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Signatures on this item | |
*The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare. | |
Name | Info |
Electricians Mate 1st Class Stanley A Kalina USN *Signature Value : £30 | Born in 1921 in Rockville, Connecticut Stanley ('Steven') Kalina enlisted in the US Navy prior to WW 11. After training in Newport, Rhode Island, Kalina was assigned to the USS Nitro. Following several months on the crew of the Nitro, Kalina was transferred to the USS West Virginia. Kalina was on the bridge of the West Virginia on the fateful morning of December 7, 1941. Upon seeing the oncoming planes and witnessing the attack Kalina's first reaction was that a terrible mistake was happening. After the first wave of Japanese torpedo bombers had scored hits up and down battleship row, Kalina realized what was happening. The West Virginia took several hits and all power was lost to its gun turrets, which made the ship a defenseless target. The West Virginia was attacked by both torpedo and dive bombers, and was also the victim of several strafing attacks by Zero fighters. The attack lasted for about three hours, and with its decks awash, the order was passed to abandon ship. Kalina dove overboard, and had to swim hard to avoid the burning fuel oil from the USS Arizona, which had exploded directly aft of the West Virginia. After thirty minutes in the water Kalina was picked up by a reserve boat from the USS Solace, a hospital ship stationed at Pearl Harbor. The rescue boat took Kalina to Ford Island. There he boarded a whale boat which shuttled fire extinguishers to several burning ships. The rest of the day was spent tending to the casualties and assisting in fighting the fires. Following the attack at Pearl Harbor Kalina served on several other ships including the USS Henderson and the USS Radford. Later in the War Kalina saw action during the Solomon campaign. Naval ships were bombarding Japanese strongholds on Guadacanal, and several surface engagements took place as the Japanese Navy attempted to disrupt the invasion. Kalina was manning a searchlight while at General Quarters one evening when his light illuminated the bow of the USS Helena, which was sinking. Kalina's ship assisted in rescuing many of the Helena's crew. He was discharged from the Navy in September of 1944. Following his discharge Kalina enrolled at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He joined North American Phillips in Seneca Falls, New York, where he met his wife-to-be, Dorothy. The Kalina's have one daughter, Linda, who became an accomplished equestrian showing quarter horses throughout the eastern United States. The Kalinas reside on a small horse farm in Geneva, New York with their granddaughter Carrie. |
The Aircraft : | |
Name | Info |
Kate |
Artist Details : Stan Stokes |
Click here for a full list of all artwork by Stan Stokes |
Stan Stokes Stan Stokes is a California native with more than 37 years as a full time professional artist, who developed a passion for vintage cars, trains and airplanes at an early age. Model building and RC planes filled the many hours of the young enthusiasts free time. However, unlike most other young aviation enthusiasts Stokes also displayed a great gift for artistic talent. After studying art in College, Stan decided to pursue a career as a professional artist. Stokes initially focused his great talents on depicting uniquely realistic landscapes of the western desert and mountain scenes. More than thirty years ago a good friend suggested that Stan combine his passion for aviation history and flying with his artistic talents, and render an aircraft or two. The rest is history. Stan has won many prestigious awards including the Benedictine Art Award in 1975 and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museums Golden Age of Flight award in 1985. In May of 2000, Stan was honored with the National Museum of Naval Aviations R. G. Smith Award for Excellence in Naval Aviation Art. Commissioned by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, Stans 12 x 120 foot mural of the History of the Flying White House is on permanent display in the Air Force One Pavilion. In addition Stans painting of the USS Ronald Reagan is hanging in the Legacy Room of the library. In 2005 Stan also completed a painting of our nations next aircraft carrier, the USS George H. W. Bush, which is on permanent display at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas. Stan has also completed several impressive murals for the Palm Springs Air Museum including: The Tuskegee Airmen at 12 x 60 feet and contains 51 portraits of the original Tuskegee Airmen. Dauntless at Midway at 12 x 34 feet and Corsair on Approach at 19 x 55 feet. Stans work also hangs in the Air Force art collection, the Pentagon, San Diego Aerospace Museum, and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. Stan has had the pleasure of meeting and working with many of his boyhood aviation heroes, including the late General Jimmy Doolittle, the late Pappy Boyington, Chuck Yeager, and many many others. A true aviation history buff, Stan often spends more time pouring over research materials for his paintings to assure their accuracy to the smallest detail than he does behind the canvas. Noted for his incredible detail and strikingly realistic illustration, Stans canvases have a life-like three-dimensional effect that often leaves viewers spellbound. Today his work encompasses not only aviation and space but also portraits, landscapes, ships, classic cars and his new collection of cat-related fine art paintings. Stan particularly enjoys the tough assignment. During his 37 years as a professional artist, he has been asked to produce literally hundreds of paintings documenting historical events, people and places. Although Stan has logged many hours flying his own airplanes, in recent years pleasure flying has had to take a backseat to the artistic demands of his backlog. Stan was commissioned to paint more than twenty original paintings for an aviation museum being in the Philippines. Since the mid-1980s NASA has also tapped Stans talents from time to time and he has completed more than fifteen paintings ranging from the space shuttles to the SR 71 Blackbird. Stan has also painted numerous works for the cutting edge genius in aviation and space design, Burt Rutan. More about Stan Stokes |
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This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts. Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269. Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com |
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