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Navyâs Last Carrier Group Heads Home
CORONADO, Calif. (AP) - The Navyâs last carrier strike group headed home to San Diego Bay from Iraq on Wednesday, eight months after it deployed for its role in the Persian Gulf. The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and its 6,000 sailors led the strike group, which also included the USS Princeton guided missile cruiser and the USS Bridge combat support ship.The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and seven other ships had joined with five other carrier battle groups in the Persian Gulf to form an unprecedented floating air force within striking distance of Iraq. During the deployment, aircraft from the Nimitz flew more than 6,500 missions. It was the carrierâs first deployment since a major overhaul in 1997, and its first since relocating to San Diego in 2001. Pilots and aircrews from two squadrons assigned to the Nimitz returned to North Island Naval Air Station on Tuesday, while other squadrons flew to their homes in Lemoore, Point Mugu and Whidbey Island, Wash. Sailors, Marines, Aviators: thank you! Posted by: Steve White 2003-11-05 |
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