There are numerous WW2 airfields in The New Forest which played a huge part in the eventual Allied victory. Sway airfield had a short service live 1940 –1941, created as an RAF decoy airfield and also an Emergency Landing Ground (ELG).The rectangular airfield was located in fields between Coombe Lane and Pitmore Lane and provided two grass runways of around 2000 feet each. Once created Sway ELG was used by ten aircraft, believed to include Hadley Page Harrows, a Fairey Battle and Handley Page Hampdens dispatched from RAF Christchurch.A small RAF team comprising one sergeant and 18 airmen lived in tents on the field and were responsible for maintenance of the airfield a visiting aircraft.