The name Rex Austin will now make it into the pantheon of those given the greatest honour from the French.
Earlier this month, the 91-year-old Faulconbridge World War II veteran attended a ceremony with the Consul General of France to Australia, Eric Berti, who presented him with the Legion d'Honneur. France's prestigious Legion of Honour award was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 to acknowledge outstanding military accomplishments and other distinguished services to France.
And even if the humble Mr Austin doesn't think he is particularly remarkable - "me and a lot of others were awarded" - the French nation disagrees.
Mr Austin flew in Bomber Command in the United Kingdom in 207 squadron, although he had joined up in Melbourne, Victoria, in July 1942.
The wireless operator was shot down on his unlucky 13th mission, parachuting out in the middle of the night and then spending the following year, "including my 21st birthday", as a German POW.
His efforts contributed to the liberation of France during the Second World War. And even though he flew in bombing missions over occupied Europe, he never set foot in France until after the war.
Mr Austin said it was his job to send and receive messages and fill in for the gunners if they were injured.
"We had had a very good run until the 13th [mission] - we were shot down over Germany in the middle of the night at 20,000 feet. We didn't even see the German aircraft that shot us down, it came up from underneath and hit us in the starboard wing, which of course caught fire.
"My aircraft captain, Kevin McSweeny, said: 'For god's sake get out of here.' As part of your training you learn to evacuate the aircraft very quickly. I grabbed my parachute quick and lively and bailed out."
The bomb aimer and the engineer were killed - they didn't get out of the aircraft, which disintegrated.
"We don't know why they didn't get out. With the wing on fire there was nothing else to do but get out and get out quickly. I identified the bodies of the blokes who were killed the next day."
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Mr Austin broke his ankle when he hit the ground squashing any escape plans out of Nazi Germany.
"It was completely black [when I jumped]. You just don't know where the ground is, there's no reference points."
He ended up in the infamous Nazi POW camp, Stalag 3A, surviving on minuscule rations until the camp was liberated.
"You just only do what your jailers allow you to do."
After being demobbed (returning to civilian life), Mr Austin tried his hand at a few jobs, including his old career as bank teller, but eventually he rejoined the air force and had a full career, retiring in 1980 as a group captain at the Glenbrook air base.
Mr Austin's father Herbert was an officer in Melbourne in both the First and Second World War and his son, Dr Tony Austin, recently retired from the air force as a air vice marshall and doctor.
"I was destined for the air force. As a young boy I would go out with my father and sit in the airplanes and play in them."
Mr Austin has lived in the Mountains for three decades and admits most people wouldn't know about his war experiences.
"I'm very grateful to be recognised, even though it's 70 years later."
His second wife, Lorraine, said he was very nervous on the day and "almost fell over".
What would he say to the current French President Francois Hollande for bestowing the honour on him? "I'd say 'merci ... merci beau coup'".
More than 100 Second World War veterans around the country are being awarded the Legion of Honour this year - 70 years after their service.
At the ceremony in Sydney, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Senator Michael Ronaldson, paid tribute to those who fought for the Allied cause.
"All Australians, along with the people of France, honour your service."
And the Consul General of France to Australia, Eric Berti, said: "Australia helped ... France has not forgotten".
Mr Austin doesn't believe we have learnt much about war since he fought.
"There have always been wars as long as history has been written."