RAF Scampton

Home Defence Flight Station Brattleby (also known as Brattleby Cliff) was opened on the site of the current RAF Scampton in late 1916. The airfield was bounded to the east by Ermine Street, to the south by Pollyplatt Lane, to the west by Middle Street, and to the north by Aisthorpe House.[7] The form of the airfield was very similar to that of Hackthorn Park to the north east, which is likely to have been created in the same way.[7] In addition to field boundaries, a number of other features were demolished or used for the airfield, including Aisthorpe House and a farm complex to the east of the site.[7]

The aerodrome covered 287 acres consisting of a landing ground and six single-span end-opening General Service Flight Sheds arranged in pairs with their doors at 90-degrees to the landing ground. Technical buildings were set out behind these, followed by domestic accommodation close to Ermine Street. These were subdivided into smaller groups depending on rank. Accommodation for women was based around a Women's Hostel.[7]

The first operational unit was A Flight, 33 Squadron RFC (33 Squadron), which flew FE2bs defending against the Zeppelin threat.[8] The site then developed into a training aerodrome, supporting No. 60 Training Squadron, followed by No. 81 and No. 11 Training Squadrons, flying the Sopwith Camel, Pup and Dolphin. The station was renamed as Scampton in 1917 following which it was designated as 34 Training Depot Station and continued with its operational programme until it was closed in April 1919.[11]

All of the buildings on the airfield were temporary, even the hedgerows and trees which existed around the field boundaries were retained, so that between the wars the area was returned to its previous form. By 1920 all the buildings, including the hangars, had been removed.[12][13]

By 1936 the RAF Expansion Scheme had overseen a period of rapid increases both in terms of new squadrons and the development of new stations.[7] The former Brattleby site was one of many earmarked under the expansion programme, situated between three villages; Aisthorpe, Brattleby and Scampton, with its main entrance situated on the A15 road (Ermine Street) heading north from Lincoln. The site was to be constructed to the latest specifications and on completion would form a fully equipped Bomber Station. From its reopening in August 1936, the station was to be known as Royal Air Force Station Scampton.[11]

The station consisted of four large C Type hangars with permanent brick-built technical and domestic buildings. The remaining aerodrome buildings (for technical activities and accommodation) were built in a compact layout behind the hangars, in an arrangement replicated across all of the Expansion Period airfields: Technical Area, Station Offices, Officers' Mess, Sergeants' Mess, Airmen's' Quarters, Married Quarters, and Officers' Married Quarters.[7] Roads were arranged either parallel or perpendicular to Ermine Street (A15) with the Guardroom at 90-degrees to the main entrance and the Station Headquarters facing Ermine Street.[7] This resulted in the base occupying an area of 360 acres.[7]

As it developed, RAF Scampton made an increasingly dramatic imposition on the surrounding rural landscape[7] such as to the Lincolnshire Edge, a Jurassic limestone ridge, which forms the distinctive backbone of the county from Whitton on the Humber Estuary in the north, down to Grantham in the south.[7] Along the top of the Edge a series of airfields were developed, including RAF Waddington, RAF Cranwell and RAF Scampton.[7]

Upon opening IX(B) Squadron (9 Squadron) and 214 Squadron (214 Squadron) were the first residents of the station, arriving in October 1936, operating the Handley Page Heyford and Vickers Virginia. IX(B) Squadron stayed at Scampton until March 1938, 214 Squadron having departed for RAF Feltwell in April 1937. Another squadron which was stationed at the base was 148 Squadron (148 Squadron) formed from C Flt of IX(B) Squadron operating the Hawker Audax and later the Vickers Wellesley. The term of residence of 148 Squadron was brief being replaced by 49 Squadron (49 Squadron) and 83 Squadron (83 Squadron) in March 1938. At this time both 49 Squadron and 83 Squadron were operating the Hawker Hind before re-equipping with the Handley Page Hampden.[12][14]

An 83 Squadron Handley Page Hampden and crew, pictured at Scampton, October 1940

At the outbreak of the Second World War Scampton transferred to No. 5 Group RAF in Bomber Command, playing host to the Hampdens of 49 Squadron and 83 Squadron. On 3 September 1939, six hours after the declaration of war, RAF Scampton launched the first offensive by the Royal Air Force when six Hampdens of 83 Squadron, led by (the then) Flying Officer Guy Gibson and three 49 Squadron Hampdens, one piloted by Flying Officer Roderick Learoyd, were despatched to conduct a sweep off Wilhelmshaven. Further operations involving Scampton's squadrons concerned them with the hazardous task of low level minelaying (code named 'Gardening').[15]

For a short time the station was home to the Avro Manchester with 49 Squadron and 83 Squadron operating the type. This was a brief liaison with the squadrons subsequently converting to the Avro Lancaster. Forming 83 Conversion Flight (CF) on 11 April 1942, which in turn was followed by 49 CF on 16 May, both squadrons were fully equipped with the Lancaster by the end of June. It was during this period that 83 Squadron took delivery of Lancaster MkI R5868 which would one day become the Station's gate guardian.[16]

In turn both resident squadrons were then replaced at Scampton by 57 Squadron (57 Squadron).[13][15] The first departure was that of 83 Squadron which left in August 1942, transferring to RAF Wyton in order to become part of the fledgling Pathfinder Force. This departure resulted in 83 CF moving to RAF Wigsley where it was disbanded into 1654 Heavy Conversion Unit. On 2 January 1943, 49 Squadron departed for RAF Fiskerton with 49 CU disbanding, subsequently becoming 'C' Flight of 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Waddington. By early January 1943 this left 57 Squadron as the sole occupier of the base.[17]

The grave of Guy Gibson's dog

Following the development of the Upkeep bouncing bomb, 617 Squadron (617 Squadron), originally referred to as "Squadron X", was formed at Scampton in order to carry out the proposed raid, codenamed Operation Chastise. More commonly referred to as the "Dambusters Raid", the raid would go down as the most famous and widely remembered in the history of the Royal Air Force.[18]

On the night of 16–17 May 1943, 617 Squadron despatched 19 Lancasters from Scampton. Led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, the main bulk of the squadron attacked the Sorpe, Eder and Möhne dams with an additional aircraft tasked to perform an attack on the Schwelm Dam.[19] Both the Eder and Möhne dams were breached, however eight of the Lancasters despatched failed to return and 53 aircrew were lost. Following the raid Wing Commander Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross, becoming Scampton's third recipient of the award. On the day of the raid, Wing Commander Gibson's dog, Nigger, was run over and killed on the A15 outside the entrance to the base. He was buried later that night, his grave situated outside Gibson's office at No. 3 Hangar.[20]

One of a series of iconic images of the members of 617 Squadron taken at RAF Scampton on 22 July 1943, and featuring (left to right) Wing Commander Guy Gibson; Pilot Officer P.M. Spafford; Flight Lieutenant R. E. G. Hutchinson; Pilot Officer G. A. Deering and Flying Officer H. T. Taerum.

In July 1943 617 Squadron was again involved in a precision operation, when twelve aircraft of the squadron took off from Scampton to attack targets in Northern Italy, following which the aircraft continued on to North Africa. The operation met little opposition but the targets were obscured by valley haze and they were not destroyed. The 12 crews returned to Scampton on 25 July from North Africa after bombing Leghorn docks on the return journey. Later in the month nine aircraft took off from Scampton to drop leaflets on Milan, Bologna, Genoa and Turin in Italy. All aircraft completed the mission and landed safely in Blida, North Africa.[21]

At the end of August 1943,[22] 57 Squadron and 617 Squadron moved to RAF East Kirkby and RAF Coningsby respectively, so that Scampton's runways could be upgraded. With the increased all up weight of the Lancaster it was apparent that the load bearing of hardened runways would be required. The airfield closed at the end of August 1943 for the work to take place re-opening in October 1944. Three concrete runways were laid out. The three runways available were: 05/23 at 2,000 yd (1,828.8 m), 01/19 at 1,500 yd (1,371.6 m) and 11/29 at 1,400 yd (1,280.2 m). A total of 11 loop hard standings were laid down along the perimeter track to replace those lost or isolated by the construction. The work also saw new bomb stores constructed on land north of the north-west corner of the airfield. The personnel at Scampton at this time was given as 1,844 males and 268 females.[23]

On completion of the required work the area of land which the base occupied had now increased to 580 acres.[7]

Following the work control of the station passed from 5 Group to 1 Group[24] with a new arrival following the upgrade being 1690 Bomber Defence Training Flight (BDTF) which arrived on 13 July 1944. The BDTF consisted of Spitfires, Hurricanes and Martinets, the flight undertaking fighter affiliation against bombers. This unit stayed at the station until September 1944, when it moved to RAF Metheringham. It was replaced by 1687 BDTF which arrived in early December 1944, and departed for RAF Hemswell in April 1945.[25]

Two Lancaster squadrons, 153 Squadron (153 Squadron), and later 625 Squadron (625 Squadron), of No. 1 Group RAF also arrived at Scampton.[26]

The last bombing mission of the Second World War launched from RAF Scampton was on 25 April 1945, when aircraft from 153 Squadron and 625 Squadron were despatched as part of the Bombing of Obersalzberg.[6]

During the war RAF Scampton lost a total of 551 aircrew and 266 aircraft.[6] Of these 155 were Hampdens and 15 Manchesters.[23]

Following the end of hostilities 153 Squadron disbanded on 28 September 1945,[27] followed by 625 Squadron on 7 October.[28] The station continued to operate the Avro Lancaster when 100 Squadron (100 Squadron) arrived in December 1945.[29] They were to be the last Lancaster squadron on the station, departing for RAF Lindholme in May 1946.[29] Returning to their former home in December 1945, 57 Squadron introduced the Avro Lincoln to the station.[17]

A B-29 of the 28th Bombardment Group, 718th Bombardment Squadron at RAF Scampton

From July 1948, Scampton housed Boeing B-29 Superfortresses of the USAF 28th Bombardment Group, as part of a network of Emergency War Plan Airfields. With its main runway less than 6,000 ft (1,800 m) in length and a chronic shortage of suitable hardstandings, Scampton was far from ideal as a base for the thirty USAF and RAF Boeing B-29 Superfortress, the latter's known as "Washington B Mk I". In January 1949, as circumstances changed, the USAF Squadrons were withdrawn and RAF Scampton was handed back to the Royal Air Force.[30]

During this period RAF Scampton was supporting four Canberra squadrons;[31] 10 Squadron, 18 Squadron, 21 Squadron and 27 Squadron.[31] The Canberras moved out in 1955 when the station was earmarked as a V-bomber base.[32]

An Avro Vulcan B.2 of 617 Squadron

RAF Scampton was selected to be one of ten airfields which were to accommodate part of the RAF V-force, in the case of Scampton, the Avro Vulcan.[7] This required extensive new ground facilities, including a high security area for the storage and maintenance of nuclear weapons and heavy-duty hardstandings for the aircraft.[7]

The first nuclear weapons to be delivered to Scampton arrived during 1958 and comprised twenty kiloton (20kt) atomic bombs given the Rainbow Code, Blue Danube. They were replaced by the smaller Yellow Sun Stage 1 (Mk. 1s) which were the first of the UK's operational thermonuclear weapons. The development of the stand-off nuclear missile Blue Steel required the construction of new specialist buildings: the Missile Servicing and Storage Building (MSSB) which was erected between the main hangars and the airfield, and the highly volatile High Test Peroxide (HTP) and kerosene fuel storage buildings which were located at some distance from the MSSB.[7]

Additional structures and parts of the layout were also altered. In particular the runway was rearranged to a NE/SW (current designation alignment 04/22)[33] and extended to 9,000 feet (2,740 m). This caused the runway to project beyond the north east corner of the base and required the rerouting of Ermine Street (A15), the most noticeable artificial landscape feature in the area and the historic boundary for such elements as parish boundaries and field systems. Trees along the former tree-lined avenue to Hackthorn Park were also removed between the old line of Ermine Street and the end of the runway. The eastward bulge in the A15 road can still be seen north of Lincoln.[34]

Aerial view of RAF Scampton, March 2016. The developments undertaken at the station during the Cold War are evident, including the alteration to the course of the A15 (Ermine Street).

During the Cold War period, the airfield developed its current form, imposing on the landscape in a much more spectacular way. Its extent was no longer bounded by existing field boundaries, but by the shape required for the runway extension. This caused the southwest and northwest corners of the base to jut out from the earlier rectangular plan. Areas of hard standing with associated Operational Readiness Platforms (ORPs) were also provided. Technical buildings were also added to in this period. The Unit Storage buildings to the far north of the site were constructed for storage and maintenance of nuclear bombs. Upon the introduction of the Blue Steel stand-off missile, new buildings were constructed just to the north-east of the hangars, to develop, maintain and fuel the missiles. A new Control Tower was constructed close to these buildings to provide a view of the newly expanded runway.[35]

The work undertaken increased the land area of the station to 920 acres and on completion 617 Squadron returned to their former home, re-forming in May 1958.[31]

In October 1960 83 Squadron arrived at Scampton from RAF Waddington and equipped with the Vulcan B.2.[16] Together with 27 Squadron and 617 Squadron, who by this time had also taken delivery of the Vulcan B.2., the "Scampton Wing" was formed, the aircraft equipped with the Blue Steel stand-off missile.[36]

On 30 June 1968, Blue Steel operations at Scampton were terminated, as the Royal Navy, with the submarine launched Polaris missile, assumed responsibility for the UK nuclear deterrent. Scampton squadrons were assigned to the tactical nuclear and conventional bombing roles. This led to the disbandment of 83 Squadron in August 1969, however in December 1969 230 Operational Conversion Unit moved to RAF Scampton from RAF Finningley.[37]

Avro 698 Vulcan B.2 XH534 of 230 Operational Conversion Unit

Part of the post-war development and upgrading of the station, in common with many other RAF Stations at the time, saw the establishment of a primary school for the children of those personnel stationed on the base.[38] Located to the south of the base entrance,[38] and adjacent to the eastern perimeter fence,[38] the current school was built in 1961 and replaced the makeshift schooling which had been provided in the Officer's Mess since 1951.[38] The official opening of the school took place on 24 November 1961,[38] and the first children attended the school in January 1962.[38] The buildings are typical of small primary schools built in the 1960s, with a flat roof, large windows and uniformly one storey high.[38] There are several prefabricated extensions which present an informal building layout.[38]

Individual unit allocations were re-introduced in 1971, and throughout the decade RAF Scampton continued to be home to 27 Squadron, 617 Squadron and 230 Operational Conversion Unit, with 35 Squadron joining them from RAF Akrotiri in 1975.[37]

With disbandment of 230 Operational Conversion Unit and the cessation of 617 Squadron's Vulcan operations in 1981,[6] Scampton transferred to RAF Support Command and became home to the Central Flying School in 1983. This role for the station saw the CFS operating such aircraft as the Jet Provost, Scottish Aviation Bulldog and the Short Tucano, sharing the air space with the Hawks of the Red Arrows. A further addition to the complement of the station occurred in 1984 with the arrival of the Tornado Radar Repair Unit.[6]

In August 1990, RAF Scampton became home to the Joint Arms Control Implementation Group, a joint service organisation responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Control of Armed Forces in Europe Treaty, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), Open Skys, and the Vienna Document.[39]

In the mid 1990s, Scampton was mothballed under the Front Line First programme, with the CFS moving to RAF Cranwell. The decision was initially taken to close the base completely along with RAF Finningley, this being confirmed by Nicholas Soames MP in a statement to the House of Commons to the effect on 25 March 1995.[40] Opposition to the planned closure was strong. A group was formed called "Save our Scampton" (SOS), backed by the Lincolnshire Echo, the County Council and the MP for Gainsborough and Horncastle, Edward Leigh.[40] One plan put forward for the base following its proposed redundancy involved turning the site into a prison, but this plan was not continued with.[41]

The Red Arrows, though, continued to train in the restricted airspace surrounding the airfield (R-313) and accommodation at Scampton continued to be used as overflow from RAF Waddington. During this intervening period 110 of the post-war NCO married quarters were sold to Roger Byron-Collins' Welbeck Estate Group who had previously acquired nearby RAF Hemswell tech and domestic site, RAF Faldingworth married quarters and Strike Command HQ at RAF Bawtry Hall.[42]

In early 2000 following a revaluation of the logistics of the Red Arrows' operation as well as the lack of available space at RAF Cranwell, it was decided to re-base the Red Arrows at Scampton.[43]

In 2005 Scampton was again placed under the control of RAF Strike Command, becoming home to the UK Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS) Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) and Mobile Met Unit (MMU). The No.1 Air Control Centre deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 as part of Operation Herrick, the deployment lasting until 2009.[6]

By 2008 the future once again looked uncertain for RAF Scampton.[44] A decision was taken by the then Labour Government that the base would be "down sized," the Red Arrows would move to RAF Waddington by July 2011[45] and the Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS) would also be relocated from the base[44] taking up residence at RAF Coningsby by 2014.[46] However the Strategic Defence Spending Review and operations in Libya meant the plan was suspended with the decision put on hold pending a further review in 2011.[44] The review concluded that keeping the Red Arrows at RAF Scampton was the best way for them to operate, without affecting other operational flying bases.[44]

In July 2018, the MoD announced that Scampton would close and then be sold off with all remaining units relocated to other RAF bases in the United Kingdom by 2022.[47][5] In May 2020, it was announced that the Red Arrrows would move to RAF Waddington, and No. 1 ACC to RAF Boulmer in Northumberland.[48]

No. 1 Group (Air Combat) RAF

• No. 1 Air Control Centre

No. 22 Group (Training) RAF

• RAF Aerobatic Team (The Red Arrows) – BAE Hawk T1A

No. 38 Group (Air Combat Service Support) RAF

• Mobile Meteorological Unit

Other

• RAF Scampton Heritage Centre

The first was Avro Lancaster S-Sugar along with the large Tallboy and Grand Slam bombs which the type had carried.[57] It was placed on display at the main gate of RAF Scampton in No 467 Squadron markings in 1960. With the arrival of 83 Squadron at Scampton in October 1960,[16] it was noted that S-Sugar had strong links to the squadron.[16] It transpired that the aircraft had originally served at Scampton with 83 Squadron and was given the squadron code OL-Q (Q-Queenie). When 83 Squadron converted to the Lancaster MkIII in September 1943,[16] Lancaster Q-Queenie was transferred to 467 Squadron who were then based at RAF Bottesford. The aircraft was subsequently re-coded PO-S (S-Sugar).[16]

Lancaster R5868 was dismantled at Scampton in November 1970, by personnel from No 71 MU.[16] It was removed and is now on permanent exhibition at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon.[16]

The next gate guardian was another restored Lancaster, repatriated from a French island in the South Pacific. This later Lancaster, Just Jane NX611, is now at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at the former RAF East Kirkby.[58]

XX306 during its service life

The current gate guardian at RAF Scampton is a former Red Arrows Hawk T.1 XX306.[59] Positioned in front of the Station Headquarters, it was unveiled by the then Station Commander Wing Commander Michael Harrop during a ceremony on 12 October 2015.[59]

The aircraft was constructed at BAe Dunsfold and handed over to the Royal Air Force on 23 May 1980.[59] The jet spent two months at RAF Valley before flying to RAF Kemble (the Red Arrows' previous home) and joined the Squadron on 3 July 1980,[59] being one of the first of its type operated by the Red Arrows following their conversion from the Folland Gnat at the end of the 1979 display season.[59]

During its operational life XX306 amassed a total flying time of 7,378hrs 15mins accumulating 13,007 landings.[59] It was retired from the aerobatic team on 20 October 2012, having last been used in a display on 26 September of that year.[59]

The first airshow to be held at RAF Scampton since 1991 saw participation of 104 aircraft, with 41 taking part in the flying displays and 63 forming the static line-up.[65] Aircraft types ranged from a display by a vintage Avro Anson to a modern RAF Typhoon, with visitor numbers in the region of 50,000.[66] Guests of honour at the event were Battle of Britain veteran Terry Clark, and former Scampton resident Johnny Johnson.[65]

On 14 December 2017, the organisers of the Scampton Airshow issued a statement with regard to the 2018 event. The statement read that following the 2017 airshow the organisers required time to reflect on certain issues and to look at how the airshow could be improved.[66] In view of this, the statement continued that there were still areas of the event which required improvement and consequently there would be no running of the Scampton Airshow in 2018.[66] The statement did however conclude that the organisers, following the review, intend to run an improved Scampton Airshow in 2019.[66]

1991

In May 1991 RAF Scampton was the venue for a BBC broadcast of Friday Night is Music Night, set to coincide with the anniversary of the Dambuster's Raid. The transmission was from No 1 Hangar and of added interest was the arrival of a British Airways Boeing 747-400 (G-BNLT). The aircraft, a new addition to the British Airways fleet, had been named City of Lincoln in a ceremony held at RAF Coningsby after which it was flown to RAF Scampton. City of Lincoln is the same name as that bestowed on Avro Lancaster PA474 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and both aircraft featured in the show, the BBMF's Lancaster in No 1 Hangar forming the focal point of the concert. The Boeing 747 was parked on Echo Dispersal and was made available for members of the audience to visit.[69]

1993

A special commemorative BBC television broadcast of Songs of Praise marking the 50th anniversary of Operation Chastise was staged at RAF Scampton in 1993, in which Boeing 747-400 City of Lincoln returned to the base. Presented by Sally Magnusson, the event was attended by 2,500 invited guests, including several veterans of the raid as well as Leonard Cheshire VC and Richard Todd.[70]

2013

Marking the 70th anniversary of the raid in 2013, the BBC again featured a programme from RAF Scampton, hosted by Dan Snow. Attended by Les Munro and "Johnny" Johnson, the telecast featured the Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as well as two Tornados of 617 Squadron.[71]

In addition there was also a broadcast by BBC Radio 2 of The Chris Evans Breakfast Show in which Evans conducted interviews with various station personnel and current members of 617 Squadron.[72] Following the show Evans boarded Avro Lancaster PA474 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and flew from Scampton to Biggin Hill which was the venue for a special edition of Friday Night is Music Night as part of the commemoration.[71]

• Birtles, Philip. (2012) UK Airfields of the Cold War, Midland Publishing. ISBN 978-1857803464.
• Halpenny, B.B. (1981) Action Stations: Wartime Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands v. 2. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-484-7.
• Halpenny, B.B. (1991) Action Stations: Wartime Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands v. 2. With update Supplement. ISBN 978-1852604059.
• Jefford, C.G. (1988) RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of All RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912, Airlife Publishing. ISBN 978-1853100536.