Charles J Lundgren (New York, Connecticut, 1911 - 1988) "U.S.S. Washington" Signed lower right. Original oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood Commemorative Cover for the U.S.S. Washington. Construction on the U.S.S Washington began after the the Washington Treaty's "battleship holiday" banning new ship construction expired. Her hull was laid down in 1938, and she was commissioned on 15 May 1941 with Captain Howard H.J. Benson in command. During World War II, she became the flagship for Rear Admiral John W. Wilcox, Commander, Battleships, Atlantic Fleet. She sailed for the Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands to reinforce the British Home Fleet. After a refit at the New York Navy Yard, she was called to the Pacific on 23 August 1942. On 15 September she put to sea to rendezvous with Task Force 17 formed around the carrier Hornet in the South Pacific. During the entire summer of 1942 the fight for Guadalcanal was intense; several American ships, including the carrier Hornet, were lost. By mid-November the situation grew worse, and the U.S.S. Washington was called on to replenish and reinforce convoys into Guadalcanal. Then came her greatest moment: on 14 November 1942, she entered Ironbottom Sound. At 0001 hours on 15 November 1942, her radar made contact with a Japanese complement east of Savo Island. Within minutes, the U.S.S. Washington opened fire with her 16-inch main battery. Her gunflashes split the night and her gunfire reverberated like thunder. Seven minutes later the Japanese battleship Kirishima was ablaze. The U.S.S Washington became the first American battleship to defeat her Japanese counterpart head-to-head. Image Size: 13.5 x 15.75 in. Overall Size: 20.5 x 21.75 in. Unframed. (B10409) See More