The 139th Psalm (sometimes called the
Airman's Psalm):
 

If I climb up into Heaven, Thou art there;
If I go to Hell, Thou art there also.
If I take the wings of the morning
And remain in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there also shall Thy hand lead me;
And Thy right hand shall hold me.
 

The memorial standing on the western boundary of the wartime airfield of Holmsley South sprang from the desire to commemorate all those people who had served on the New Forest airfields during and immediately after the second World War.

I am sure that many younger people have no conception of what was happening in the area sixty years ago, yet what occurred then helped in no small manner to secure the freedom we enjoy and take for granted today. Had the war been lost, Great Britain would have become part of the Third Reich, a vassal state, with slavery, concentration camps, murder, torture and intimidation everyday features of life as they were in the territories occupied by the Germans at that time.

The twelve airfields of the New Forest played an important part in securing the eventual victory, and with the coming of peace, in bringing home thousands of prisoners-of-war and service personnel, and opening up the new air routes across the globe which we use today as a matter of course. They were involved in every aspect of air warfare from training, flying in defence and on offensive missions, to the ferrying of secret agents into occupied Europe. During the period around D-day, thousands of sorties were carried out daily. In addition to the Royal Air Force, units of American, Canadian, Free French, Polish, Australian and Czech origin operated and individuals concerned with the cause of freedom volunteered from such remote places as British Guiana and Ceylon.

The fact that many civilians served beside the Service men and women is often overlooked. The NAAFI girls manning the canteens, people like Harry Coker from Thorney Hill who operated a piggery at Holmsley South, civilian scientists engaged on experimental projects and many others were included.

Everyone, fliers and ground staff, from the Commanding officers down to the lowliest "bog wallahs" (toilet cleaners) made their contribution and it is to remember them with pride and gratitude that the memorial has been erected.