Air Forces Memorial

The Air Forces Memorial is a war memorial located in Runnymede on Cooper's Hill, housing over 20,000 names of Commonwealth Air Forces personnel who died in World War II. The site features stone walls engraved with these names, arranged within a carefully designed landscape on a hillside overlooking the surrounding countryside.

The memorial was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 following decades of calls for a dedicated site to honor air force casualties from World War II. Architect Edward Maufe designed the complex in collaboration with sculptor Vernon Hill and glasswork artist John Hutton.

The memorial walls display names of air force members organized by their squadrons and countries, creating a lasting record of their service. Visitors here see how individual lives are preserved within a shared story of sacrifice.

The memorial can be reached via Cooper's Hill Lane, with parking available nearby and bus service accessible from the site. The grounds are on a hillside, so visitors should be prepared for walking uphill and downhill to see all parts of the memorial.

From the memorial viewpoint, visitors can see the River Thames, Runnymede Meadow, and on clear days distant London landmarks. This panorama connects the memorial to both the landscape around it and the distant city beyond.

Location: Runnymede

Inception: 1953

Creator: Edward Maufe

GPS coordinates: 51.43770,-0.56505

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:00