Fly Over In The Western Pacific (WESTPAC)

The above photo shows F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) Two fly over the Republic of Korea destroyers Sejong the Great (DDG 991) and Yang Manchun (DDH 973) and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as they transit the western Pacific Ocean. 

The U.S. Navy photo was taken by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sean M. Castellano.

Note: You can click on the photo to enlarge.

Aircraft Carrier's Black Eagles E-2C Hawkeye

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 9, 2017) An E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the "Black Eagles" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 113 flies over the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during a change of command ceremony. 

The ship's carrier strike group is on a western Pacific deployment as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet-led initiative to extend the command and control functions of U.S. 3rd Fleet. 

Note: The above U.S. Navy photo was taken by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary Alan Landers.

You can click on the photo to enlarge. 

American Naval Power Projection: U.S. Navy Photo Of Three Aircraft Carriers in Port

The above U.S. Navy photo shows three Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in port.

The USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) are pier side at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California.

The photo was taken by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel M. Young.

Note: I was aboard the USS Kitty Hawk when that aircraft carrier was docked at North Island in 1971.

You can click on the photo to enlarge.  

Cool Navy Photo: Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson Getting Underway from North Island, San Diego

The above U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Lowell Whitman shows the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) getting underway from Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California to conduct sea trials on Feb.1, 2013.

 

The photo brings back memories to me as I served on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) during the Vietnam War in 1970-1971 and the Kitty Hawk got underway from this very point back in those days.

 

I have fond memories of the Kitty Hawk, North Island and the City of San Diego.

 

Note: You can click on the photo to enlarge.

Cool Photo: U.S. Navy F/A Super Hornet Launches From Aircraft Carrier In The Arabian Sea

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft launches from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) while in the Arabian Sea on January 26, 2012.

The Super Hornet is attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17.

The DoD photo is by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Timothy A. Hazel.

You can click on the photo to enlarge.

Cool (And Sad) Photo: Young Son Waving Goodbye To Dad Shipping Out On An Aircraft Carrier

In the U.S. Navy photo above, the son of U.S. Navy Electrician's Mate 1st Class Randall White waves to his father's ship, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), as it transits San Diego Bay Nov. 30, 2011, after departing Naval Air Station North Island on a scheduled deployment to the western Pacific region.

The photo makes me glad that I was 18-years-old and single in 1970 when I too shipped out from Naval Air Station North Island and San Diego Bay on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk. 

Like the Vinson above, we too sailed to the western Pacific region (WESTPAC).   

The USS Kitty Hawk went on to spend nearly a year off the coast of Vietnam and performed combat operations in support of the ground troops in South Vietnam. We also visited such ports-of-call as Honolulu, Hawaii, Sasebo, Japan, Hong Kong, and Subic Bay in the Philippines. 

My time on the carrier would not have seemed such an adventure if I had been married and had small children at home.

My heart goes out to the U.S. military men and women who are separated from their spouses and children, especially during this holiday season.         

Cool Photo: A U.S. Navy Aircraft Breaks The Sound Barrier

The U.S. Navy released a very cool photo of a Navy F/A-18C Hornet breaking the sound barrier during an air power demonstration over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) on June 6, 2011, in the Pacific Ocean.

The aircraft is assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113. The USS Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 were under way in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

(Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Travis K. Mendoza, U.S. Navy)

Night Flight Ops Aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson In The Bay Of Bengal

As a former sailor who served aboard an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War, I was interested in the above photo of night flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

The photo depicts an aircraft director signaling as aviation ordnancemen unload ordnance from an F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft aboard the Carl Vinson while under way in the Bay of Bengal on Jan. 28, 2011.

The USS Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are on a routine deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

(DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans, U.S. Navy/Released)