AT SEA: HARRIER PLANES TAKE OFF FROM US SHIP FOR "SHOCK AND AWE" AERIAL ASSAULT ON BAGHDAD

Record ID: 862445

  • Title: AT SEA: HARRIER PLANES TAKE OFF FROM US SHIP FOR "SHOCK AND AWE" AERIAL ASSAULT ON BAGHDAD
  • Date: 21st March 2003
  • Summary: (U4) AT SEA (MARCH 22, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) (GREEN NIGHT VISION ) WIDE OF FLIGHT DECK AND ISLAND OF MARINE ASSAULT SHIP USS TARAWA SLV GROUND CREW MEMBER INSPECTING HARRIER PLANE BEFORE TAKE OFF SLV CREW MEMBERS LOOKING ON WITH SEA KING HELICOPTERS IN BACKGROUND WIDE OF HARRIER TAKING OFF SLV FLIGHT DECK CONTROLLER WAVING ILLUMINATED BATON SIGNALLING ALL CLEAR FOR TAKE OFF CLOSE OF HARRIER TAXIING ON FLIGHT DECK TOPSHOT OG GROUP OF HARRIERS ON FLIGHT DECK; SEA VISIBLE IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS, SEQUENCE OF HARRIER TAKING OFF WITH AFTERBURNER REFLECTIONS ON SEA (2 SHOTS) (U4) AT SEA (MARCH 21-22, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) (DAY SCENES) WIDE OF USS LINCOLN FLIGHT DECK WITH PLANES AND PILOTS VARIOUS OF COMMANDING OFFICER IN BRIEFING WITH PILOTS (2 SHOTS) VARIOUS OF COMMANDING OFFICER PREPARING FOR FLIGHT PUTTING ON LIFE JACKET AND HELMET (3 SHOTS) SLV OF COMMANDING OFFICER ON FLIGHT DECK WALKING TO PLANE SLV OF FLIGHT DECK AHEAD OF "SHOCK AND AWE" MISSION WITH PLANES BEING PREPARED PAN ALONG UNDERNEATH OF WING OF HARRIER PLANE WITH BOMBS AND MISSILES IN PLACE /COMMANDING OFFICER CHECKING MISSILES (2 SHOTS) WIDE OF WING OF HARRIER PLANE VARIOUS, COMMANDING OFFICER GETTING INTO COCKPIT OF PLANE (2 SHOTS) WIDE /PAN OF FLIGHT DECK AHEAD OF "SHOCK AND AWE" MISSION WITH PLANES AND PILOTS SLV FLIGHT DECK CONTROLLER WAVING BATON SIGNALLING ALL CLEAR FOR TAKE OFF VARIOUS OF FLIGHTS TAKING OFF AT NIGHT (2 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 5th April 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: USS TARAWA AND USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, AT SEA
  • City:
  • Country: At Sea
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAA0HDP8HW3DZDBEAFQDSMUOQGM
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: The amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa launched Harrier ground support jet sorties throughout the night of March 21 and into the early morning of March 22 on the third day of Operation Iraq.
    The Harrier warplanes, directed by U.S. Marines in Iraq to target Iraqi ground forces, are equipped with laser-guided 500 and 1,000 pound bombs. The single pilot aircrafts were launched in groups of four. All aircraft returned safely to the Tarawa by morning light.
    USS Tawara is among seven others sailing in the Gulf.
    More than 130 ships are in the area, including three U.S.
    aircraft carriers and their escorts plus the British carrier Ark Royal, to participate in the U.S-led war on Iraq.
    A wave of fighter planes roared from the USS Abraham Lincoln on Friday (March 21), headed toward selected targets in Iraq to carry out intensive bombardments as part of what the Pentagon called the "shock and awe" phase of the war.
    Plane after plane soared into the clear night sky, most of them using after-burners for maximum thrust because of the heavy load of weapons including 2,000 pound satellite-guided bombs.
    Dozens of sailors gathered on the flag bridge of the carrier to watch the planes depart and to catch a glimpse of Tomahawk missiles fired from nearby ships.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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