1955 THROWBACK: "N*GGER THE DOG"

Nigger was a male black labrador retriever belonging to Wing Commander Guy Gibson of the Royal Air Force, and the mascot of No. 617 Squadron. Gibson owned the dog when he was previously a member of 106 Squadron. Nigger often accompanied Gibson on training flights and was a great favourite of the members of both 106 and 617 Squadrons. He was noted for his liking of beer, which he drank from his own bowl in the Officers’ Mess.

Nigger died on 16 May 1943, the day of the famous “Dambusters” raid, when he was hit by a motorist. He was buried at midnight as Gibson was leading the raid. “Nigger” (Morse code: -. .. –. –. . .-. ) was the codeword Gibson used to confirm the breach of the Möhne Dam. Nigger’s grave is at Royal Air Force station Scampton, Lincolnshire.

In July 2020 the headstone was replaced, with his name removed. The RAF said it “did not want to give prominence to an offensive term that went against its ethos”.

In 2023, the RAF’s request for listed building consent to move the dog’s grave to another airbase was refused.

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