The U.S. aircraft carrier USS <i>Forrestal</i> (CVA-59) catapults a North American FJ-3 <i>Fury</i> from Fighter Squadron 21 (VF-21) "Mach Busters" from a midships catapult, during shakedown operations, 12 March 1956. Another FJ-3 of VF-21 and a McDonnell F2H-2P "Banshee" of Composite Squadron 62 (VC-62) Det. 42 "Fighting Photos" are being readied for launching from the bow catapults. Both squadrons were assigned to Air Task Group 181 (ATG-181) aboard the <i>Forrestal</i> for her shakedown cruise to the Atlantic Ocean from 24 January to 31 March 1956.
N.W. Bitzer, U.S. Navy
Official U.S. Navy photo <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/80-g/80-G-600000/80-G-687790.html">80-G-687790</a> from the U.S. Navy <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.history.navy.mil">Naval History and Heritage Command</a>