Charles J Lundgren (New York, Connecticut, 1911 - 1988) "U.S.S. South Dakota" 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 Fleetwood Commemorative Cover for the U.S.S. South Dakota. The first of a new class of battleships designed to withstand 16-inch shell fire, the U.S.S. South Dakota was commissioned on 20 March 1942 with Captain Thomas L. Gatch in command. On 12 October 1942 she began training as part of Task Force 16 built around the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise. The Task Force rendezvoused with the U.S.S. Hornet's Task Force 17 near Espiritu Santo on 24 October. The combined forces (now designated Task Force 61) operated in the Santa Cruz Islands under Rear Admiral T.C. Kinkaid. The U.S.S. South Dakota moved with the group southwestward to block Japanese forces from approaching Guadalcanal. At noon on 25 October, patrol bombers sighted an enemy carrier force. The next morning the Japanese spotted the American forces, and the air battle of Santa Cruz began. The first enemy attack was concentrated on the U.S.S. Hornet ten miles from the U.S.S. South Dakota. At 1045-hours, the U.S.S. South Dakota moved into position to protect her carrier the U.S.S. Enterprise from incoming dive bombers. Within the next hour, 40 torpedo planes attacked the two ships. The U.S.S. South Dakota took a five hundred pound bomb on her number one turret, yet managed to down twenty-six enemy planes. She went on to win thirteen Battle Stars in World War II. Image Size: 13.5 x 15.75 in. Overall Size: 20.5 x 21.75 in. Unframed. (B11170)