Holmsley
The railway line from Southampton to Dorchester was opened in 1847, and the old Holmsley Station building is beyond the A35 bridge and it opened as Christchurch Road Station in 1847 even though it was seven miles form the town. Sadly the line closed in 1964 but the station has been extended and converted in tea rooms.

Memorial to the New Forest Airfields of World War 2
erected August 2002
 

Built in the summer of 1942 HOLMSLEY SOUTH(Plain Heath)opened for flying in September whilst still under construction. RAF Coastal Command was the first unit operating there until December 1943, after which control of the airfield passed to 2 TAF.

In October 1944 it was taken over by Transport Command and they were the  main user until the airfield closed in October 1946.

Even after 1946 aircraft mistook Holmsley for Hurn and landed there in error!! But in the 1960s the runways were broken up and the land returned to heathland, but if you look close enough there can still be found some of the old buildings, one is on the right hand side along the approach road from the A35 and acts as a stable!

Hampshire Aviation History Website
Unveiling ceremony press release

 
     
 
     
 
  AIRFIELD LOCATIONS
1.  Stoney Cross
2.  Beaulieu
3.  Holmsley South
4.  Hurn
5.  Ibsley
6.  Calshot
7.  Christchurch
8.  Sway
9.  Needs Oar* Point
10. Lymington
11. Winkton
12. Bisterne

*Spelt Ore on OS Maps

 
RAF Units at Holmesly
58 Sq Whitley VII /Halifax II arr 2/12/42,dep31/3/43
58 Sq Halifax II arr29/6/43, dep 6/12/43
129 Sq Mustang III arr 22/6/44 ,dep 24/6/44
167 Sq WarwickI/III arr 1/10/44,dep30/3/45.
174 Sq Typhoon IB arr 1/4/44,dep 17/6/44
175 Sq Typhoon IB arr 1/4/44 ,dep 20/6/44
182 Sq Typhoon UB arr 22/6/44,dep 3/7/44.
184 Sq Typhoon IB arr 14/5/44,dep 20/5/44.
184 Sq Typhoon IB arr17/6/44,dep 27/6/44
232 Sq Liberator VII arr 2/45
245 Sq Typhoon IB arr 1/4/44,dep 25/4/44.
245 Sq Typhoon IB arr 30/4/44,dep 12/5/44
245 Sq Typhoon IB arr 22/5/44,dep 27/6/44
246 Sq York C1 arr12/44,dep 15/10/46
295 Sq Halifax V arr 1/5/43,dep 30/6/43		  
306(Polish) Sq Mustang III arr 22/6/44,dep 27/6/44
315(Polish) Sq Mustang III arr 22/6/44,dep 25/6/44
418 SQ RCAF Mosquito II arr 8/4/44,dep 14/7/44.
441 Sq RCAF Spitfire IXB arr 18/3/44,dep 1/4/44.
442 Sq RCAF Spitfire IXB arr 18/3/44,dep 1/4/44.
443 Sq RCAF Spitfire IXB arr 18/3/44,dep 27/3/44.
502 Sq Whitley II detachment arr 22/2/42
502 Sq Halifax II arr 2/3/43,dep 25/3/43
502 Sq Halifax II arr 30/6/43,dep 10/12/43.
547 Sq Wellington VIII arr 22/10/42,dep 10/12/42.
Glider Pilot Regiment, Horsa arr 5/43,dep 6/43

USAAF UNITS
330 BG B-24 arr25/10/42 dep 1943
394BG(584/585/586/587 Sqs) B-26 arr 24/7/44,dep 25/8/44


 



 

Note these locations may not be exact and are meant as a guide only