The memorial commemorates nearly 1,000 airmen from forces of the Commonwealth who were killed on the Western Front during World War I and who have no known grave.

[1] Architect Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869–1944), of the Imperial War Graves Commission, designed the layout of the Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery.

[1] Renowned Scottish sculptor Sir William Reid Dick (1879–1961) sculpted the globe with stars on top of the Arras Flying Services Memorial, as well as the badges on the monument.

At the 1932 unveiling ceremony, it was revealed that the position of the globe on the obelisk parallels that of the Earth on the morning of the Armistice, 11 November 1918.

[6] The unveiling had initially been scheduled for 15 May 1932; however, due to the assassination of French President Paul Doumer in early May, the ceremony had been postponed.

After prayers led by the chaplain, Major General Sir Fabian Ware, founder of the Imperial War Graves Commission, addressed Lord Trenchard and invited him to unveil the memorial.

After the benediction and prayers by Monseigneur Henri-Édouard Dutoit, Bishop of Arras, buglers of the 1st Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry sounded Last Post.