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 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'