USS Stennis and the Alaskan tour

[HeyJoe]

090622-N-2475A-027 GULF OF ALASKA (June 22, 2009) Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, left, listens as Air Boss Capt. Gordon Smith, from Mercer Island, Wash., explains the responsibilities of coordinating aircraft movement on the flight deck from Primary Flight Control aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Palin embarked as a distinguished visitor aboard John C. Stennis during the ship's participation in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

090619-N-9928E-579 GULF OF ALASKA (June 19, 2009) An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the "Eightballers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 flies near the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the ship is underway off the coast of Alaska. John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Josue L. Escobosa/Released)

090622-N-8290D-008 GULF OF ALASKA (June 22, 2009) An Air Force F-22 Raptor executes a supersonic flyby over the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class Ronald Dejarnett/Released)

090622-N-2475A-160 GULF OF ALASKA (June 22, 2009) Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and husband Todd Palin greet the crew of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during an informal address in hangar bay two. Palin embarked as a distinguished visitor aboard John C. Stennis during the ship's participation in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released)

090622-N-9928E-123 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 22, 2009) Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, left, and her husband, Todd Palin, address the crew of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Josue L. Escobosa/Released)

090622-N-2475A-050 GULF OF ALASKA (June 22, 2009) Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, right, listens as Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 1st Class John Childs, from Fayetteville, N.C., explains the basic components and functions of an arresting gear engine in arresting gear room three aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Palin embarked as a distinguished visitor aboard John C. Stennis during the ship's participation in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released)

090619-N-6538W-125 GULF OF ALASKA (June 19, 2009) Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Apprentice Garrett P. Hazelwood, from Corona, Calif., scrubs the wing of an F/A-18C Hornet from the Blue Diamonds of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146 aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Walter M. Wayman/Released)

 

[jt71582]

Cool she's getting involved. I also like the easy button.

 

[HeyJoe]

090619-N-9928E-426 GULF OF ALASKA (June 19, 2009) The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) is underway off the coast of Alaska. John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Josue L. Escobosa/Released)

090616-N-2475A-176 GULF OF ALASKA (June 16, 2009) Sailors run clear of the landing area after attaching a cargo pendant to the bottom of an MH-60S Sea Hawk from the Eightballers of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 as it hovers over the flight deck of USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10) to pick up pallets of supplies for transfer to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during a replenishment at sea. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise which focuses on detecting and tracking of units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released)

090617-N-9928E-009 GULF OF ALASKA (June 17, 2009) U.S. Air Force Capt. Marc Mazza, left, from Pittsburgh, Pa., and Capt. Nate Carrell, from Wasillia, Alaska, sit at ship's self defense system modules and act as aggressor barons during a simulated combat scenario in the combat direction center aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). An aggressor baron is responsible for directing opponent aircraft during training scenarios. Air Force personnel are aboard John C. Stennis for Exercise Northern Edge, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Josue L. Escobosa/Released)

090616-N-6538W-175 GULF OF ALASKA (June 16, 2009) An EA-6B Prowler assigned to the Yellow Jackets of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138 launches from the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) supporting exercise Northern Edge 2009. John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise which focuses on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Walter M. Wayman/ Released)

 

[Schnugg]

Is that "Gordo" (former F-14 RIO) as the Air Boss???

 

[HeyJoe]

Is that "Gordo" (former F-14 RIO) as the Air Boss???

That is a Tomcat patch on his flight jacket.

I also noticed Gov Palin brought her husband along. Probably one appearance he didn't mind being her boy-toy. I'm surprised she didn't get to try some firearms.

 

[HeyJoe]

Welcome Home USS Stennis

090710-N-6538W-024 BREMERTON, Wash. (July 10, 2009) Electronics Technician 2nd Class James Harvey, from Seaside, Ore., stands at parade rest while manning the rails on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is returning to homeport in Bremerton, Wash., after a six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Walter W. Wayman/Released)