UK campaigners trying to save 'last intact' WW II Bomber Command airbase

London, July 15 (ANI): Campaigners in the UK are trying to buy RAF Bicester, the nation's best preserved Second World War airfield, from the Ministry of Defence, so that they can convert it into an aviation museum.

According to The Telegraph, the move comes at a time a capsule of Bomber Command, the unit that has seen its role overlooked since the end of the conflict.

Now, following the success of the memorial to the unit, which was unveiled by the Queen in central London last month, the Second World War airbase at RAF Bicester could become a permanent museum to honour the courage of the bomber crews.

The 348 acre airfield, which contains 19 Grade II listed buildings and 12 scheduled ancient monuments, has been put up for sale by the Ministry of Defence.

Among those looking to take on the airfield is Bomber Command Heritage (BCH), a group of volunteers, who are planning to convert it into one of the country's foremost aviation museums.

The organisation has already secured the support of the local council and will launch a campaign to raise enough money to buy the site in Oxfordshire.

According to English Heritage, it is "the best preserved bomber airfield" of its type.

Among buildings the organisation has listed are the control tower, hangers, workshops, ammunition stores and guard house.

However, the structures have been left to gradually deteriorate and are in a very poor condition, with 18 of the buildings placed on the organisation's "heritage at risk" register.

Dean Overton, chairman of BCH, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity because this is the last, intact Bomber Command station left. Not only are all its important parts still there, its vistas are still there as they were at the end of the Second World War". (ANI)