RAF Scampton - The Dambusters part 1

On Saturday i managed to organise a guided tour around the Scampton Heritage museum at RAF Scampton.  The tours are by appointment only so i was very happy to recieve an emailig confirming my attendance this weekend. During the war,  Scampton was home to 617 Squadron - the Dambusters.  My Great Grandad, Ernest Drinkall was a member of the squadron and was based here during the famous Dams raid.  So, it was with humble feeling that i walked in the footsteps of Ernest and Gibson, Maudslay, Hopgood, Burpee, McCarthy et al

Once past security and the Barracks, Mess and Headquarters areas we arrived airside of the Hangers.  The Dispersal points and runways are to the right of this picture.  At this point we have already passed many famous sites from the Dambusters movie which starred Richard Todd as Gibson and Michael Redgrave as barnes Wallace.  We passed the headquarters building and had pointed out to us the very room where Guy Gibson gave his final briefing before the attack on the Dams.  A plaque stands on the wall commemorating this event.
The Red arrows are currently based here and the Gate Guardians in the picture stand guard to the entrance of the Red Arrows hanger and offices.

The hangers were built in an arc.  This was to stop German bombers from having a straight bombing run over the Hangers..

The Hanger and offices on the left of this pic are the actual offices and hanger of 617 Squadron.  To the right of the tree on the grass is a fenced area, this is Niggers grave.

Roger, our tour guide, kindly opened the gate to allow us an unobstructured view of Niggers grave.  Nigger was saadly run over outside the gate to the base on the day of the raid and Gibson asked that he be buried outside his office at midnight, the time that he would be attacking the Dams..

Niggers grave...still immaculatley kept today.

The stairs leading to Guy Gibsons office... 

The stairwell and corridors of the Hanger and offices are used to portray the many artifacts and pictures related to the Dambusters.

Very poignant.  In the annex just outside Gibsons office are these two items...both remains from the Mosquito aircraft in which he crashed and died.

Part of Guy Gibsons Mosquito..

Guys office...it was an incredible feeling to be in this space..

Another view of the office...

A very humbling experience...Niggers grave can be seen outside of the window. 

Guy Gibson in his office 

I was allowed by the guide to sit at the desk in the very same office...the paper is the Daily Telegraph reporting on the success of the raid..