A U.S. Navy aviation boatswain's mate (equipment) signals to the deck edge operator to take tension on an aircraft catapult before launching an F/A-18C Hornet aircraft assigned to Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 323 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the Gulf of Oman Aug. 21, 2013. The Nimitz was underway in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom.
MC2 Jacquelyn Childs
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