Military History
During the Second World War, a quiet Lincolnshire village became the home of one of the most famous squadrons in RAF history. This is the story of RAF Woodhall Spa and the Dambusters.
RAF Woodhall Spa
In 1942, with Britain at war, a new airfield was constructed on the heathland to the south of the village. RAF Woodhall Spa became home to a succession of bomber squadrons, it's runways and dispersals carved from the Lincolnshire farmland. For the young men who served here, the village and it's surrounding woods offered rare moments of quiet between operations over occupied Europe.
617 Squadron Arrives
In early 1944, the now-famous 617 Squadron, already legendary as the 'Dambusters', moved to RAF Woodhall Spa. Under commanders including Wing Commander Leonard Cheshire, the squadron would remain at Woodhall for much of the war, flying some of the most demanding and precision-targeted bombing missions of the conflict. The village became inseparable from the Dambusters' story.
Operation Chastise
In May 1943, 617 Squadron carried out the legendary 'Dambusters' raid, Operation Chastise, using Barnes Wallis's revolutionary bouncing bomb to breach the Möhne and Eder dams in the Ruhr valley. It was one of the most famous raids in RAF history. The crews who flew it and later made Woodhall Spa their home became legends of British military aviation.
The Petwood — Officers' Mess
The grand Petwood Hotel, set in 30 acres of grounds, became the officers' accommodation for 617 Squadron. Today its famous Squadron Bar houses an extraordinary collection of wartime photographs and memorabilia, open to non-residents. Standing in its wood-panelled rooms, the presence of those young airmen feels remarkably close, with the legend of the Dambusters living on here, quite literally.
The Memorial & Remembrance
A permanent memorial to 617 Squadron stands in the Royal Square and is freely accessible to visitors at all times. Each year, a moving memorial service brings veterans, families and dignitaries together to remember those who served and those who never returned. It is one of the most important dates in the village calendar, a moment of quiet reflection at the heart of Woodhall Spa's living heritage.
