David K. Stone (American, 1922 - 2001) "Michael Collins" 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 Michael Collins Commemorative Cover postmarked October 31, 1980. In 1969, Michael Collins was the pilot of the command module, Columbia, on the epic voyage of Apollo XI to the Moon. As Astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin walked on the Moon's surface, Collins flew the Columbia alone, maintaining a precise lunar orbit overhead. His perfection and skill during the mission were credited as being vital to the success of the entire flight. His dedication to every undertaking began well before the Apollo mission. Collins was graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1952. After completing test pilot training with the Air Force Flight Test Center, he entered the Astronaut Corps in 1963. Colonel Collins was backup pilot for Gemini 7 and pilot for the 1966 Gemini X mission. He performed a successful rendezvous and docking with an Agean spacecraft and two extravehicular space walks. Collins resigned from NASA and the Air Force with the rank of Major General, United States Air Force Reserves, to assume the appointment of Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs in 1969. Image Size: 17.75 x 21 in. Overall Size: 22.25 x 25.25 in. Unframed. (B06520)