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 Dam where, with complete disregard for his own safety, he repeated his tactics and once more drew on himself the enemy fire so that the attack could be successfully developed. In July 2009 RAF Scampton took delivery of three bronze busts depicting the station's three Victoria Cross recipients. In all there have been three gate guardians at RAF Scampton during the station's history. The first was Avro Lancaster "S-Sugar" along with the large Tallboy and Grand Slam bombs which the type had carried. In the late 1950s, as a preliminary to road widening work by Lincolnshire County Council, the Grand