Naval Aviation Operations

Dynamic images of naval aviation activities on aircraft carriers, including aircraft takeoffs and landings amid oceanic backgrounds.

U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat USS John F. Kennedy CV-67 Air Craft Carrier

Flight deck crew members prepare to set up a crash barricade aboard the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67) during Fleet Ex 1-90. Subject Operation/Series: FLEET EX 1-90 Base: USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

A CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 11 (HC-11) delivers cargo to the aircraft carrier USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63) during vertical replenishment operations. The squadron is assigned to Fleet Logistics Support. Country: Unknown

A 509th Bombardment Wing FB-111A aircraft, armed with Mark 82 high drag practice bombs, flies over the water. Country: Unknown

Members of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit run on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS GUAM (LPH-9) during morning physical training (PT). Country: Adriatic Sea

DN-ST-85-03975. Base: USS Shreveport (LPD 12) Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

DN-ST-88-01058. Base: USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69) Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

A rear view of an F-14 Tomcat aircraft on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CV 66). Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

A Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 8 (KH-8) CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter hovers over the stern of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) as a flight deck crewman waits to hook up a pallet of aircraft bombs to the helicopter's external cargo hook. Base: USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69) Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

DN-ST-87-03394. Subject Operation/Series: DISPLAY DETERMINATION '86 Base: USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

DN-ST-88-04319. Country: Unknown

Aviation Ordnanceman AIRMAN Derrick Coach moves AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles across the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73). George Washington is deployed to the Persian Gulf in support Operation Southern Watch. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH Base: USS George Washington (CVN 73) Country: At Sea

Aviation Boatswains Mate (Handler) 1ST Class Larry Tarver signals to flight deck personnel following the launch of an F/A-18 "Hornet Strike/fighter from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) on Aug. 7, 2000. The Norfolk, VA-based ship and its embarked air wing are currently operating in the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH (OSW). August 7th marks the date signifying the Navys 10th year of sustained operations in the region beginning with Operation Desert Shield in 1990. OSW is the mission that enforces the coalition imposed southern "no-fly zone" over Iraq. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH Base: USS George Washington (CVN 73)

010416-N-3228G-001. Base: Uss Kitty Hawk (CV 63)

Flight deck personnel aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) pause while moving a Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 133 (VAQ 133) EA-6B Prowler aircraft with an MD-3A tow tractor. The LINCOLN is underway on a dependents day cruise. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

Flight deck crewmen prepare an Attack Squadron 72 (VA-72) A-7E Corsair II aircraft for transportation from the hangar bay to the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69). Third view in series of five. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

DN-SC-87-04443. Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

DN-ST-86-06087. Base: USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67)

Flight deck crewman of the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CV-66) perform a foreign object damage (FOD) walk down on the flight deck of the ship. The AMERICA Is taking part in Operation Deny Flight. Subject Operation/Series: DENY FLIGHT Country: Adriatic Sea

DN-SN-86-03933. Base: USS Coral Sea (CV 43) Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

DN-ST-89-06458. Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

US Navy Stretcher bearers remove a casualty from a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter aboard the amphibious assault ship USS BELLEAU WOOD (LHA 3) as part of a mass casualty drill. The amphibious ship Belleau Wood is participating in Exercise VALIANT USHER '98, a training exercise with Australian military forces, 17 May 1998. Subject Operation/Series: VALIANT USHER '98 Base: USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3)

Catapult crew members prepare to launch an Airborne Early Warning Squadron 126 (VAW-126) E-2C Hawkeye aircraft from the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67). Country: Adriatic Sea

USS TARAWA (LHA 1) Sailors taxi an AV-8B Harrier aircraft into position on the flight deck during Exercise KERNEL BLITZ 2001. Subject Operation/Series: KERNEL BLITZ '01 Base: USS Tarawa (LHA 1) Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

DN-ST-87-10459. Base: USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69) Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

DN-ST-89-08779. Country: Persian Gulf

A crewman performs a final pre-launch check on a Pioneer I remotely-piloted vehicle (RPV) on the stern of the battleship USS IOWA (BB-61). The RPV, which carries a stabilized television camera and a laser designator, is being tested aboard the IOWA as a basic gunfire support system with over-the-horizon targeting and reconnaissance capabilities. The system may be operated out to a range of 110 miles from the battleship surface group and has an endurance of eight hours. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

A plane director supervises the towing of an Attack Squadron 72 (VA-72) A-7E Corsair II aircraft by an MD-3A tow tractor aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69). Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

Two members of the flight deck crew stand near an F-14A Tomcat aircraft as they wait for flight operations to begin aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72). Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

DN-ST-83-00631. Subject Operation/Series: EVENING LIGHT Country: Indian Ocean (IOC)

Members of a flight crew from Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron 3 (HS-3) walk across the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA (CV-60) after returning from a mission during Operation Desert Storm. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Red Sea

DN-ST-88-07407. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

An CH-46D Sea Knight helicopter of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron II, Detachment 3, (HC-11), the gunbearers, lifts a cargo load off the flight deck of the ammunition ship MAUNA KEA (AE-22) en route to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) during an underway replenishment as part of WestPac '93. Country: Unknown

DN-SC-85-12143. Base: USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)

A 509th Bombardment Wing FB-111A aircraft, armed with Mark 82 high drag practice bombs, flies over the water. Country: Unknown

A CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter prepares to lift a pallet of 16-inch powder canisters from the ammunition ship USS BUTTE (AE-27) for delivery to the battleship USS IOWA (BB-61) during an underway replenishment. The aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CV-66) is in the background. Country: Unknown

Flight deck crew members stand in front of an E-2C Hawkeye aircraft as they prepare to raise the crash barricade aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71). Country: Unknown

A crewman checks a tie-down strap as two others secure the rotor blades of a Mark 88 Lynx helicopter on the flight deck of the West German frigate FGS KARLSRUHE (F-212) during Fleet Ex 1-90. Subject Operation/Series: FLEET EX 1-90 Base: Fgs Karlsruhe (F 212) Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

DN-SC-87-05635. Country: Unknown

DF-ST-86-09095. Base: Chitose Air Base Country: Japan (JPN)

VA-75 landing on USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) 1968

A diamond of F-14 Tomcat aircraft leads a formation of 16 jets flying over the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) during the ship's commissioning. Base: Naval Air Station, Norfolk State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Navy, Vought F-8 Crusader, Jet Fighters

DN-ST-86-05949. Base: Naval Station, Mayport State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-ST-90-01352. Subject Operation/Series: UNITAS XXV Base: Minas Gerais (A 11)

Flight deck crewmen watch from a catwalk aboard the aircraft carrier USS FORRESTAL (CV-59) as the carrier conducts an underway replenishment with the replenishment oiler USS MILWAUKEE (AOR-2) during the allied forces exercise Team Work '88. Subject Operation/Series: TEAM WORK '88 Country: North Atlantic Ocean

000718-N-6967M-501. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH 2000 Base: Uss George Washington (CVN 73) State: Suez Canal Country: Egypt (EGY)

A Westland Lynx mk.27 (SH-14B) helicopter (1979-) is given instructions from the VDO for a landing on the flight deck of a frigate.

SN Richard Kennedy is on hand at the stern of the ocean minesweeper USS ENGAGE (MSO-433) to explain the use of various types of minesweeping equipment to visitors. The ENGAGE is open for public inspection during a port visit to the Washington Navy Yard. Base: Washington State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-ST-88-00177. Country: Unknown

An AH-1 Cobra helicopter is lowered toward a hold on the rapid-response vehicle cargo ship USNS CAPELLA (T-AKR-293) for transportation back to Germany in the aftermath of Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The helicopters are encased in protective plastic for shipping. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD DESERT STORM Country: Saudi Arabia (SAU)

Flight deck crewmen hose down the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69) following the completion of carrier qualifications off the Virginia Capes. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

Flight deck crewmen stand by after an RH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter lands aboard the amphibious transport dock USS SHREVEPORT (LPD-12) during Operation Intense Look. Subject Operation/Series: INTENSE LOOK Country: Gulf Of Suez

Sailors work together to perform maintenance to the rotors of a SH-53F helicopter from Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Seven (HS-7) prior to flight operations on board USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75). Truman is on station in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH Base: USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)

DN-ST-88-04660. Base: USS America (CV 66)

DN-SC-89-02625. Subject Operation/Series: TEAM WORK 88 Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

MIDWAY (1976), directed by JACK SMIGHT.

British Naval AIRMAN Jennifer Ennis prepares to position a Royal Air Force GR7 Harrier on the flight deck of Invincible Class Aircraft Carrier, HMS Illustrious (RO 6). The British vessel is operating in the Persian Gulf in support of the Southwest Asia build-up. Base: Hms Illustrious (RO 6)

A fire fighting party stands by aboard the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CV 66) while crewman use a crane to pull an F-4 Phantom aircraft away from the ship's edge. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

020105-N-5555F-001. Base: Uss Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Scene Major Command Shown: USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70)

An HH-46D Sea Knight helicopter from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron II (HC-11) lowers a load of supplies onto the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS RANGER (CV-61) during a vertical replenishment with the replenishment oiler USS KANSAS CITY (AOR-3). The ships are on station in the Persian Gulf region following Operation Desert Storm. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Unknown

A vertical view of the aircraft carrier USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) with numerous aircraft parked on the flight deck. Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

Aviation ordnancemen remove Aero 21A weapons skids loaded with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, center, and AIM-7 Sparrow III missiles from the forward magazine elevator on the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72). A Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 135 (VAQ-135) EA-6B Prowler aircraft is at right. Country: Caribbean Sea

Lifting exercise with a Westland Lynx aboard the HR.MS guided arms. De Ruyter (1976-2001) during the enforcement of the embargo against the former Yugoslavia in Stanavformed context.

Flight deck crewmen help hold up a Mark 20 Rockeye II cluster bomb as it is mounted on the wing of an F/A-18A Hornet aircraft on the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69). An AIM-9 Sidewinder missile is mounted on the aircraft's wing tip. The EISENHOWER is on station in the Persian Gulf in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD/STORM Country: Unknown

DN-ST-89-06854. Country: Unknown

Right side view of an SH-2F Seasprite Mark 1 Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) helicopter, hovering above the flight deck. The helicopter is from the Light Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron 32 (HSL-32). Country: Unknown

981123-M-1086K-002. Country: Unknown

DN-SC-04-12501. Base: San Diego State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-ST-88-03644. Base: Caribbean Sea

The Aviation Boatswains Mate on board the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, (CVN-73) describes flight deck operations to VIP guests visiting the ship under the Come To The Sea program. The George Washington is conducting carrier qualifications off the coast of Florida. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

DN-ST-88-01796. Base: Pensacola State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-SC-89-02127. Base: Sydney State: New South Wales Country: Australia (AUS)

DN-ST-86-06084. Base: USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67)

DF-ST-89-03649. Country: Honduras (HND)

Flight deck crewmen practice erecting the crash barricade on the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69). Base: USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69) Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

View from pri-fly (Primary Flight Control), looking aft at the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72). Aircraft visible include F-14B Tomcat aircraft, S-3A Viking and an E-2C Hawkeye. The LINCOLN is in port to take part in Operation RIMPAC 2000. Subject Operation/Series: RIMPAC 2000 Base: Pearl Harbor State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A sailor on the fantail of the guided missile frigate USS HALYBURTON (FFG-40) searches for aircraft during exercise Ocean Safari '85. Subject Operation/Series: EXERCISE OCEAN SAFARI '85 Country: Norwegian Sea

DN-ST-88-01409. Base: USS Raleigh (LPD 1)

Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Milton Savage, USNR-R, poses for a photograph aboard the Turkish freighter Rize K. with members of a boarding party from the guided missile destroyer USS WILLIAM V. PRATT (DDG-44). The men are conducting an inspection of the vessel, the first freighter approved by the United Nations to deliver humanitarian aid to Iraq. The PRATT, circling in the background, is the flagship of the Maritime Interdiction Force, the unit charged with enforcing U.N. sanctions against Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Red Sea

020603-N-0000H-001. Base: Key West State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

F-8K "Crusader" aircraft signs aboard the carrier USS Midway, San Diego, California, USA, North America

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