DES Creighton has few reminders of his time as a Leading Aircraftsman repairing Wirraways at a Royal Australian Air Force Base at Uranquinty during World War II.
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So getting back what appears to be a brass name plate lost more than 65 years ago and found recently by a group of metal detectors is a welcome surprise for the 88-year-old veteran, who lives at Narooma on the South Coast.
Wagga man Darren Blake found the solid name plate while conducting a grid search of the abandoned air base, now part of a farm, with the Riverina Relic and Jewellery Recovery Facebook group.
"It was about give centimetres under the ground in the middle of what used to be the parade ground," Mr Blake said.
After cleaning up the badge and being able to read Mr Creighton's name and service number, Mr Blake posted a picture of it on Facebook and soon after was contacted by someone who gave him the owner's contact details.
"He (Mr Creighton) said he could not recall what it was, but once he had it in his hand it would trigger his memory," Mr Blake said.
"He said he would like it back and I'm getting it in the post to him as soon as possible.
"I said to him: 'this is a part of your time at Uranquinty, it's a part of you and a part of your family history'."
Mr Creighton told The Daily Advertiser he was looking forward to seeing the long-lost item.
"I can't imagine what it could be," he said.
"I'm very pleased they have gone to the trouble to get it back to me."
Mr Creighton, who served at Uranquinty between 1944 and 1946, said he has not been back to the base since leaving it and has only passed through Wagga.
