
These are some action shots from the only photographer to have been on USS George H.W. Bush out in the Gulf few days before it launched the first airstrikes against ISIS positions in Iraq.
On Aug. 8, at approximately 10:45 UTC, the U.S. military launched the first targeted airstrike against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorists.
According to Pentagon, “Two F/A-18 aircraft dropped 500-pound laser-guided bombs on a mobile artillery piece near Erbil. ISIL was using this artillery to shell Kurdish forces defending Erbil where U.S. personnel are located.”
Then, the U.S. launched a second round of airstrikes, which involved an RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft), that struck a terrorist mortar position twice, and four Hornets which successfully struck a stationary ISIL convoy of seven vehicles and a mortar position near Erbil.
The manned planes involved in the first airstrikes belong to the Carrier Air Wing 8 embarked on USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier.
Few days ago, photographer Rich Cooper, went aboard the carrier sailing in the Gulf where it took the images you can find in this post. These were the last taken before the CVW-8 launched the first airstrikes against ISIS.
Operating from USS George Bush are also some of U.S. Navy’s last EA-6Bs on their final cruise (the Prowler will be out of service at the end of this year.)
Image credit: RC-Pro Photography
Very cool
Tip of the spear
Wow… As though Obama announcing he’d pull all troops out and by when regardless of conditions had nothing to do with it…
Nobody gave money and TOW missiles to ISIS. The problem is idiots like John McCain and John Kerry, who believe they can give weapons and money to “Moderate, vetted, Syrian rebels” – and not expect them to end up in the wrong hands.
the A-10 are attacking ISIS targets and so is the F-22