RAF Scampton 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. On the night of 16–17 May 1943, 617 Sqn 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. Both the Eder and Möhne
RAF Scampton War launched from RAF Scampton was on 25 April 1945, when aircraft from 153 Sqn and 625 Sqn were despatched as part of a raid on the Obersalzberg. During the war RAF Scampton lost a total of 551 aircrew and 266 aircraft. Of these 155 were Hampdens and 15 Manchesters. Some 96 Lancasters were lost on operations and accidents from April 1942 to May 1945. The highest losses were those of 57 Sqn, which lost 53 aircraft with 284 aircrew killed, 12 injured and 19 taken prisoner of war. In percentage terms Operation Chastise was the costliest single raid. Following