Charles J Lundgren (New York, Connecticut, 1911 - 1988) "U.S.S. Missouri" Signed lower right. Oil on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood Commemorative Cover for the U.S.S. Missouri. The last battleship completed by the United States during World War II, the U.S.S. Missouri was commissioned on 11 June 1944 with Captain William M. Callaghan in command. After her trials and battle practice, she departed for the Pacific on 11 November 1944. Transiting through the Panama Canal, U.S.S. Missouri reached San Francisco on 14 December and arrived at Ulithi in the West Caroline Islands on 13 January 1945. There she served as temporary headquarters for Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher. Her duties in the Pacific included screening for the U.S.S. Lexington carrier group of Task Force 58. On 16 February 1945, she supported the U.S.S. Lexington as the group launched the first air strikes against Japan since General Doolittle's raid in April 1942. U.S.S. Missouri then steamed with the carrier group to Iwo Jima where her guns provided continuous support to the invasion landings begun on 19 February. U.S.S. Missouri returned to Ulithi to be assigned to the U.S.S. Yorktown carrier group. She continued to provide bombardment and screen support throughout the Pacific into 1946. In Tokyo harbor, on 2 September 1946, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and General of the Army Douglas MacArthur came aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, and at 0902-hours the twenty-three minute ceremony began for the signing of the Articles of Surrender by Japan, ending World War II in the Pacific. Image Size: 13.5 x 15.75 in. Overall Size: 20.5 x 21.75 in. Unframed. (B11078)