Ed Vebell (American, 1921 - 2018) "Lindbergh Flight Across Atlantic" Signed lower right. Original Acrylic painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original painting which was published on the Fleetwood Commemorative Cover for Epic Events in American History series issued in 1985. Greek mythology tells us of Daedalus and his son Icarus who, when imprisoned in a labyrinth in Crete, determined to make their escape through the air. Daedalus fashioned wings for them from feathers and wax; Icarus, alas, flew too close to the sun, and when his wings melted, plunged into the sea. In spite of such tragic tales, dreams of conquering the air as men conquered the earth and sea, fascinated a hundred generations. It was not until the 1782s that the dream began to be realized as Montgolfier and others experimented with balloons large enough to carry passengers suspended in a basket beneath. Even then the modern age of aviation was in the distant future -- a future ushered in by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903. The history of modern aviation boasts many heroes, but few have enjoyed such universal applause as Charles Lindbergh, the twenty-five year old airmail pilot who, flying the Spirt of St. Louis for some thirty-three hours, made the first solo nonstop flight from Long Island to Paris on May 20-21, 1927. On his return to the United States he found himself, overnight, a hero to the people longing for a symbol of imagination and courage. A modest man, he tried to avoid publicity in vain. Admiration persisted, only to be mingled with anguish at the kidnapping of his infant son in 1932. With the approach of World War II, Lindbergh was appointed Colonel and then Brigadier General in the Air Force and served on the Board of the West Point Academy. Image Size: 19.75 x 21 in. Overall Size: 24.25 x 26.5 in. Unframed. (B05375)