RAF Scampton well as Lincolnshire's aviation engineering heritage and the Dambusters Raid. It is hoped the project will secure the future of the base and compliment the proposals to establish an air show at Scampton. It was hoped that the facility would be opened by 2018 in order to mark the centenary of the creation of the Royal Air Force, however that proved to be somewhat ambitious. The council's current idea is to operate the facility in tandem with continued military activity at the base. The remnants of a Roman Villa are situated to the southwest of RAF Scampton. Excavation of the
RAF Scampton dams were breached, however eight of the Lancasters despatched failed to return and 53 aircrew were lost. Following the raid Wing Commander Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross, becoming Scampton's third recipient of the award. On the day of the raid, Wing Commander Gibson's dog, Nigger, was run over and killed on the A15 outside the entrance to the base. He was buried later that night, his grave situated outside Gibson's office at No. 3 Hangar. In July 1943 617 Sqn was again involved in a precision operation, when twelve aircraft of the squadron took off from Scampton to attack