US Navy Hornets Back Over Iraq

摘要

The aircraft carrier USS George H W Bush (CVN 77) began launching surveillance flights over Iraq with F/A-18 Hornets on June 18 to monitor the advance of the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIS) insurgents. Carrier Air Wing 8 is embarked, with two strike fighter squadrons of Super Hornets (VFA-31 'Tomcatters' with F/A-18ES and VFA-213 'Fighting Black Lions' flying F/A-18Fs) and two of F/A-18C Hornets (VFA-87 'Golden Warriors' and VFA-15 'Valions'). The aircraft carrier moved into the Arabian Gulf on June 14 along with other warships of Carrier Strike Group 2. It was joined by the amphibious dock ship USS Mesa Verde two days later. The USS Mesa Verde has five Bel I-Boeing MV-22B Ospreys onboard as part of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.