Different Views from the flight deck

ARABIAN GULF (May 18, 2011) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) Airman Troyphilip Obuga, from Morgantown, W.Va., ducks behind the center-deck hatch as an F/A-18F Super Hornet catapults off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

 ARABIAN GULF (May 18, 2011) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) Airman Aaron Jones signals to a shooter from the deck edge operator station on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) is underway in the Pacific Ocean during a simulated strait transit, 

and if you look closely you'll see support crew all over the flight deck.

Sailors signal to suspend a launch aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

ARABIAN GULF (May 16, 2011) An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Death Rattlers of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323 launches from the aircraft carrier 

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). 

The crew is towing another Hornet into position on the flight deck.

 A landing signal enlisted assigned to the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) guides an MV-22B Osprey.

 Sailors prepare an F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 to catapult from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

This short series of pictures gives you a small glimpse of how important the deck crew of sailors are to the successful operation of an aircraft carrier. My white hat is off for the bravery of the crew that is exposed to danger everyday that they are on the flight deck.  Congratulations crew - you deserve our gratitude.