Dambusters pub appeals for items

The raid was an attempt to cripple some of Germany's factories

A Lincolnshire pub is appealing for wartime memorabilia to rebuild its tribute to a nearby squadron.

The Dambusters Inn at Scampton was famous for its collection devoted to 617 squadron, but most of it belonged to the landlord who left last November.

The new landlord, Glen Earlam, has appealed for help in getting it back to its former glory.

He said that he wanted the pub to be part of the community and also a tribute to the bomber crews.

Mr Earlam added: "I feel like I am on a mission of my own. I am learning a lot about the squadron and the area during the war.

Anything that people want to lend will be gratefully received Glen Earlam, landlord

"With help from friends, customers and friends of customers we should be able to get items in to show people what happened here and who the Dambusters were."

The new collection is not starting from scratch, with some items having been left behind and others already being offered.

"We have some gas masks, shell casings and pictures left and a chap I phoned up yesterday is very into this stuff and will lend some to me but anything that people want to lend will be gratefully received."

The Dambusters raid by 617 squadron was intended to damage the industrial might of Nazi Germany by breaching dams in the Ruhr area which provided vital power.

The operation on the night of 16 May 1943 successfully breached the Moehne and Eder dams but two other attacks on the Sorpe and Schwelme failed.

Eight aircraft and 53 crew were lost during the night raid.