Posted: 04/01/2013
PACIFIC OCEAN (April 23, 2013) An F/A-18C Hornet from the Death Rattlers of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323 begins its ascent after being launched off the catapult of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 recently left San Diego for a deployment to the western Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chris Bartlett)