A building used as a chapel on the wartime RAF base of the legendary Dambusters squadron has been discovered on a hauliers’ yard in Newark, Nottinghamshire.
Fifty nine years ago this week 19 planes set off from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire and destroyed the Mohne and Eder dams. Eight Lancaster bombers were lost. The raid was immortalised in film and the man who led the operation, Guy Gibson, was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Now the large green Nissan hut used as one of the station chapels has been located at the compound owned by PA Freight in Newark. It had been dismantled and brought from Scampton to be used for storage.
The firm’s boss Andrew Morris didn’t know about the hut’s history when he bought the site. At a recent meeting of civic dignitaries at the depot he mentioned his plans for the hut’s demolition.
"Someone jokingly mentioned that it may be a listed building," said Mr Morris.
When he made further inquiries at Newark Air museum he discovered that the hut had been used as a chapel by airmen based at Scampton during the war.
"It’s incredible to think that some of those who carried out the Dambusters’ mission may actually have prayed inside here," said Mr Morris.
It’s now hoped that the building can be moved a few miles up the road to a permanent site at the Newark Air Museum.
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Andrew Morris outisde the hut which used to be a chapel at RAF Scampton.
