SQUADRON OIL PAINTING

An original oil painting by Keith Aspinall.

The painting depicts the final moments of Short Stirling Mk.111 BF515 flown by Flight Lieutenant Gordon Berridge, RAF. On the night of April 28/29th 1943, No. 218 Squadron dispatched 5 crews for minelaying duties, three crews failed to return, BF515 was one of these. The pilot, and the nucelus of the crew were on their 18th operation. On the 26th April 1943, Flight Lieutenant Berridge took a recently posted Sergeant Aaron to Duisburg in this aircraft.

( I would like to express my thanks to Keith Aspinall for his permission to use this painting)

Pilot Officer James Mellon Traynor, RAF(VR)

The navigator aboard Short Stirling BF515 was P/O Traynor, 23 year-old from Lanarkshire. Seen here on the right standing beside Short Stirling Mk. 1 R9196 HA-G with his first pilot Flying Officer Bickerson. Fate was to play a cruel hand for Pilot Traynor, on completion of F/O Bickerson's tour he was to become a spare navigator, he joined the crew of BF515 on April 16th 1943. When lost he had successfully flown 25 operations. His former gunner wrote to James's family on learning of his death. The following is taken from that letter.

I know his worth and how great his loss is to you and everyone who knew him. I was very proud of him, a grand fellow, a fiend and a man who could do his job. On behalf of the menbers of the crew, we want to tell you, his father and his family that he is still the No. 1 Navigator and will always be in the minds of G - Georges crew.