Preflight Checks on Military Aircraft

Images of military personnel conducting preflight checks on various aircraft, including an F-14A Tomcat and B-52 Stratofortress, showcasing operational readiness.

CAPT. William B. Hayden, commanding officer of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72), completes his preflight check of a Fighter Squadron 114 (VF-114) F-14A Tomcat aircraft on the LINCOLN's flight deck. Country: Caribbean Sea

CAPT. William B. Hayden, commanding officer of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72), completes his preflight check of a Fighter Squadron 114 (VF-114) F-14A Tomcat aircraft on the LINCOLN's flight deck. Country: Caribbean Sea

Descending from the nose of a C-5 Galaxy aircraft, pallbearers carry the flag-draped casket of one of the 47 sailors who died when an explosion ripped through the No. 2 16-inch gun turret of the battleship USS IOWA (BB 61). Base: Dover Air Force Base State: Delaware (DE) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Members of the 619th Military Airlift Support Squadron secure US Army M151 vehicles aboard a Flying Tigers 747 contract aircraft. The vehicles are being shipped to Korea for use during exercise TEAM SPIRIT '79. Subject Operation/Series: TEAM SPIRIT '79 Base: Hickam Air Force Base State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Maintenance personnel conduct a preflight check on a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft. The plane, nicknamed "The Phoenix," has undergone extensive repair work since it crashed at the end of a runway at Loring on December 28, 1984. Base: Loring Air Force Base State: Maine (ME) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-86-09383. Subject Operation/Series: VOLANT RODEO '85 Base: Pope Air Force Base State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-86-07691. Base: Cairo West Country: Egypt (EGY)

Troops board a Military Airlift Command C-5 Galaxy aircraft for deployment to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Unknown

Airmen, with the aid of an MJ-1 bomb loader, load a 500-lb. Mark 82 bomb on an F-105 Delta Dart aircraft during exercise Gangbuster XI. The airmen are members of the 128th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 116th Tactical Fighter Wing, Texas Air National Guard. Subject Operation/Series: GANGBUSTER XI Base: Stewart Airfield, Savannah State: Georgia (GA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Members of the 101st Airborne Division Airmobile team check the tire pressure of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during Operation Sand Eagle '88. Subject Operation/Series: SAND EAGLE '88 Base: Mcdill Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Dressed in full battle gear, members of the 3rd Bn., 17th Inf., 7th Inf. Div. (Light), step off a chartered airliner and onto the flight line upon their arrival for the joint U.S./South Korean exercise Team Spirit '87. Subject Operation/Series: TEAM SPIRIT '87 Base: Osan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

DF-ST-87-13390. Subject Operation/Series: TEAM SPIRIT '85 Base: Kimhae Air Base Country: Korea

Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, fourth from left, and his assistants are escorted by flight deck personnel as they disembark from a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69). The EISENHOWER is in the region in support of Operation Desert Shield. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Red Sea

DF-ST-88-08609. Subject Operation/Series: AFRICAN EAGLE 87 Country: Morocco (MAR)

DF-ST-88-08700. Subject Operation/Series: NOMAD THRUST Base: Eglin Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A left side view of an F-15A Eagle aircraft from 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron on display during a joint U.S.-Australian exercise Pacific Consort. Subject Operation/Series: PACIFIC CONSORT Base: Bangkok Country: Thailand (THA)

Ground crew members prepare to unload cargo, from a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft. The aircraft, assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing is participating in Exercise Glad Customer '82. Subject Operation/Series: GLAD CUSTOMER '82 Base: Andersen Air Base State: Guam (GU) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-SC-86-10136. Base: USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)

Ground crew members take a break after inspecting a 552nd Airborne Warning and Control Wing E-3 Sentry aircraft as the plane is readied for a mission during Operation Desert Shield. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Saudi Arabia (SAU)

GEN. Abdul Waheed, of the Pakistani Army is fitted with Helcam visor prior to a test flight on an AH-64 Apache. CHIEF Warrant Officer Skin Peckett assists during the VIP Tour. Base: Fort Hood State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-87-10580. Subject Operation/Series: COPE NORTH 86-4 Base: Nyutabaru Air Base State: Kyashu Country: Japan (JPN)

DF-ST-86-09697. Subject Operation/Series: SOLID SHIELD 85 Base: Fort Stewart State: Georgia (GA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Army SGT Bosmans, a CH-47 flight engineer assigned to Detachment 1, Company G, 140th Aviation, Nevada Army National Guard, watches as A-10 recovery team members aboard the helicopter to begin another day of searching for remnants of the aircraft that crashed near Gold Dust Peak. Base: Gold Dust Peak State: Colorado (CO) Country: United States Of America (USA)

CPT Alexander Ivanchishin, left, and LCOL Bob Chamberlain of Detachment 15, Contract Management Division, Air Force Systems Command, stand in front of a B-1B aircraft as they discuss a test flight. Detachment 15 conducts production acceptance flight tests of new B-1B aircraft before they are delivered to operational units. Base: Palmdale State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Member of the Russia's 27th Guards Motorized Rifle Division troops from Tver Military Transportation Air Base walk away from the IL-76 that brought them to the flightline at McConnell AFB. The Russians are participating in Peacekeeper '95, the first time that Russian troops have trained on American soil. Subject Operation/Series: PEACEKEEPER '95 Base: Mcconnell Air Force Base State: Kansas (KS) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Military personnel prepare to offload cargo from a Military Airlift Command C-5A Galaxy aircraft during Operation Desert Shield. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Saudi Arabia (SAU)

An Australian pilot is welcomed by officers participating in Exercise Cope Thunder as he disembarks a CA-29 Mirage aircraft. Subject Operation/Series: COPE THUNDER Base: Clark Air Base State: Luzon Country: Philippines (PHL)

Cargo is secured aboard a KC-10A Extender aircraft during a loading demonstration. Base: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base State: Ohio (OH) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-ST-89-08763. Base: USS Mars (AFS 1)

DF-ST-87-08296. Base: Hickam Air Force Base State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Flight deck crewmen unload bags of mail from a Fleet Logistic Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40) C-2A Greyhound aircraft on the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67). Country: Adriatic Sea

A group of maintenance personnel give a thumbs up to their departing RF-4C aircraft for a competition mission during Reconnaissance Air Meet 88, a multi-national competition of military aerial reconnaissance teams at Bergstrom Air Force Base. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Subject Operation/Series: RECONNAISSANCE AIR MEET '88 State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-86-10048. Base: Mcas, Cherry Point State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A joint U.S.-Philippine Marine honor guard marches in formation as an SA-330 Puma helicopter transporting Philippine President Corazon Aquino arrives on base. Base: Naval Station, Subic Bay State: Luzon Country: Philippines(PHL)

DM-ST-85-10396. Subject Operation/Series: BRIGHT STAR '83 / EASTERN WIND 83 Base: Marine Corps Air Station El Toro State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-ST-86-10275. Base: USS America (CV 66) Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

DF-ST-87-03103. Subject Operation/Series: VOLANT RODEO '79 Base: Pope Air Force Base State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

British Royal Air Force members decontaminate an F-C Phantom II aircraft during chemical warfare training, part of Exercise Coronet Cactus. Subject Operation/Series: CORONET CACTUS Base: Raf Leeming Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

Marines headed to support the coalition forces participating in Operation Desert Storm board a commercial aircraft chartered by the Military Airlift Command.. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Unknown

Firefighters stand by in a P-16 firefighting and rescue truck aboard the aircraft carrier USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64) during PACEX '89. Subject Operation/Series: PACEX '89 Country: Aleutian Islands

The catapult console operator and a photographer wait for another aircraft to approach the catapult during flight operations on the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67). A Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 130 (VAQ-130) EA-6B Prowler aircraft is in the background. Country: Adriatic Sea

DF-ST-90-00455. Base: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. servicemen help Cuban repatriates pack their belongings onboard the airplane that will take them home. The migrants have volunteered to return home under the sponsorship of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Base: Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay Country: Cuba (CUB)

A crowd views an F-15 Eagle aircraft in a hangar. Base: Elmendorf Air Force Base State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Members of the 21st Tactical Airlift Squadron give the Philippine army jumpmaster a preflight briefing during a 374th Tactical Airlift Wing exercise. Base: Clark Air Base State: Luzon Country: Philippines (PHL)

DF-ST-85-10531. Base: Peterson Air Force Base State: Colorado (CO) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-ST-88-05269. Base: USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67)

The men who unloaded a 3rd Military Airlift Squadron (3rd MAS) C-5B Galaxy aircraft gather in front of the aircraft after their work is done. Four members of the 3rd MAS kneel in the front row; five civilians and eight members of the 616th Aerial Port Squadron are behind them. The aircraft carried equipment that will be used in the cleanup of the oil spilled by the tanker Exxon Valdez in Price William Sound. Base: Elmendorf Air Force Base State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-87-03328. Base: Penzie Air Base Country: West Germany (FRG)

DF-ST-87-06952. Base: Incirlik Air Base, Adana Country: Turkey (TUR)

A left side view, as pilots board, of six F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft being used for the first time in an air show by the USAF Thunderbird Aerial Demonstration Team. Base: Nellis Air Force Base State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DM-ST-88-06827. Base: Venice Country: Italy (ITA)

US Army troops board a C-141 Starlifter aircraft for a return flight to their home base at Fort Bragg, North Carolina at the conclusion of Exercise AHUAS TARA (BIG PINE) II. Subject Operation/Series: AHUSA TARA (BIG PINE) Base: La Mesa Country: Honduras (HND)

970421-F-7850M-004. Subject Operation/Series: ROVING SANDS Base: Cannon Air Force Base State: New Mexico (NM) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

Pilots and crew walk across the flightline as they take a much needed breather.(Exact date unknown). Subject Operation/Series: WESTERN WILDFIRES Base: Boise State: Idaho (ID) Country: United States Of America (USA)

GEN. Walter Kross, Commander, Air Mobility Command is greeted by Brig. GEN. Arthur J. Lichte, 92 Air Refueling Wing Commander, during his first visit as Commander. Gen. Walter Kross, Commander, Air Mobility Command is greeted by Brig. Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, 92 Air Refueling Wing Commander, during his first visit as Commander.

S66-50763 (16 Sept. 1966) --- Astronauts Charles Conrad Jr. (left), command pilot, and Richard F. Gordon Jr., pilot, wave to the welcome crowd at the Cape Kennedy skid strip. The Gemini-11 crew had just arrived by helicopter from the recovery ship, USS Guam. Gemini-11 splashed down in the western Atlantic, 700 miles east of Cape Kennedy, at 9 a.m. (EST), Sept. 15, 1966 to conclude a three-day mission in space.

Forward air control instructor MAJ Scott Shinn explains the Cessna O-2A aircraft's rocket pod firing sequence to three other Missouri Air National Guard pilots of the 110th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Base: Patrick Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

First SGT. Jeff Markoff of the Army's 45th Medical Company carries his gear across the landing zone after disembarking from a UH-60A Black Hawk (Blackhawk) helicopter during Operation Desert Shield. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Saudi Arabia (SAU)

DF-ST-87-03640. Subject Operation/Series: BLUETAIL Base: Grosseto Air Base Country: Italy (ITA)

DN-ST-85-03942. Subject Operation/Series: INTENSE LOOK Base: Rota Country: Spain (ESP)

Two members of the 174th Tactical Fighter Wing, New York Air National Guard, wear Mission-Oriented Protective Posture response level 2 (MOPP-2) gear as they discuss aircraft pre-launch preparations during a recent Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI). Base: Syracuse State: New York (NY) Country: United States Of America (USA)

8th Medical Group personnel carry Wounded in Action airmen to a waiting C-130 for transport to Yakota Air Base, Japan. Subject Operation/Series: FOAL EAGLE '96 Base: Kunsan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

DF-ST-86-12547. Base: Bethel State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-87-07461. Subject Operation/Series: GALLANT EAGLE '86 Country: Unknown

DF-ST-87-07423. Subject Operation/Series: COPE THUNDER '86-1 Base: Clark Air Base State: Luzon Country: Philippines (PHL)

Marines wait with equipment to go aboard ship during exercise Solid Shield /85. Subject Operation/Series: EXERCISE SOLID SHIELD '85 Base: Morehead City State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Members of the 21st Special Operations Squadron check out the nose gear of an MH-53J helicopter, one of the first group to arrive in Europe equipped with the Pave Low infrared system for night operations. Base: Raf Woodbridge Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

Here's our Mission, Aviation

Colonel James Lemons, the deployed Logistics Commander, Rhein Main Air Base, Germany, tells redeploying troops they did a great job and wishes them good luck as they board the C-17 Globemaster. The 437th Airlift Wing C-17, Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, is returning deployed Operation Joint Endeavor personnel to their stateside locations. Subject Operation/Series: JOINT ENDEAVOR Base: Rhein-Main Air Base Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

DF-ST-88-09902. Base: Nas, Roosevelt Roads State: Puerto Rico (PR) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-89-00459. Base: Minneapolis State: Minnesota (MN) Country: United States Of America (USA)

British Royal Air Force members decontaminate an F-C Phantom II aircraft during chemical warfare training, part of Exercise Coronet Cactus. Subject Operation/Series: CORONET CACTUS Base: Raf Leeming Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

CAPT. Bob Rick, conducts a preflight briefing with CAPT. Rob Cook. Both are members of the last class of banked pilots that will be flying a T-1 trainer. Exact Date Shot Unknown Published in AIRMAN Magazine September 1996. Base: Laughlin Air Force Base State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-ST-85-04026. Subject Operation/Series: INTENSE LOOK Base: USS Shreveport (LPD 12) Country: Gulf Of Suez

A catapult crewman sits at his control console on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CV-66) between launches as the aircraft of Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) depart the ship to return to their home bases after being deployed aboard the AMERICA for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The AMERICA and its battle group will return to Naval Station, Norfolk, Va., on April 18th. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD DESERT STORM Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

DF-ST-85-11573. Subject Operation/Series: KINDLE LIBERTY 83 Base: Howard Air Force Base Country: Panama (PAN)

During an Operational Readiness Exercise (ORE) "Condition Red", security police augmentees apprehend an intruder on the flight line of McEntire Air National Guard Station, S.C., home of the Air National Guard's F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 169th Fighter Wing. Base: Mcentire Ang Station State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Members of the 701st Maintenance Battalion arrive by C-141 Starlifter aircraft. They are here to participate in Exercise Reforger '82. Subject Operation/Series: REFORGER '82 Country: Luxembourg (LUX)

MGEN Bobby Walls, pilot of the KC-10 Extender aircraft, arrives to supervise Tactical Air Command operations of Exercise Coronet Canvas. Subject Operation/Series: CORONET CANVAS Base: Raf Whittering Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

DN-ST-86-01415. Base: Naval Air Station, Cubi Point State: Luzon Country: Philippines (PHL)

DF-ST-85-02984. Base: Travis Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Recruits undergo basic training at the Naval Training Center, Recruit Training Command. Base: San Diego State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A cloud of smoke rises over the stern after the launch of a RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile during a missile firing exercise aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69). Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

Arrival ceremony for Sylvanus Olympio, President of Togo, 11:00AM. President of Togo, Sylvanus Olympio, speaks at arrival ceremonies in his honor. On platform (L-R): President John F. Kennedy; President Olympio (at microphones); Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa (in back, below platform); Togolese Ambassador to the United States, Dr. André Akakpo; Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker (behind Ambassador Akakpo, wearing hat); Under Secretary of State, George Ball; US Ambassador to Togo, Leon B. Poullada; US Chief of Protocol, Angier Biddle Duke. Also pictured: Air Force Aide to President Kennedy, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh (below platform at left); Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of Togo, Dr. Hospice Coco (in group behind platform); Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, G. Mennen Soapy Williams (in group behind platform); Naval Aide to President Kennedy, Captain Tazewell Shepa

Japanese pilots and US Air Force officers discuss operations on the flight line during joint US Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Exercise COPE NORTH. Subject Operation/Series: COPE NORTH Base: Naval Air Facility, Misawa State: Aomori Country: Japan (JPN)

US Air Force Major James Isherwood, 48th Operations Support Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, give a tour of an F-15 Strike Eagle to World War II veterans and their family members. The 48th FW hosted approximately seventy-five World War II veterans and family members of four World War II bombardment groups that were stationed in England with the 8th Air Force. T he group represented the 100th, 447th, 452nd and the 393rd Bomb Groups. Base: Raf Lakenheath State: East Anglia Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

DN-ST-88-03215. Base: USS Okinawa (LPH 3)

DF-ST-86-10471. Base: Newburgh State: New York (NY) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Members of the first American on-site inspection team bound for the Soviet Union under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, board their C-141B Starlifter aircraft from the 438th Military Airlift Wing. Base: Rhein-Main Air Base Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

DF-ST-86-11226. Subject Operation/Series: SOLID SHIELD 78 Country: Unknown

COL Clifton Bray, American Task Force commander for Joint Task Force Shining Hope, takes US congressman and senators on a tour of the Rinas flight line during their tour in Albania. A British Westland Sea King MK 3 helicopter sits in the background awaiting cargo to be delivered. This mission is in direction support of Operation Sustain Hope. Subject Operation/Series: SUSTAIN HOPE Base: Rinas State: Tirana Country: Albania (ALB)

United Nations (UN) Ethiopian equipment and troops to be uploaded onto a C-5 from Dover AFB, Delaware, bound for Kigali, Rwanda in support of Operation Support Hope. Subject Operation/Series: RESTORE HOPE Base: Addis Ababa Country: Ethiopia (ETH)

Afro-American Soldier Saluting by Aircraft, USS Forrestal, New Orleans, Louisiana

A narcotics detection dog handler of the 42nd Military Police Group uses his dog, Don, to detect narcotics in duffel bags during the exercise Golden Thunder. Subject Operation/Series: GOLDEN THUNDER Base: Ramstein Air Base State: Rheinland-Pfalz Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

COL James Desantis, right, of the 7100th Combat Support Wing Hospital talks with CPT Carol Theiss and CPT Carlos Padilla of the 2nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron during a medical evacuation flight from Islamabad, Pakistan, to Rhein-Main Air Base, West Germany, aboard a 17th Military Airlift Squadron C-141B Starlifter aircraft. Twenty-four rebels wounded in Afghanistan's civil war are being evacuated to hospitals in Europe and the United States for donated medical treatment. Country: Unknown

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