{"product_id":"original-u-s-cold-war-ed-valigursky-national-guard-heritage-painting-watch-over-the-rhine-air-guard-in-the-berlin-crisis-1961-62-15-x-20","title":"Original U.S. Cold War Ed Valigursky National Guard Heritage Painting “Watch Over the Rhine: Air Guard in the Berlin Crisis 1961-62” - 15 x 20”","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is an outstanding and incredibly scarce offering. This is an original oil painting by\u003cstrong\u003e Ed Valigursky, “Watch Over the Rhine\u003c\/strong\u003e”. The painting’s description online reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“As the Russians tightened their grip on West Berlin, and events appeared to be escalating toward a nuclear showdown in the world, President John F. Kennedy dramatized America's determination by mobilizing 65,460 officers and men of the Army and Air National Guard. Less than 30 days after the mobilization, citizen-airmen of the Air National Guard flew 216 fighter and reconnaissance jet aircraft swiftly and smoothly across the Atlantic in the largest mass deployment of jets in the nation's history. The prompt reaction represented the greatest display of National Guard readiness ever. In a modern version of the \"Watch on the Rhine,\" the Air Guardsmen continued patrolling the skies over Europe until their demobilization a year later. Protecting the NATO nations from surprise attack, the Guardsmen wrote into the record a clear-cut example of the deterrent power of our 20th Century Minutemen, the combat-ready forces of the Air National Guard.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe painting measures \u003cstrong\u003e15 x 20”\u003c\/strong\u003e and retains a brass plaque on the back reading:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWATCH OVER THE RHINE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAir Guard in the Berlin Crisis: 1961-62\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA NATIONAL GUARD HERITAGE PAINTING\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBY ED VALIGURSKY\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese paintings scarcely show up for sale on the open market, and this one has held up tremendously well with some cracking and areas of weakness as shown. It retains a hanging wire and will fit well into any military collection! The painting itself is not signed, but Ed was known to occasionally not sign his work. The plaque and the evidence online confirms this as having been painted by him, however. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReady to frame or hang and display as is!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEdward Ignatius Valigursky (October 16, 1926 in Arnold, Pennsylvania – September 7, 2009 in Cape Coral, Florida) was an American illustrator known for his portrayals of technology, and for his work in science fiction. In 1989, Popular Mechanics stated that he was \"one of [America's] best-known illustrators of aircraft, ships, spacecraft, and other machines\", and that his works were \"on permanent display [at] the Pentagon [and] numerous naval and air force installations.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45005379338309,"sku":"ONJR26MAAC015","price":695.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/0CE2E953-B49B-4B5E-B824-63D86C76E882.jpg?v=1778699202","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-cold-war-ed-valigursky-national-guard-heritage-painting-watch-over-the-rhine-air-guard-in-the-berlin-crisis-1961-62-15-x-20","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}