Presented on a beautiful Spanish board. Made in Italy. Superb detail. Beautifully crafted. 3.25 inch King. THE PIECES Exquisitely hand painted themed chess pieces by the renowned Italfama of Italy. A decorated General leads the US Marine Corps along with his female equivalent standing by his side. Both are very smartly adorned in dress uniform complete with medals. The Bishop is a lower ranking officer and the pawn is a camouflaged soldier complete with rifle. The Rook is again the USMC emblem atop a scrolled column, but the Knight is an impressive amphibious tank exiting the sea onto sand. The Air Force is lead by a fine upstanding 4 star General supported by a female 4 star General. Both smartly adorned in blue uniforms adorned with medals. The bishop is a fighter pilot with superb detail in the helmet mask and breathing apparatus. The rook is a striking as depicted by a rocket blasting off, complete with flame and smoke. The Rook is represented by the Department of the Air Force of the USA mounted on a scrolled column. Smartly dressed Air Force personnel make up the pawns in this contingent. We have matched these historical pieces with a beautiful 15.75 inch walnut and maple board from Spain to make this very enviable set. The Air Force vs Marines Chess Men are also available without a board. Either way, this is an ideal gift for any militia or chess enthusiast. THE HISTORY The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is an arm of the US Armed Forces and has been a component of the US Department of the Navy since 30 June 1834. They are responsible for providing power projection using the mobility of the US Navy by Congressional mandate to promptly deliver combined arms task forces on land sea and in the air. The USMC is one of seven uniformed services within the US and one of the four armed services in the US Department of Defence. On September 18, 1947, with the implementation of the National Security Act of 1947, the United States became a separate military service. This Act created the National Military Establishment, which was later renamed the US Department of Defense. It was composed of three branches, the Army, Navy and a newly created Air Force. Prior to implementation, the responsibility for military aviation was divided between the Navy, for sea-based operations from amphibious aircraft and aircraft carriers and the Army (for land-based operations). The Army created the first antecedent of the Air Force in 1907, which through a succession of changes of organization, titles, and missions advanced toward eventual separation 40 years later.