A 95-YEAR-OLD who served during the Second World War has has told of her shock at the news that the base where she was based being sold.

Florence Cole worked as a codebreaker at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire base for several weeks as part of her 18 months in the RAF.

The news about the site being sold first broke in July but Florence didn’t know about it until she read a letter in the Daily Express on Sunday.

She said: “I can’t believe they are doing this. I’ve cried thinking about it.

“It’s dreadful that the government is allowing this to happen. I’m so angry.

“When I read that letter, it broke my heart.

“People as young as 17 gave their all and risked their lives for our freedom and now their memory is being disrespected.

“I hope I’m not the only person who feels this way, though I feel particularly strongly about it because I was there.”

RAF Scampton will close in 2022 as part of the Ministry of Defence’s plan to save almost £3 billion by 2040 by selling off about one-third of its estate.

The 102-year-old base is best known for being home to 617 Squadron, which carried out the Dambusters mission in 1943.

It is currently where the world-famous Red Arrows are stationed - they will be moved by 2022.

Leading Aircrafts-woman Florence Cole, from Shivenham, joined a team of 50 transcribing blocks of letters and digits transmitted by the enemy and intercepted by British wireless telegraphers.

Her eyes lit up as fond memories of her time at the base came flooding back to her.

She added: “I was first called up in 1943.

“After a few weeks of training at Gloucestershire, I was sent to RAF Scampton.

“It was a lot to take in, everything was in code, and it all felt so foreign and unfamiliar.

“To be honest, the work sometimes bored me stiff, but my time there flew by.

“I saw top secret documents about the bouncing bomb used in the Dambusters mission and packaged propaganda leaflets.

“I couldn’t talk about anything I had done there for 70 years, which was a strange feeling.

“I felt so excited and proud to be doing something for the good of the country, and the world.

“When I came home on leave, my mother never asked me what I did and I never told her.”

It’s not yet clear who will buy RAF Scampton or what the land will be used for.

A small museum has been suggested as a way to keep the rich history of the base alive once it’s no longer being used by the RAF.

Florence added: “That would be nice, hopefully these brave men and women will still be remembered.”