Shared Experience: Art and War

Bomber crew

Stella Bowen
Bomber crew
oil on canvas
86.1 x 63.3cm
ART26265

Given the task of painting a typical Lancaster bomber crew, Bowen travelled to RAF Station Binbrook in Lincolnshire, where No. 460 Squadron RAAF was based. The men seemed preoccupied with their coming operation and showed little interest in her drawings. Next day they were reported missing and presumed killed: only one survived. Bowen completed the group portrait from sketches and official photographs: “It was horrible having to paint the picture after the men were lost. Like painting ghosts.”