A decision on whether the Dambusters dog can be removed from RAF Scampton is expected to be made later today at an “extraordinary” meeting of a council’s Planning Committee.
The RAF is requesting permission to excavate “any zooarchaeological remains” from the grave of Wing Commander Guy Gibson’s dog and relocate to RAF Marham in Norfolk. It fears that the grave carries “significant reputational risk” if it stays.
The planning application has received public outcry and even been trashed by Historic England which recommends refusal.
West Lindsey District Council has moved the meeting to a bigger venue at Lincolnshire showground to accommodate “anyone with an interest.”
The 617 Squadron mascot, whose name is a racial slur, is a central figure in the Dambusters story
GB News
The 617 Squadron mascot, whose name is a racial slur, is a central figure in the Dambusters story.
He accompanied Gibson from 106 Squadron when 617 formed and was loved by the men, even drinking beer with them in the Officer’s Mess.
In an application for listed building consent, which is needed for demolition or alteration to a building with protected status, RAF Heitage said: “As there is now no guarantee of a sustainable heritage focussed future for Scampton... we believe the grave site is at risk and carries significant reputational risk given the racial slur now associated with the dog’s name.”
It continued: “Ideally the grave would remain at Scampton as part of the important story... but the future is now too uncertain to recommend this course of action.”
The dog’s grave is protected as part of the curtilage of Hangar 2 which has been Grade 2 Listed since December 1, 2005.
A Government plan to house up to 2000 asylum seekers at the former Lincolnshire airfield sparked the planning application.
West Lindsey District Council is currently seeking a Judicial Review to scrap the plan and is locked in a High Court battle with the Home Office.
The migrant camp could scupper a £300million regeneration deal at the old base.
Conservative Councillor for WLDC Scampton Ward, Roger Patterson, said “The dog’s grave is part of our heritage but it’s also part of our future because the future here, if we get what we want with the £300m deal, involves a world-class heritage centre and the dog’s grave is part of the story of 617 Squadron.”
GB News requested a statement from the Home Office which deferred to comments made by the RAF claiming the application is “precautionary.”
Locals who live at the airfield’s edge have express their dismay.
The RAF is requesting permission to excavate 'any zooarchaeological remains' from the grave of Wing Commander Guy Gibson’s dog and relocate to RAF Marham in Norfolk.
GB News
Sarah Carter, Campaigner at Save Our Scampton, said: “You don’t live here without becoming attached to the history of the base. Knowing that a huge part of that is gone would be quite upsetting.”
Her husband, Paul, an RAF veteran, added: “He lived here, he died here, his grave’s here. This is where he belongs. We are his custodians now and we want to look after him.”
Gibson’s dog was killed by a car in the hours before the historic raid on German damms in May 1943. He hid the death from 617 Squadron for fear it would be deemed a bad omen ahead of the dangerous mission.
Buried outside Gibson’s office with the raid ongoing, an original headstone, inscribed with the dog’s name, was replaced in July 2020, due to fears its racial connotations would be deemed offensive.
Britain commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters raid on the May 16, 2023 by flying a Lancaster bomber above wartime airfields in “bomber county” Lincolnshire.