Navy Lt. Michael Stone from Valley Center, Calif., completes signal instructions to launch a F-14 Tomcat fighter from one of the four powerful steam driven catapult systems onboard the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) on Nov. 4, 1997. The Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing 9 are currently operating in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the UN No-Fly Zone over Southern Iraq.

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Size: 1673px × 1195px
Photo credit: © Vital Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: aircraft, archive, armed, defence, forces, military, reportage, servicemen, usa