Essex (LHD 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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Flight deck operations onboard an Amphibious Assault Ship can be one ofthe most incredible symphonies of man and machine in existence. However, without skilled and highly trained individuals who are dedicated to the safety of their aircraft and personnel, the flight deck becomes one ofthe most dangerous workplaces in the World. The 68 personnel assigned to the 1 V-1 Division are primarily responsible for the safe and efficient spotting, launch and recovery of 31 aircraft and the safe operation of aviation support equipment. In the event of an emergency, they become a finely honed team of firefighting and rescue personnel focused on the goal of saving lives and minimizing damage to irreplaceable assets. During the 1996-97 WESTPAC deployment, ESSEX accomplished more than 24,000 safe landings since commissioning, demonstrating the expertise and unrelenting devotion of the ESSEX team. LT J COFFMAN CWO4 J BILSKI Szx Pack on deck means warnzng to those ln the sky' PHOTO PH2 B Lewls ABHC P ROSSI ABH1 R JOHNSON ABH1 D MARTINEZ ABH1 L PETTIWAY ABH1 J SAMPSON ABH1 L TAYLOR ABH1 D WILLIAMS ABH2 C EPPS ABH2 T FLOURNOY ABH2 J I-IOLYCROSS HS gi, 2 ABH3 C AARON ABH3 L ALMAZON ABH3 F ARCIAGA ABH3 J CARRASCO ku, l I 4 - A Vg . .i i W . 1 z 'Hy t 'H-'he' ff' A 65155 ,W

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- W AIR CFFICE '-Q. 1 CDR D LAN DON LT D ECCLES LT L TELTSCHIK 3 vfkvirhil qmssmi ABHCS M MCGHEHY AIR DEPARTMENT ON THE MOVE TOP Azr Boss looks forward to a good day on deck MIDDLE The Mm: Boss rs loolczng forward to 11 busy day on the flzght deck BOTTOM The Handler sees the whole day eye level on the flzght deck PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE BY AN L Starkey I-N' 1 fl W , :PMT . li I L ?5...,L..,.gf . ' 5 We .5...,a l.., 5 - ,K , 1 . 1 L 4 ' , ,. . A , N Z - ,I 1 l l 'lh 4 - .nl.1. :'- vgxo ' 5' 49: .1-M, any 'Nia' -L. .X 'Sig n-M ,b

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ABH3 B. CLINE ABH3 A. CLOUD PHOTO: AN STARKEY I c Q ABH3 J MILLER ABH3 W PONCE ABH3 A ROBLEDO ABH3 M SALLEE PHOTO SGT KELSEY . WL N w I ABH3 S. DEAN ABH3 M. DRAKE ABH3 B. GEIER 1 YABH3 P. HAWKINS I ABH3 J. LITTLE N ABH3 I. GONZALEZ 1 Z lx PHOTO PH2 LEWIS ABH3 E SELMIOUET ABH3 S VALLE ABHAN J ALLEN Fzre and Fuel Not zz good Mix' MIDDLE The Crew of V I DIWU BOTTOM 20000 safe landings aboard ESSEX since commzsszonzngf 4 s ' I I 1 . I I TOP: ' - - : . ' ' '0n. , ' V A Y : A 7 Q T . 1,-11 '-Iizif' '-,f ' af ' 'f1ff:.-i-- J: 'Z' 3 1 . , ' - ' f P