The Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre is back on the tourist trail, with a steady stream of visitors enjoying the chance to relive the RAAF days at the Nhill aerodrome.
The centre features a vast selection of photos and memorabilia, which offer a glimpse into the life of thousands of young men and women who signed up to join the war effort in the early 1940s.
Barely out of school, they were training to be navigators and bomb aimers, but private letters and memories of local Nhill residents show it wasn't all serious study during the weeks and months spent in the town.
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Nhill became known as the friendly base and its reputation went far and wide.
Restoration works are flying on the Arvo Anson, complete in camouflage colours and has only one wing to go before completion.
The Wirraway, which flew in from Tyabb two years ago, the Tiger Moth and the Link Trainer, an original flight simulator, are all on display.
These provide examples of the main aircraft used for training during RAAF days and illustrate how far aviation has come.
Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre president Rob Lynch said volunteers have worked tirelessly to create a memorial to those brave young trainee aviators.
"All who passed through Nhill went on to other training bases and most were then sent overseas to join the front line," Mr Lynch said.
"Many of them never returned.
"The heritage centre is our small way of saying thank you to them and their families.
The Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre is located at Aerodrome Road, Nhill and open Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
Entry is $5, with members and children free.
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