The remains of a dog which belonged to the commanding officer of the legendary Dambusters will not be exhumed and brought to Norfolk, following a public outcry.
At a special planning meeting on Wednesday night, West Lindsey Council unanimously decided they should instead remain at RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire.
The black labrador, whose name is now considered a racial slur, was owned by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, who led 617 Squadron’s legendary raid on German dams from Scampton, near Lincoln, in May 1943.
The RAF had applied for permission to exhume the animal and remove the headstone from its grave at the former Scampton airbase, which is set to be used to house asylum seekers and move them to be stored at RAF Marham, where 617 Sqn is now based.
It said there was "no guarantee of a sustainable heritage-focused future for Scampton with careful management and interpretation of the story of the raid", adding the grave site "carries significant reputational risk given the racial slur now associated with the dog’s name".
But councillors voted down the air force's application at a meeting in Lincoln attended by more than 120 members of the public.
A report to councillors beforehand said 5,500 people had signed a petition against the move, while the council had also received 171 objections.
One said: "To remove the grave from this heritage site will be a piece of history ripped out and forgotten for the local area and beyond."
Another added removing the remains would be "an absolute insult" to the memory of the 53 who lost their lives on the dams raid.
A spokesman for Scampton Heritage Group said: "We consider the exhumation of the remains of a dead dog macabre in the extreme.
"Moreover, as on top of the dog are the ashes of 10 airmen who served on 617 Squadron, the exhumation of the dog's remains is offensive to public decency and completely unacceptable."
It added neither Wg Cdr Gibson or his dog were ever based at RAF Marham.
Historic England, Lincolnshire County Council Archaeology and local councils also objected.
The dog's name was removed from the headstone three years ago, because it did fit the ethos of the modern RAF.
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