A landing craft air cushion (LCAC) enters the well deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) to reload Marines and equipment for a certification exersize, Philippine Sea, September 2, 2012. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adam M. Bennett.

Flight deck launching officer Pete Salvaggio gives the final launch signal as an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 takes off from the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).

Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Walter M. Wayman)

Panorama view of Pearl Harbor, during the Japanese raid on 7 December 1941, with anti-aircraft shell bursts overhead. The photograph looks southwesterly from the hills behind the harbor. Large column of smoke in lower right center is from the burning USS Arizona (BB-39). Smoke somewhat further to the left is from the destroyers Shaw (DD-373), Cassin (DD-372) and Downes (DD-375), in drydocks at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard.

The USS Akron launching a Consolidated N2Y-1 training plane (Bureau # A8604) during flight tests near Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 4 May 1932.

The USS Akron (ZRS-4) was a 239 meter long, helium-filled rigid airship of the United States Navy that was lost in a weather-related accident off the New Jersey coast early on April 4, 1933, killing 73 of the 76 crew and passengers on board.

During its accident-prone 18-month term of service, she served as a flying aircraft carrier for launching these F9C Sparrowhawk biplane fighters.

The USS Akron (ZRS-4) was a 239 meter long, helium-filled rigid airship of the United States Navy that was lost in a weather-related accident off the New Jersey coast early on April 4, 1933, killing 73 of the 76 crew and passengers on board.

The USS Akron (ZRS-4) was a 239 meter long, helium-filled rigid airship of the United States Navy that was lost in a weather-related accident off the New Jersey coast early on April 4, 1933, killing 73 of the 76 crew and passengers on board.

During its accident-prone 18-month term of service, she also served as a flying aircraft carrier for launching F9C Sparrowhawk biplane fighters.

Aviation boatswain’s mate applies a fresh coat of paint to the island of USS George Washington (CVN 73). Yokosuka, Japan (May 3, 2011).

USS South Dakota in Puget Sound, Washington, United States, 21 Aug. 1944.