History of Lincolnshire the RAF Officer Training College after the formation of the RAF in April 1918. RAF Swinderby was a Polish-manned RAF station and from 1964, the RAF's main Recruit Training Camp. RAF Scampton, was the home base of 617 Squadron. Lincolnshire still has the strongest claim to being the 'home' of RAF Bomber Command, playing host to many squadrons, including the Lancaster bombers of the famous 617 "Dambusters" squadron who were based at RAF Scampton. There were two Bomber Groups based in the county – No. 1 in the north and No. 5 Group in the centre and south. The Battle
RAF Scampton 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. 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. 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'