'RAAF HALIFAX BOMBER AT FOULSHAM - 1945' 

102 x 76 cm  (40 x 30 inches) Palette Knife - Oil on canvas 

Private Collection 462 Sqn Royal Australian Air Force

Wireless Operator F/O Cecil Foster looks out from the cockpit of RAAF Halifax Bomber "Z" for Zebra at Foulsham Airfield England just months before he was killed in a mission over Germany.

Cecil Foster and five of his fellow crew members were killed when their Halifax bomber "C" for Charlie was shot down by a German Night fighter whilst on a mission to Augsberg Germany on the 17th April 1945. Three of his fellow crew members escaped before the aircraft blew up in mid air, they were Pilot - Allan Lodder, Bomb Aimer - Pete "Zoot" Naylor and Rear Gunner - R.E Casterton.

Cecil went to school at Sandgate State School in Queensland, his hobbies were Cricket, swimming and sailing which he spent 12 years at in 22 footers. Cecil was 29 years of age when he was killed serving his country, this painting is a tribute to the crews of Bomber Command that never made it back home.