Places
Runways, dispersals, and the human geography of wartime flying. Each place connects to the aircraft and squadrons that passed through it.
Airfield
Lincolnshire RAF station used for bombers in WWII, later Cold War V-force operations, and most recently known as the former home of the Red Arrows before closing in 2023.
Site includes a First World War Royal Flying Corps landing field (Brattleby) and was reactivated in the 1930s. In the Second World War it operated as a bomber station and is famously associated with No. 617 Squadron (formed at Scampton in 1943).
In the Cold War it hosted V-force Avro Vulcan operations. It later became the home of the RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, until their move in 2022 and the station’s closure in March 2023.
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Today, RAF Scampton sits in a quiet, somewhat ghostly state of transition. The massive Type C hangars and the expansive runway—where the roar of 617 Squadron’s Lancasters and the precision of the Red Arrows once defined the Lincolnshire skyline—now stand largely silent. Since the base officially closed as an operational station, the site has become a focal point for intense heritage preservation efforts. While the Red Arrows have long since decamped to RAF Waddington, the physical spirit of the place remains anchored by the historic hangars and the iconic Officers' Mess, which still echo with the weight of Bomber Command history.
It’s a landscape caught between its legendary past and a new chapter of redevelopment. While the site faced recent years of uncertainty regarding its future use, the core of Scampton’s identity remains intact for those who visit. The heritage centre continues to keep the Dambusters’ flame alive, and the site of Guy Gibson’s office and his dog's grave remain poignant landmarks of the base's soul. For now, it remains a place of immense scale and echoes, currently undergoing a shift from a military powerhouse to a preserved heritage landmark and a hub for future investment.
The layout of the airfield today is dominated by the massive 2,740-metre (8,990 ft) main runway, designated 04/22. This asphalt giant is a physical scar of the Cold War; it was extended in the 1950s to accommodate the Avro Vulcan and its nuclear payload, the Blue Steel missile. To make this happen, the historic Roman road, the A15 (Ermine Street), had to be famously diverted, creating the sharp "Scampton Bend" that remains a landmark for local drivers today. The scale of the runway is so vast that it effectively dwarfs the original 1930s grass landing area where the Dambusters first practiced.
Beyond the main strip, the airfield’s "pan" layout still retains much of its military geometry. The taxiways and hardstandings that once hummed with the activity of the Red Arrows and 617 Squadron are largely intact, though the temporary portacabins from recent years are being cleared as the site transitions back to a licensed airfield. The current masterplan by Scampton Holdings envisions a "Heritage Runway" approach—preserving the historic flight path while upgrading the infrastructure to support modern aerospace innovation and heritage flight displays.
| Feature | Detail |
| Main Runway | 04/22 (2,740m / 8,990ft) |
| Surface | Asphalt / Concrete |
| Signature Landmark | The A15 "Scampton Bend" |
| Preservation Status | Proposed operational & heritage airfield |
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No 617 Squadron
No. 617 Squadron RAF is a Royal Air Force bomber squadron formed in 1943 and best known for the “Dambusters” raid (Operation Chastise) flown with specially modified Avro Lancasters. It later carried out precision and special operations in late WWII and has continued in various roles post-war, including modern strike and deep-attack missions.
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