Plan to house refugees in historic Dambusters HQ is branded ‘absolutely insane’
THE HISTORIC headquarters of the Dambusters is set to be turned into a refugee detention centre, we can reveal.
RAF Scampton was home to 617 Squadron during the Second World War.
They used it to launch their daring 1943 mission – Operation Chastise – to flood the industrialised Ruhr Valley and wreck the Nazi war machine.
But the office of its commanding officer, Sir Guy Gibson, is now being stripped bare along with the airbase’s museum.
The Officers Mess is also set to be demolished.
An asylum processing centre is expected to spring up in its place to cater for 1,500 people, it is claimed.
The plans have sparked fury within the local community who have called an urgent public meeting to discuss the sale of the site.
One critic branded it “absolutely insane” and a “desecration”.
Historian James Holland fumed: “It looks like the Govt is going to demolish the Officers’ Mess.
“Guy Gibson’s office has been cleared out and also the museum.
“The Red Arrows have been told their air space clearance…will be revoked on 1 April.
“Because the Home Office want to turn it…into a Refugee Detention Centre.”
He said the move comes after the local West Lindsey District Council agreed a £300 million levelling-up plan to safeguard the airbases unique heritage.
Mr Holland added: “The clearing of the museum has all been done on the QT.
“Volunteers no longer welcome.
“Metal railings round the Mess 2 weeks ago. Obviously, refugees need to be housed but why there?
“Where there are listed buildings, so much heritage, and where there are such brilliant development plans in place and where such a plan is so desperately needed.
“It’s absolutely insane. A desecration. And in the 80th anniversary year of the Dams Raid? Has this Govt gone totally mad???
“Surely this cannot be allowed to happen?”
Serco issued – and then withdrew – a job advert for housing officers to support asylum seekers at Scampton.
Councillor Chris Bulteel, chairman of Scampton Parish Council, said: “The aims of the public meeting is to gauge public opinion, understand the current state of play and to plan an appropriate course of action.”
The Dambusters launched their raid in May 1943.
Led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson they destroyed three dams in the Ruhr valley using the ‘bouncing bomb’.
A total of 133 aircrew in 19 Lancasters took off in three waves to bomb the Mohne, the Eder and the Sorpe dams.
The Mohne and the Eder were breached, but the Sorpe remained intact.
The squadron lost 53 men and three became prisoners of war.
On the ground, almost 1,300 people were killed in the resulting flooding.
The raid was a significant boost to the nation’s war morale and the story of the Dambusters has been immortalised in film.
Dambuster George “Johnny” Johnson – the last surviving member of 617 squadron – died in 2022.
Home Office statement: “We have always been upfront about the unprecedented pressure being put on our asylum system, brought about by a significant increase in dangerous and illegal journeys into the country.
“We continue to work across government and with local authorities to identify a range of accommodation options.
“The government is engaging with local authorities and key stakeholders as part of this process.”