| Scampton, for the moment at least, is one of the few surviving active former WW2 airfields in Lincolnshire.
Located just North of Lincoln, adjacent to the A15 road, Scampton was built on the site of a former WW1 RFC landing site named Brattleby, which had originally been open between 1916-1920. The new station, built during the RAF's 'expansion period', opened in 1936 and became famous for being home to the squadron who lead the infamous "dambusters" raids commanded by Guy Gibson. His black labrador dog 'nigger' (they were less PC in those days) is buried on site, in front of his former office in Hanger 2. The station was also used to make the Dambusters film, which starred Richard Todd. Post war the station was used as a Vulcan bomber base and today is probably best known for being the home of the Red Arrows display team. The base was mothballed in the mid-90's and is now being kept open in a very limited capacity for the Red Arrows, however the stations future is looking uncertain as the MOD feel the station is too costly to maintain just for their display team. A museum to the site is located in the offices of Number 1 hanger. However, as Scampton is still an operational station, access to this can only be made by prior arrangement with the curators, so please refer to the links on my main page to visit the official website if you wish to contact them to arrange a visit. The following photos were taken during an official tour of the site arranged with the curators in June 2008 by some members of the Airfield Information Exchange (good work Dave). |
Main entrance and Station HQ (taken from the A15) 700x525 |
Station badge by main entrance. 700x525 |
Guardroom (this is a photo of a picture in the museum as we weren't allowed to actually photograph the guardroom). 700x500 |
This is the building where the dambusters got their mission breifing, also used in the film. This photo is actually taken from the MOD website as weren't allowed to photograph the building itself. 700x525 |
The mission breifing was held in the upstairs of this part of the building (this was the only pic we could take of the building). 700x525 |
Road around the complex. 700x525 |
Boiler house. 700x525 |
Control tower (this is a post war addition). 700x500 |
Control tower, a closer view. 700x525 |
Number 4 hanger, home to the Red Arrows. 700x525 |
Static display prop in front of the Red Arrows hanger entrance. 700x525 |
Dave (left), who orgainsed the tour, and some of the members from the AIX boards. Roger, our tour guide, is on the right (the guy in the suit). 700x485 |
View accross the apron of hangers 1, 2 & 3. 700x505 |
Cloer view of hanger 2, which is where the dambusters squadron were formed. 700x525 |
Guy Gibson's office was the one on the top right. 700x525 |
Old signage on the doors. 700x525 |
The grave of 'Nigger', Guy Gibson's Labrador in front of No2 hanger (they were less PC in those days). 700x525 |
Close up of the grave. 700x525 |
Musem interior, with Roger our tour guide. 700x525 |
Station role of honour. 525x700 |
Remains of Guy Gibson's mosquito, which crashed in Holland. 525x700 |
Former parachute store. 700x525 |
Gas test facility. 700x525 |
Station workshops. 700x525 |
