"Someone had to go and sort Hitler out."
That's the view of 95-year-old D-Day veteran Laurie Woods, who took part in a Last Post ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra - a day before the 75th anniversary of the famous World War II battle.
Three thousand Australians were involved in D-Day. Only four are still alive.
Mr Woods enlisted in the RAAF in June 1942 at the age of 19, after his mother and father rejected his idea of becoming a naval cadet bandsman.
"I wanted to learn more, I needed a better education," he told AAP on Wednesday.
After training in Australia for nine months he was posted to the UK where he served as a bomb aimer with 460 Squadron.
Of the 49 air crew posted to the squadron with Mr Woods only eight were still alive in October 1944 when they flew their last operation.
On the eve of D-Day, Mr Woods and his crew carried out two risky diversionary raids in the Dunkirk area in Halifax bombers to draw the German fighters away from the Normandy beach head.
"We knew that D-Day was coming but we didn't know when," he said.
"We were given a position, three degrees east 10 minutes, and we had to fly there turn around and come back.
"We copped a shell from a naval vessel - put a hole in the aircraft about two foot square."
When Operation Overlord began, Mr Woods flew over the Normandy coast.
"A few times we were over there," he said.
"I did pick out the (battleship) HMS Rodney ... it was easy to see and it was right down in front of us, right in the middle of the whole fleet.
"I was quite excited to see something I recognised."
About 300,000 allied troops landed on five Normandy beaches on D-Day, on a mission to liberate Western Europe from Nazi occupation, with 13 Australians killed on June 6.
In total, 3200 Australians took part, including 1100 airmen.
Asked what he thought of the idea of hurling so much military might in one go, Mr Woods said: "Some time, someone had to go and sort Hitler out."
On his last bombing run over Germany, which saw him awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, his Lancaster was hit by heavy flak which entered the cockpit and lodged in the face of his captain, Ted Owen.
Captain Owen kept the Lancaster on target until Mr Woods released the bombs, before slumping unconscious and sending the plane into a dive.
Back at their base in Binbrook, England, the plane was reported as shot down over the target and last seen in a power dive.
In fact, Mr Woods had made his way to the cockpit and took control over the Lancaster, despite having no flight training and confronted with failing cockpit equipment.
He flew the aircraft back to England where Captain Owen was assisted back to the pilot's seat for the landing.
His award recommendation said: "At no time was the bomb-aimer flustered and he displayed skill, initiative and determination of a high order. His course flying and ability to maintain height were extremely accurate and in consideration of his inexperience the whole performance was remarkable."
Mr Woods has written several books of his war experiences and continues to promote the contributions of Bomber Command in WWII.
He has been awarded the rank of Chevalier in the French Legion of Honour which honours veterans who fought for the liberation of France.
In 2015 he was recognised with Australia Day honours for significant service to veterans through the preservation of military aviation history.
