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Arts & Culture

NOVA: 3D Spies Of WWII

L-R: Contributors Major Chris Halsall and Wing Commander Mike Mockford with the spitfire.
Courtesy of Mark Bassett
L-R: Contributors Major Chris Halsall and Wing Commander Mike Mockford with the spitfire.

Airs Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at 9 p.m. & Sunday, July 28 at 3 p.m. on KPBS TV

The spitfire, North Weald Airfield, Epping.
Courtesy of Mark Bassett
The spitfire, North Weald Airfield, Epping.

Spy Photos

In this interactive satellite map of the world, examine a series of influential images released between 1962 and 2005.

During World War II, Hitler’s scientists developed terrifying new weapons of mass destruction. Alarmed by rumors about advanced rockets and missiles, Allied intelligence recruited a team of brilliant minds from British universities and Hollywood studios to a country house near London.

Here, they secretly pored over millions of air photos shot at great risk over German territory by specially converted, high-flying Spitfires.

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Peering at the photos through 3D stereoscopes, the team spotted telltale clues that revealed hidden Nazi rocket bases. The photos led to devastating Allied bombing raids that were crucial setbacks to the German rocket program and helped ensure the success of the D-Day landings.

With 3D graphics that recreate exactly what the photo spies saw, NOVA tells the suspenseful, previously untold story of air photo intelligence that played a vital role in defeating Hitler.

A DVD copy of "3D Spies Of WWII" is available at shoppbs.org. This episode originally aired in 2012.

Past episodes of NOVA are available for online viewing. NOVA is on Facebook, and you can follow @novapbs on Twitter.