An F/A-18C Hornet launches from the waist catapult of the USS George Washington.
An F/A-18C Hornet launches from the waist catapult of the USS George Washington (CVN 73) as the ship steams in the Persian Gulf on Feb. 6, 1998. The Washington battle group is operating in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch which is the U.S. and coalition enforcement of the no-fly-zone over Southern Iraq. The Hornet is attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 86 of Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Fla.