New iPhone app inspired by exploits of Penarth war hero Guy Gibson (From Penarth Times)

New iPhone app inspired by exploits of Penarth war hero Guy Gibson

4:40pm Friday 22nd June 2012 in News By Robert James Owen

AN IPHONE App, inspired by the exploits of Penarth war hero Wing Commander Guy Gibson, has been released.

Produced by south Wales indie developer Hyperspace, the 3D flying game - called The Dambusters - is based around the WW2 mission which attacked the great dams of the Ruhr Valley in Germany.

Wg Cdr Gibson, who lived on Archer Road from 1940 to 1943 with his wife, Penarth entertainer Eve Moore, received the Victoria Cross for his part in the mission.

Visual effects and graphics consultant Bruce Steele from St Fagans created the app, which is his first.

The Australian native said it was inspired by his background in computer graphics and his love for flying.

"It's a 3D simulation of Operation Chastise, the famous WW2 mission in which an elite Squadron attacked the great dams of western Germany in a daring low level raid using a secret weapon Ð the bouncing bomb," said the former video game designer for S4C.

"The RAF has one remaining Lancaster Bomber flying, with the BBMF, and it was this aircraft accompanied by four Spitfires and a Hurricane that took part in the flypast for the Queen's Jubilee.

"In fact some of the Spitfire pilots are already playing our game!

"The famous mission was immortalised in Michael Anderson's 1953 classic movie 'The Dam Busters', so the story and the theme tune are well known to the older generation," he added.

"Maybe the game will encourage the current generation to take an interest."

The current operations wing of 617 squadron - on active duty in Afghanistan - are also said to have play-tested the app, the first to be licenced by the MOD/RAF.

Bruce's wife Lindsay added: "We have also licenced 'The Dambusters March' which has been recorded for us by The Central Band of the RAF.

"The voiceover in the game was provided by Wing Commander Graeme Morgan from St Fagans, who, like Gibson, attended St Edward's School in Oxford."

A plaque was unveiled in Wg Cdr Gibson's honour at West House in April.

The app is available to download now on the iPad2 and 3 and iPhone4S for £1.99.