But it's a challenge Rathmines resident Alec Howard took on with vigour in order to write a book celebrating the role of the Rathmines airbase in World War II.

The book, Rathmines... not forgotten: The story of the WWII flying boat base, will be released next Saturday, October 24, as part of the annual Rathmines Catalina festival.

Mr Howard travelled from Victoria to Queensland to get the stories of 80 men and women who served at the airbase.

"People don't want to talk about their experiences. They don't want to relive the horror of war. Many of the people I spoke to hadn't even talked to their own families about what they went through. But they talked to me, probably because I was in the army as well so I knew what it was like for them," he said.

"The book is made up of short stories. But what all their stories seem to reflect is a questioning over why people have to be so horrific in their nastiness to each other. It wasn't war, it was murder, that people were committing. And we're talking about 16-year-old kids who were involved."

The book took two years to write, and the first print run of 200 copies is now on sale.

Mr Howard said he hoped the stories would help Australians understand how pivotal the Rathmines airbase was in WWII.

"We basically controlled the Pacific war during 1942-43 from Rathmines and that's what people don't know," he said.

"I also hope the book brings recognition to the people who served at Rathmines. They deserve it because many of them can't get all the veteran benefits because they aren't classified as having been involved in active service because Rathmines isn't overseas."

Mr Howard and his wife head up a committee which is restoring the old airbase.

"We're currently in stage one of the project which involves removing lantana and other weeds on a 1.5-hectare site so it can be used as a tourist attraction, he said.

"Council calls it 'enhancement', the airforce calls it 'beautification', but we call it 'tidying up'. And we'd love for as many volunteers as possible to get involved."