Chris Calle (American, B. 1961) "WWII - Bombing of Pearl Harbor" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media on Cold Press Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 29c Pearl Harbor stamp issued September 3, 1991. The morning of December 7, 1941 was like so many in the tropics ... quiet, almost lazy -- a Sunday. But less than two hours after dawn, it became a Sunday like no other. Before many of the American servicemen stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, had risen, the harbor and surrounding fields were under enemy air attack. The surprise was universal. The Japanese launched over one hundred eighty airplanes in the first wave from a point two hundred thirty miles north of Oahu. Striking with deadly efficiency, the planes hit Wheeler, Hickam and Bellows fields and pounded into American battleships anchored off Ford Island in Pearl Harbor. So shocking was this initial attack that only nine enemy planes were shot out of the once-serene tropical sky. The next wave came less than an hour later, pounding into crippled battleships and destroying grounded American aircraft. With one well-planned and flawlessly executed blow, the Japanese sent American naval power reeling. The carnage was incredible: 2,403 American men and women were killed; the battleships U.S.S. Arizona, U.S.S. West Virginia, U.S.S. California, U.S.S. Utah and U.S.S. Oklahoma were knocked out of action; and only one quarter of the American aircraft were undamaged. It was a day which spurred the industrial might of a nation into action and sent United States servicemen into the arena of World War II. Image Size: 16.5 x 12.25 in. Overall Size: 23 x 20 in. Unframed. (B13120)