Keywords: US Navy 030405-N-9951B-021 Two F-A-18 Hornets prepare to launch.jpg en The Arabian Gulf Apr 5 2003 -- An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the 'Fist of the Fleet' of Strike Fighter Squadron Twenty Five VFA-25 prepares to launch from the flight deck of USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72 while an F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Stingers of Strike Fighter Squadron One Thirteen VFA-113 lines-up behind a jet blast deflector JBD awaiting to launch Lincoln and Carrier Air Wing Fourteen CVW-14 are conducting combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom is the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and end the regime of Saddam Hussein U S Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Elizabeth A Bartneck RELEASED 2003-04-05 030405-N-9951B-021 Navy http //www navy mil/view_image asp id 6372 U S Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Elizabeth A Bartneck PD-USGov-Military-Navy Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72 F/A-18 Hornet on flight decks Blast deflectors aircraft carrier Strike Fighter Squadron 25 United States Navy Strike Fighter Squadron 113 United States Navy Number 301 on vehicles Number 402 on vehicles |