South Kesteven marks Dambusters anniversary

Eighty years since the RAF’s iconic wartime Dambusters Raid a single Lancaster bomber paid a special tribute to Grantham’s role in the mission.

Lancaster flyovers on two separate days were backed by South Kesteven District Council-cordinated visits to see memorabilia at St Vincent’s Hall, HQ for 5 Group Bomber Command in 1943.

It was at St Vincent’s Hall that Wing Commander Guy Gibson first learned that he was to lead 617 Squadron on Operation Chastise, an audacious night bombing raid to destroy dams in Germany’s industrial heartland.

It was here too where bouncing bomb inventor Sir Barnes Wallis was waiting on May 16th 1943 to hear the outcome with Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, head of Bomber Command. Both men then drove to Scampton to meet the returning crews.

Cllr Paul Stokes, Cabinet

Member for Leisure and Culture, said: “We should never forget our proud military heritage in South Kesteven, and this commemoration illustrated the critical role of St Vincent’s Hall during WW2.”

On May 13th the Lancaster flew over the town thanks to an request from Grantham aviation enthusiast Mike Brummitt, then over St Vincent’s Hall.

On May 16th, the exact date of the raid, the aircraft again went over Grantham as part of its 22-site tour of county Bomber Command sites.

Guests at St Vincent’s Hall saw a rare and unique collection of exhibition items – many on show to the public for the first time. Items were loaned from the private collection of Kenneth Ward, with other related pieces provided by Lincolnshire County Council’s military archive.

The exhibition was presented by aviation heritage specialist Brian Riley.