David K. Stone (American, 1922 - 2001) "HMS Georgetown" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original painting which appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 45c HMS Georgetown ex-USS Maddox stamp issued September 3, 1990. Though initially committed to neutrality, the United States moved one step closer to an undeclared war against the Axis powers with its transfer of fifty-one older destroyers to Great Britain in the fall of 1940. The agreement exchanged the destroyers for leases of strategically-located military bases in the western Atlantic. In late September 1940, the USS Maddox sailed for the United Kingdom where she was named the HMS Georgetown. Seen plunging through high seas in the North Atlantic, the HMS Georgetown is flying the White Ensign of the Royal Navy and camouflaged to blend into the colors of the ocean. The ship was later transferred to another ally, the Soviet Union, on August 10, 1944 where it was given yet another name, the Zhyostki. She survived the war and was broken up for scrap in 1952. Image Size: 14.75 x 23.75 in. Overall Size: 23.75 x 27 in. Unframed. (B12587)