In 1939 Britain declared war on Germany, sending more than 400,000 Australians abroad to stop the march of Nazi Germany.
One squadron earned fame and respect in the years that followed, for dropping more bombs than any other in daring and costly air raids over Europe.
A declaration made 75-years ago this week, saw tens-of-thousands of Australians sent to the Binbrook airfields in Britain.
At the height of WWII, the Royal Australian Air Force's famous 460 Squadron were waved off on bombing raids over Europe by Australian Prime Minister John Curtin, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Today though the Royal Air Force base at Binbrook is deserted.
The hangars and briefing rooms from which some of the war's most decisive missions were flown - and planned in - abandoned.
First closed, then sold, by Britain's Ministry of Defence.
British volunteers are building a small museum where the demolished control tower once stood.
Ray Whiteley says they should be respected and remembered.
"They had their lives taken from them for our freedom so we must, we must remember them." Mr Whiteley said.
The squadron accounted for about two per cent of personnel during WWII but accounted for nearly twenty per cent of personnel killed in action.
Mr Whiteley said the squadron was effectively wiped out five times over.
"The losses were like at Mailly-le-Camp. I think they lost 39 in half an hour. 39 men and 6 Lancasters. It's phenomenal the amount of loses. They were just brave, brave boys." Mr Whiteley said.
In 2010 the squadron was reformed.
Flight Lieutenant, Rachel Hatton, is now part of the new 460 Squadron.
Ms Hatton said she's proud of the 460 Squadron legacy.
"The legacy that the 460 Squadron left us was one of courage, professionalism and a work ethic that was beyond what could be expected of them." Ms Hatton said.
Those who lovingly care for what little remains of their former base hope one day it will be rightly restored to its former glory.
The Binbrook volunteers have written to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott asking for help to upgrade the memorial and fight plans for a wind-farm on one of the three former runways.
