynford Vaughan-Thomas was on the plane and his radio broadcast was played live on air on September 4, 1943.
And the BBC is now giving viewers the chance to be in his shoes when he was flown above the German capital in a virtual experience which has been named 1943: Berlin Blitz.
They will see anti-aircraft shells bursting around the plane and experience Wynford’s “dramatic” commentary which highlighted both the excitement and danger of the raid.
The recording of the original broadcast was taken from the BBC Archive and it was played on the airwaves just hours after the aircraft landed back at RAF Langar in Nottinghamshire.
People wanting to take part in the experience can buy a headset from high-street shops and then download the BBC VR app.
The app can be used on smartphones and tablets and the device acts as a screen which is slotted on to the headset.
More than 7,000 Lancasters were built and carried out 150,000 missions which made it the most successful heavy bomber employed by the RAF during WW2.
Along with the Spitfire it became a British icon following the war.
1943: Berlin Blitz was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the RAF and the brave and bold journalism carried out by reporters.
Zillah Watson, head of BBC VR Hub, said: "1943: Berlin Blitz uses VR to breathe new life into the BBC Archive, using an extraordinary piece of journalism to transport you to Berlin at the height of the Second World War.
"It really gives a sense of just how brave the RAF and the BBC's war correspondents were back then, and providing new context for the threats our colleagues face today when reporting from dangerous situations."
THE RAF dropped almost 1,000,000 tonnes of bombs during 390,000 operations in WWII.
In 1939 the Bomber Command avoided targeting private property and civilians but just six years later entire cities in Germany were being destroyed.
Cities including Cologne, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Dresden were heavily hit in an air campaign which ultimately won the war.
Meanwhile, the US Army Air Forces dropped almost half the amount of bombs compared to British forces.
America dropped 600,000 tonnes between 1942 and 1945 and would team up with the RAF to carry out raids.
The two forces worked together with the US targeting German cities during the day, while the RAF would take over and attack during the night.
It is believed that around 400,000 German civilians died following the bombing raids.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
