F18 CATAPULTED IN PERSIAN GULF, 1997-11-23 (photo)

As flight deck personnel move about under the cover of darkness readying US Navy F-14 and F-18 jet planes November 23 night on the deck of the atomic powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, an F-14 Tomcat jet is catapulted off the carrier. The carrier turns off all lights during night air operations. The USS George Washington with a battle group of four other ships, including a submarine, joins the USS Nimitz in flying over southern Iraqi "No Fly" zones as more United States military power is in place in the norther Gulf. (Photograph is a long time exposure). USA IRAQ