RAF Scampton - A Unique Heritage Under Threat
RAF Scampton has been home of the RAF Aerobatic Team , the 'Red Arrows', since 2000, but there is so much more to Scampton.
In the First World War the Station, then named RFC Home Defence Station Brattleby, launched patrols of fragile biplanes attempting to intercept German Airships crossing the North Sea.
After a return to agriculture following the Armistice, the site was selected to again be used for aviation in the RAF expansion plan in the 1930's. The overall layout and many of the buildings from that era still survive.
Scampton saw distinguished Second World War service including the award of 3 Victoria Crosses and the launch of the famous 'Dambuster' raid.
The post war period saw operational use of Canberra and Vulcan jet bombers and now the Station is most famous for being the home of the 'Red Arrows'
The Station is now, effectively, closed and its heritage is at risk. Scampton Heritage has been formed by the people who currently run the existing RAF Heritage and Ethos Centre in Hangar 2. Their aim is to ensure the dedication and sacrifice of those who served at RAF Scampton is never forgotten.
With the pending closure of the Station , West Lindsey District Council sought a commercial partner to work with them, ensuring the rundown and problems experience with so many former RAF Stations in the district were not repeated.
On 6th March 2023 the announcement was made that Scampton Holdings Ltd were the sucessful partner.
Scampton Heritage Group had already established cordial relations with Scampton Holdings Ltd and welcomed the announcement which promised a clear way ahead for heritage commemoration.
Unfortunately, shortly after the West Lindsey announcement, central government announced that they were considering using parts of the Station to house asylum seekers.
Such a use would prevent the development plans of West Lindsey and Scampton Holdings Ltd which assure continuing heritage commemoration, in concert with substantial investment in aviation, engineering and training.
The Trustees of Scampton Heritage group very much support the West Lindsey and Scampton Holdings Ltd proposals and oppose any alternative use which will interfere with their plans.
They have written to the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman KC MP, the Minister for Immigration, Robert Jenrick MP, the Secretary of State for Levelling up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove and the local MP, Sir Edward Leigh stating their opposition to the use of RAF Scampton to house asylum seekers.
The text of the letter reads :
There are myriad reasons why the future of the RAF Scampton site should be given special consideration, over and above that given to the disposal of other MoD sites.
The Trustees of Scampton Heritage Group would like to particularly stress to you the heritage, ethos and sacrifice elements of those of those myriad reasons.
RAF Scampton is, quite rightly, synonymous with “The Dambusters Raid”, codenamed “Operation Chastise”, an incredible feat of innovation, airmanship, courage and sacrifice in which 53 of the 133 airmen involved made the ultimate sacrifice.
Tunnel vision on the Dam Busters raid however does the Station and its personnel a disservice. RAF Scampton is unique in that it is the ONLY RAF Station to have had the Victoria Cross awarded to 3 recipients for operations from the Station. One of those recipients, Sergeant John Hannah was not only the RAF’s youngest VC, he was the youngest VC recipient of the Second World War.
RAF Scampton continued its nationally important role firstly as an air-bridge for the Thor Nuclear Missile and then as the only Station to operate the Vulcan Bomber armed with the British “Blue Steel” air launched nuclear weapon.
In more recent years RAF Scampton has been the home of the Red Arrows, their practice sessions becoming a local attraction.
We do not want a privatised RAF Scampton frozen in time, just the opposite. We want the West Lindsey District Council and Scampton Holdings partnership to go ahead in a symbiotic fusion of heritage, aviation, engineering and training. This bright future cannot go ahead if the site is used to house asylum seekers.
While it has been fully operational, RAF Scampton has always been at the forefront of technological developments. Nevertheless, it is situated in rural Lincolnshire, a county characterised by relatively high levels of employment in low skills jobs leading to extensive areas of depravation, particularly in coastal towns and villages. Addressing inequalities such as this is fundamental to the government’s ‘levelling-up’ agenda.
West Lindsey District Council and their private sector partners, Scampton Holdings Limited, have brought, almost to completion, ambitious plans not only to commemorate RAF Scampton’s auspicious history, but also to reinvigorate the economy of Greater Lincolnshire through the embedding of cutting edge industries and the associated skills development opportunities for the people of the region.
The use of the station, or even part of it, to hold migrants would scupper those plans for ever undermining completely any notion that this government is in any way committed to ‘levelling-up’.
FROM TENTS AND GRASS RUNWAYS TO DIVERTING ERMINE STREET
Scamptons's History reflects the evolution of Air Power. From the earliest pilots accommodated in tents and taking off from grass to the runway extension which diverted a Roman road to allow nuclear armed Vulcan bombers to operate.
The ONLY RAF Station to have had 3 Victoria Crosses awarded for operations from the Sation
No other Station in the World can equal Scampton;s's record for the award of Victoria Crosses
Roderick Learoyd was awarded Scampton's first Victoria Cross for his attack on the Dortmund - Ems Canal on 12th August 1940
John Hannah is the RAF's youngest Victoria Cross winner. He was only 18 when he was awarded the VC for his actions during an attack on Antwerp on 15th September 1940
Guy Gibson is probably one of the county's most famous VC recipients. Awarded the VC for his role in 'Operation Chastise', the famous 'Dambuster' raid on 16/17 May 1943
