The volunteer crew, including Sergeant Mat Binmore, Corporal Rob Ballantyne, Corporal Amanda Rebanks and Senior Aircraftman Darran Woonough from the base, near Peterborough, played a key role in the building of the hut in Zagan, Poland.

Called Project 104, work to build the hut started two years ago as the brainchild of Dr Howard Tuck, Flight Lieutenant Tim Barlow, and the late Squadron Leader Jimmy James, after a visit to Zagan.

The build team predominately comprised enthusiastic amateur builders from the RAF, but was supported by four expert Royal Engineers from the Army, and assisted by a Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer to ensure that the finished hut was built to a high technical specification and will stand as a memorial for years to come.

Split into teams, Dick and Harry, they alternated between spending three days building and three days learning the wider story of the Second World War at sites in Berlin, Krakow and Auschwitz.

As temperatures soared, the sound of hammers and saws echoed through the trees in the usually peaceful location as the hut's build progressed.

Positioned next to Great Escape Museum in Zagan, the hut, which was built after months of committed research and fund-raising, is half the size of the original one and will act as a permanent memorial to the bravery of allied personnel imprisoned in Stalag Luft III during the Second World War.

Former Stalag Luft III Prisoners of War Air Commodore Charles Clarke, President of the Ex-PoW Association, and Andrew Wiseman, were guests of honour at the opening of the replica hut on Saturday.

One of the RAF Wittering team, Flight Lieutenant Chris Metcalfe, said: "It's been quite a moving experience.

"There's very little left of the original site and this hut will be a lasting memorial to the 50 people who died during the Great Escape."

Senior Aircraftman Paul Buckley, who was also part of the RAF Wittering contingent, drove wood and tools over to Poland for the project as well taking part in the actual build.

He said: "To do something like building hut 104 is quite memorable and it's going to be remembered for quite a while."

Former prisoner Mr Wiseman, who has been with the building team throughout the work, said: "Today is the fruition of a long time of dreams and ideas. It brings back memories, not all of them good – not all of them bad.

"I have been tremendously impressed by the way the children, as I call them, currently serving in the RAF and the other services – who had never held a hammer in their hand until they came here – worked magnificently in all sorts of weathers.

"I also find it very touching the way they have looked after Charles and I."