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 of Emergency War Plan Airfields. With its main runway less than 6,000 ft in length and a chronic shortage of suitable hardstandings, Scampton was far from ideal as a base for the thirty USAF Boeing B-29 Superfortress and RAF Washington B Mk Is. In January 1949, as circumstances changed, the USAF Squadrons were withdrawn and RAF Scampton was handed back to the Royal Air Force. In 1953 Scampton became a Master Diversion Airfield and the Watch Office received a glass penthouse for use by the Local Controller. During this period RAF Scampton was supporting four Canberra squadrons; 10 Sqn, 18