Eric Aldwinckle was born in 1909 at Oxford, England. He moved to Canada in 1922 and worked as a graphic artist until he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942. The self-taught artist was first employed on camouflage duties in Eastern Canada. In 1943, Aldwinckle was sent overseas as an official war artist. He later wrote of the assignment: "I had some vague idea of damning machines and glorifying the man, but I find the machine, whose lines come from the mind of man, beautiful. So I paint planes and love it. I also paint the men and love them, too." Living with the airmen affected him deeply, and he grew to respect their quiet courage. In a letter home he wrote, "Our Yorkshire roommate was just leaving for a (bombing) raid. Didn't want to go, but was cheery and dryly ...