An F/A-18C Hornet from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 is directed to the catapult in preparation for launch from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73 as the ship steams in the Persian Gulf on Jan. 30, 1998. The Washington battle group is operating in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch which is the and coalition enforcement of the no-fly-zone over Southern Iraq. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 is deployed to the Washington from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

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Size: 1731px × 1156px
Photo credit: © Vital Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: /-18c, 251, aircraft, archive, armed, attack, carrier, deck, defence, fighter, flight, forces, george, hornet, marine, military, operation, reportage, servicemen, ship, southern, squadron, usa, uss, washington, watch